When Can They Go Outside?

[rosemarythyme]

They were shipped on 8/12 from Ideal as day olds. They got to my house on 8/14. Unless Ideal kept them a few more days before they shipped them, they should be 3 weeks and a day. Here are some the day I got them on 8/14.

They grew up well then, as a group nicely feathered for their age!

 

[SJsChickies]

They grew up well then, as a group nicely feathered for their age!

I thought the same! They got feathered way quicker than my others!

 

[Beau plus penny]

I thought the same! They got feathered way quicker than my others!

good on them

 

[Anon112]

That sounds perfect thank you! I still may wait till Sunday cause this storm is supposed to be really bad but they will definitely be getting evicted this weekend!

Yeah, maybe don't throw them out in a thunderstorm, lol!

I was very emboldened (this was about a year ago, maybe more) by someone here who wrote that she always has her chicks outside from day 1.

My one regret: while nothing bad happened, looking back I wish I'd secured the tupperware. As it was, there was potential for it to tip forward if they had all jumped onto the top edge.

What was most shocking was that after a day or two, they started roosting at night up on a little bar in their run!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yeah, maybe don't throw them out in a thunderstorm, lol!

I was very emboldened (this was about a year ago, maybe more) by someone here who wrote that she always has her chicks outside from day 1.

I brood outdoors as soon as I get them so rain is something chicks learn to deal with at a young age. While I would avoid having their first time out of the brooder on a rainy day, I do have confidence in them to find shelter as needed once they're a little more used to being out and about.

 

[Anon112]

I brood outdoors as soon as I get them so rain is something chicks learn to deal with at a young age. While I would avoid having their first time out of the brooder on a rainy day, I do have confidence in them to find shelter as needed once they're a little more used to being out and about.

Yes, despite my nerves they adapted really fast and were obviously glad to have more space and a more diverse environment (dirt! bugs! rocks!).

The hardest part was that I missed them because over the two weeks I had so much fun visiting them and peeking in on them. But obviously that's a me problem and not a them problem, lol.

The last three rounds of chicks have all been with broody hens, so they've been outside from day 1 (but with a mom taking care of them of course).

 

[SJsChickies]

Yeah, maybe don't throw them out in a thunderstorm, lol!

I was very emboldened (this was about a year ago, maybe more) by someone here who wrote that she always has her chicks outside from day 1.

My one regret: while nothing bad happened, looking back I wish I'd secured the tupperware. As it was, there was potential for it to tip forward if they had all jumped onto the top edge.

What was most shocking was that after a day or two, they started roosting at night up on a little bar in their run!

That’s awesome! I’m going to use some scrap wood I have and make them their own little house for the month or so they’ll be in the partitioned off part of the run. Hopefully they learn to roost quick too!

 

[SJsChickies]

I brood outdoors as soon as I get them so rain is something chicks learn to deal with at a young age. While I would avoid having their first time out of the brooder on a rainy day, I do have confidence in them to find shelter as needed once they're a little more used to being out and about.

That’s a really good point. They will definitely have shelter and will likely catch on quick getting to safety out of the weather!

 

[SJsChickies]

Yes, despite my nerves they adapted really fast and were obviously glad to have more space and a more diverse environment (dirt! bugs! rocks!).

The hardest part was that I missed them because over the two weeks I had so much fun visiting them and peeking in on them. But obviously that's a me problem and not a them problem, lol.

The last three rounds of chicks have all been with broody hens, so they've been outside from day 1 (but with a mom taking care of them of course).

Yeah I do love having them inside but I know they’ll appreciate the 45sqft I have partitioned off for them much better than their little brooder. 4 of them go to their new home on Oct 5 so they do need to be used to being outside by then!