When can I put these littles outside???

[happymom99]

Hi there. We incubated and hatched out chicks for the first time. They started hatching on March 19 and continued to hatch for a few days. I have them in the house in a brooder.
I live in souther California. Our lowest low this week will be in the mid forties. When can I put these chicks outside in a coop?
Thank you

 

[Folly's place]

Mine go out at three weeks of age, into their separate coop section with their heat lamp or brooder plate. Temps here in April colder than yours! When they are feathered out and don't need the extra heat, even at night, it's off, and they start going out to free range with the adults, gradually. By eight weeks of age or so, they are getting along pretty well with the adults, although they will stick together as a family group a lot longer.
Mary

 

[happymom99]

Mine go out at three weeks of age, into their separate coop section with their heat lamp or brooder plate. Temps here in April colder than yours! When they are feathered out and don't need the extra heat, even at night, it's off, and they start going out to free range with the adults, gradually. By eight weeks of age or so, they are getting along pretty well with the adults, although they will stick together as a family group a lot longer.
Mary

thank you! When are they feathered out, and don’t need the supplemental heat? I have no way to give them supplemental heat outside. Otherwise, I’d evict the little cuties from my son’s room tonight!

 

[Folly's place]

In a pinch, you could maybe run an outdoor heavy duty extension cord out there, and set up their brooder plate carefully to be safe.
Having them indoors, especially in a bedroom? No way! That dust is bad to inhale.
Mary

 

[happymom99]

In a pinch, you could maybe run an outdoor heavy duty extension cord out there, and set up their brooder plate carefully to be safe.
Having them indoors, especially in a bedroom? No way! That dust is bad to inhale.
Mary

thank you! I will talk with my husband about it tonight. Didn’t even think about the dust. Yuck! ThNk you for mentioning that. I’ve got an air purifier going in there, but still....

these littles just need to be outside already.