When can I put them outside?

[sadie423]

Our chicks are about 1.5 wks old. We have them in a box in our playroom. That room doesn't have heat but proabably gets about 45 deg at night when it is real cold outside and they are doing fine with the heat lamp. We have a lamp in the henhouse- a converted metal insulated shed, but I would think it would be colder out there at night. I was hoping at like 4wks I could move the box out- will they be warm enough? (We are in TN, with fickle weather, sometimes in the 70s sometimes in the teens)
Thanks
Sarah

 

[justusnak]

Ideally, you wont want to put them out untill they are at least 8 weeks old, and completely feathered out. They can catch a cold. At 1.5 weeks old, they should still be at a temp of 85 to 90 degrees. If they get too cold, they will pile up, and ultimately, smother a few of the unfortunate ones on the bottom.

 

[Marlinchaser]

You can put them out from day one. Provided you can give them enough heat 90 to start with then drop by 5 degrees each week till fully feathered. Usually 8-10 weeks depending on the breed. You just need big enough heatlamp or lamps to maintiain area sufficient in size for all chicks to stay warm without overcrowding. Also you do not want them in a drafty area.