When can my chicks stay outside?

[Betchay07]

I have 9 Barred Rock chicks, 6 weeks old. They have been in a brooder box in my basement. The heat lamp is no longer on but the temp in the basement stays about 70 degrees. I have been putting them out in the chicken tractor through the day when it is mid 70's and up and bringing them back in at night. I live in NE Indiana where the temps fall into the 50's at night. When can I stop bringing the chicks in at night? They will be in the tractor for a while then eventually free range with access to the barn with llamas.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

You can leave them out now - I'd have done it a week ago, possibly longer. I move my brooder chicks out to unheated coops at 5-6 weeks (weaning them off heat all together the week before). Last year I moved them out at 5 weeks and w/in three days we were hit with a cold snap complete with sub-freezing temperatures and snow - they were happy as little clams in their coop. Next year my chicks won't even see the inside of a house/garage as I will brood directly in an outdoor coop/run with the Mama Heat Pad or brooder plate.