When Can I Move My Chicks Outside?

[Astrid]

I mean I love them and all, but I also love my dining room table!

They are three weeks old, and I live in Connecticut. Day temps are in the 80's and nights go down to the 60's. We have a secure indoor coop, with a "kindergarten" section away from our three adult hens, and have access to a separate outdoor run. We also have a hanging heat lamp and a roost in there.

Do we have to wait until they're fully feathered out? Or can we do it sooner? I think they're getting on each others' nerves. We have them in a double-sized rubbermaid tote-- we started them in one, and then got another, cut the sides out and taped them together so it's double-sized.

Any thoughts? We've always had pullets before; never babies from a hatchery. (We used Meyers and were THRILLED with their customer service!)

astrid

 

[SarahFair]

Put them out there for a couple hours and see how they do

...after all, that is how they are raised all natural

 

[Kaelinstorm]

Quote:
Thats what I did. I slowly integrated my pampered A/C'd chickens outside by slowly introducing them to the outside. Best off when the temps are good like this. One batch I did when it was cold outside... which they were fine but I had to nightly turn on a lamp for them. Your temps sound great

 

[JulieNKC]

They should be feathered out soon. Until then, maybe put them out duing the day and back into the brooder at night. I put my silkies I got in Nov outside in Decenber when they were about 5 weeks old though, and they did fine, so you might not even need to bring them in at night.

 

[countrycluckerskaren]

wait until they are feathered out.

 

[Eggcessive]

With those temps I think they would be fine outside as long as they had a low wattage heat lamp if any got cold at night. Make sure they are safe, say in a secure coop or cage with hardware cloth because you don't want a rat,weasel, possum, or raccoon to get at them.

 

[Alethea]

You can put them out, at least during the day. Nighttime would be ok, too, but you might want to get them a heat lamp. Bok.

 

[bleith]

I put my 4 out at 4 weeks. Gave them a heat lamp at night for the first week then nothing. I don't think they needed it either. they stayed away from it the most part