When can I put my 5wk old chicks outside?

[jessie123]

I have hatched eight chick who will be five weeks old on tuesday, they are in my kitchen now and I need to move them out. I was going to put them in a shed, in a run with a box full of wood shavings and straw/ shredded pape. I have a parafin green house heater for night time, do you think they will be OK? they have had no heat lamp on them for the past five days. Any advice please.

 

[crazyhen]

Where do you live? I can't answer until I know your climate area. I have three week chicks that are out in the coop with a 250 watt heat bulb now. It got down to freezing last night but they did fine with it. Lots of shavings for them to bury down into. Also there are 8 of them to keep each other warm. It depends on the coop and the temps outside but I would put them out for sure. Chick dust after 2 weeks is terrible.

I have to take down curtains wash wall etc. if I keep inside.

Gloria Jean

 

[ShaggysGirl]

I'm in Michigan still getting pretty cold at times and I have kept my chicks from day 1 outside with a heat lamp in a 4 x 4 brooder. They are on thick wood shaving and have never seemed cold even when it was freezing outside.
IMHO once they are feathered out they shouldn't need any heat. They will cuddle at night to keep warm if needed.. they do have on a nice down coat after all

 

[Want Less]

Our girls are 3 weeks old and are quickly outgrowing the 60 gallon aquarium we've used as a brooder so we plan to move them outside into their coop in the next week or so with a light on as needed (we are in Eastern NC, the weather is warm now for the most part).

 

[crazyhen]

Michigan is much colder than here. I think with the 250 watt bulb they will do well if they are not in a draft. Sorry to be so long in answering. I've not felt well. Gloria Jean