When can I let the chickens outside?

[bcopeland703]

Our chickies were born on 5/8-510 - so about a week and a half ago. They are all doing well. I wanted to take them outside since it is 88 degrees here but bring them in at night since it may get down to 45 degrees this week. Is it ok for them to be outside this early?

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

They can go outside for a short while any time you want, even when it's chilly out in early spring, as long as you take them back under the lights as soon as they look chilly and don't leave them out long. Remember, if they were with Mama Hen, she'd have them out in the snow at a week old, she'd just call them back under her wings when they got cold.

Your babies can easily go outside at 88 degrees, but will have to go back under the lights when it is chilly at night. I wouldn't let them out full time at only a week and a half old--just when it's nice and hot out, or for short periods when it's cooler.

Or, you can do what we do this time of year, and rig up a heat lamp in their shelter outside. Then they come and go under the lamp as they please. We have ours fenced so they can't wander too far away from the light.

 

[bcopeland703]

That makes perfect sense. I just didn't want them trying to eat anything that would make it hard for them to digest since their so young. Their mother(s) roam around with their father, the rooster all day out side. Do you know what age they can be introduced to them? i have two separate fenced sections so at this age it would not be an issue. thank you so much.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

They'll do fine with whatever they decide to eat. Again, Mama would have them out and about and would scratch up the ground and find them bugs and delicacies starting at three days old. Our mama hen takes her chicks on walkabouts looking for goodies even though there is a feeder full of chick starter.

I would wait to introduce the chicks until they are physically the same size as the other birds, right on point of lay at 18-19 weeks. Before then, they really aren't big enough to cope with the pecking that will happen when they are introduced, and they need different food until then, anyway. It's just easier and safer for them for them to stay separated.

The two pens side-by-side is actually an ideal situation. Keep your babies on one side until they're big enough, and then one day just open the sections up together while they're free-ranging and let them mix. Since they've all gotten used to each other for months with the fence in between, integration should be pretty smooth.