When can the chicks go outside?

[eggs and chicks]

oh and they can go outside at 2 days old but only under supervision and as long as its over 95 out

 

[Coastal Chick]

Here in northern California, the outdoor temperature is between 95 to 105 degrees during the day right now but the weather drops to the 70's at night. I went to a feed store yesterday. This particular feed store keeps all of their chickens out back outside of the store. The feed store is owned by a local vet and the vet has an office that connects to the feed store. The staffs are pretty knowledgeable (not your common feed store is my point). I bought a few baby Danish Leghorn chicks from them yesterday.

The feed store had them with no light which had me ask - "You know if you read online, it all says they need a heat lamp until they are few weeks old. No light?" Guy laughed ..."its 100 degrees outside!"

All of the chicks did look more than fine. I threw my two week old chicks outside last night with no light and they did just fine this morning. I am starting to wonder if the "must use a lamp/keep them indoors" is not true for summer when the air temperature is in the 90's/100's.

Either way – I have 2 week old chicks outside with no heat lamp and they seem to love life!

This makes good sense to me. It was so hot today that they were panting. I took the day off of work to recover from a head cold but spent the day playing momma to the chicks all day. The top of the run is not completed so I was out watching for hawks. They had a wonderful time outside but definitely needed to learn how to get back in the cage to get out of the sun and get water. Later in the day they found a very sunny spot and were sunbathing (I think). They stretched out on their side and lifted their wings. They looked like they were dying! I was wondering if they were smart enough to get out of the sun. They must have eventually. The breeze is blowing pretty hard now but they seem to being loving life too!! Way better than being inside.

We have a hawk flying around and my husband says the blue jays will get them too. So I will keep them in the screened porch at night until the run is covered. They did get under the light bulb some last night even though it probably only got down to 75. Thanks everyone for the input. It is like having the first baby. You don't really know what you are doing and worry about everything. But after you try a few things you get braver!! And they seem to survive!

 

[lightchick]

ADORABLE!