When can I put baby chicks outside?

[1sellersrobe]

My friend is keeping my new day old birds (some chicks and ducklings) for me and caring for them. He wants to put them outside after several days of heat (actually he wanted to put them straight outside but I convinced him to keep them inside for a few days). The weather for the first week looks like highs in the low 80's with lows in the low 60's. To be fair, it is a wind proof structure with quite a few other birds in there for heat. I would think they'd freeze to death, but he says he does it all the time. I'd appreciate any help.

 

[tribalacres]

We keep our chicks under heat in a brooder until 6 weeks Sometimes longer depending on if they are feathered out. We keep the heat lamp off during the day and the light on at night. We are in Florida, our brooder is in our brooder shed on the Farm. We’ve done this successfully for 4 rounds of baby chicks. Others opinions may vary, but this is what works for us. Hope that helps a bit.

 

[1sellersrobe]

We keep our chicks under heat in a brooder until 6 weeks Sometimes longer depending on if they are feathered out. We keep the heat lamp off during the day and the light on at night. We are in Florida, our brooder is in our brooder shed on the Farm. We’ve done this successfully for 4 rounds of baby chicks. Others opinions may vary, but this is what works for us. Hope that helps a bit.

Thank you! So do you think they'd freeze to death?

 

[tribalacres]

The ideal temperature for chicks, seven days old or younger, is 95 degrees F. Week two is 90, week three is 85. Each week declines by five degrees until chicks are ready to live outside...that’s what we’ve always went by. So 60 degrees is definitely too cold in my opinion, it’s usually like 80’s here at night and we still cut the lamp on at night. This batch of chicks are 3 weeks. We have an infrared thermometer to keep an eye on the temp. If they are less than a week old it’s just way too young to not have provided heat.

 

[1sellersrobe]

The ideal temperature for chicks, seven days old or younger, is 95 degrees F. Week two is 90, week three is 85. Each week declines by five degrees until chicks are ready to live outside...that’s what we’ve always went by. So 60 degrees is definitely too cold in my opinion, it’s usually like 80’s here at night and we still cut the lamp on at night. This batch of chicks are 3 weeks. We have an infrared thermometer to keep an eye on the temp. If they are less than a week old it’s just way too young to not have provided heat.

Thanks! I had read this, but he insists that he does it all the time.

 

[tribalacres]

Thanks! I had read this, but he insists that he does it all the time.

Remember us guys think we know what we are doing all the time. . Everyone has their own view of things, I just Like to stick with the books when it comes to the safety of the little chicks.