When can our chick's go outside?

[new chick mummy]

We are first time chick parents
Our chick's are mixed breeds and we're still not 100/ on their gender.
They're 5 weeks old tomorrow ( 10 april ) and we were wondering when is good to transfer them into their coop.
The coop has an attached run and the door will obviously be getting closed at night, we just don't know ow when to put them out.
Help and advice will be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance Edie

 

[kengland]

My 9 Delaware left the garage brooder last thurs night at 6 weeks old. I live in the NW. Temps drop to low to mid 40's at night with mid to high 50's in the day. Working out great.

 

[nicolets]

4-6 weeks!
Hopefully you have been lowering their use of the brooder lamp inside, though. If not, you'll need to gradually do this and hopefully help them get used to going down and getting up with the sun.

 

[new chick mummy]

Well they are 5 weeks old today and are still indoors but now with no heat lamp.
They seem to be doing OK with out it too.
I think I will give it another week then before I put them out.
I was thinking about putting them out during the day and maybe bringing them back in doors at night, I don't know how many of you have done it this way, if any.
I just do the want it to be too much of a shock to them.
Thanks again Edie

 

[new chick mummy]

That should have read,
I don't want it to be too much of a shock to them.

 

[Judy]

It's definitely a good idea to put them out during the day now, if you are able. You will be able to tell by their behavior whether they are comfortable or too chilly. To be safe, you could have something available for them to go into, like a cardboard box on its side, but I doubt they will need it for warmth at that age. (They might investigate, though.) You might even decide they're ready to stay out, at least in a day or two. I'd be sure they had a nice pile of litter in the coop to snuggle down into at night.

You can click on the pencil icon on the lower left and edit your own post, when you find a typo after you've posted.

 

[new chick mummy]

Thanks for the info, you learn something new everyday hey?
Thanks again

 

[ButchGood]

I'm in Texas and its been mild weather this spring. Mine went out when they were just about 3 weeks old. Like 18 days. They are now 4 weeks and a day and doing great. The earliest you can get them outside the better. These birds are meant to be born outside with the mother hen as their heat source, when they get cold they run for mama. I put a heat lamp in the coop so they could get warm, (imitation Hen). But that only lasted a week. They are living like big girls now.

 

[Lance]

We have had a mild spring, so my month olds have been in there coop for a week now and they only have a heat lamp on at night. they venture away from the coop further each day. Like Butch said, they are tougher than you think.

 

[jrsno1fan]

Same here, a very mild spring so my chicks went out at 5 weeks. We did keep the red heat light on for the first 2 weeks or so. Then changed to a white light only at night just to get them to go in the coop at night. Did that for 3 nights and now they are pretty well adjusted 10 week olds. No more lights, and they are all in the coop at dusk on their own.

Not sure about England though, I hear it can be pretty damp and chilly at night, if this is the case 5-6 weeks with a heat lamp if it's still below 50 or so.