When can my chicks go outside?

[Laura Gerrard]

hi sorry to jump in with question but does this apply if they have a mummy. I live in England and right now it is cold and wet see days. Mine go out in the day with their mum and have done since one week old. They have never had a heat lamp. I hope they will be ok.

My mom says then it's taken care of and you don't have to worry about it. The only down side is you have to be careful with eggs left in nest. I hope that makes sense.

 

[SandyinWI]

My "girls" are 3 weeks old today. We have a variety of breeds. Buckeye, silver cuckoo marands, australorps, RIR, plymoth rock.........I am using a radiant heat slab. One day it was warm enough to take them outside for a field trip. When they came back in they couldn't find the heater, weird? I had to show them. They haven't been sleeping under it much but right in front of it. Last night they huddled up in the corner furthest from the heater. On the field trip day they were loud and upset at lights out when they didn't know where the heater was. Last night they were quiet and seemed content. Are they just getting ready to not use the heater or are they confused again? If they continue to do this can I move them to their outdoor coop? Our temps vary quite a bit in northern WI. The brooder is 3' by 4' and sometimes they seem like the 9 of them need more space but the day we took them outside they stayed very close and didn't venture out much. Thanks for any suggestions!