When do I put my peeps outside in the coop

[acid_chipmunk]

Quote:
I live in central pa, near State College, and it will get down to 34degrees tonight. I figure that I will coop them at 4 weeks, but close everything off and keep the heat lamp on full time. They are getting too big for even two tubs in two weeks.

Hey, swampman, I live near State College too, in Mill Hall.

I am keeping my 6 weekers in a large dog kennel (all wire) right now without a light in my shop. They are almost fully feathered and with the 2 other brooder lights going and their own body heat, they are doing well. My 3 week old Silkies and SLW's are still in the brooder with the light, as are my 1 week ducks. The Silkies and SLW's are still too small and not feathered enough to be without a light. My hubby and I are on vacation starting this afternoon and we will be building our two new coops and moving the ducks and the bigger girls into them. I will probably put a light in with the ducks, but will have to see about with the girls.

 

[mboreham1]

My chicks went out @ 3 1/2 weeks old, just two of them, with a heat lamp, from 2 weeks old they had been outside scratching around, going in and out of the coop learning to avoid the 4 RIR hens during the day. They feather out a lot quicker when they are outside. Nights drop to the low 40's here and it is 60-70 during the day, we have had some terrible rain recently and they loved it. I turned the heat lamp off permenantly @5 weeks, they naturally used a roost i put in the coop just a little lower than the other birds roost for their own protection!

I am a huge advocate of remembering that in the wild 4 week old chicks do not sleep under mama hen, they huddle together, your chicks will do the same thing especially as there are so many! Little chicks are not little humans and have wonderful instincts and they are VERY tough, much tougher than we give them credit for!

 

[BlueEggs4Life]

I agree, my 4 week olds do fine out in the coop. I have them in a large rabbit cage to seperate them from the adult chickens but I ran out of room in the basement brooder so the larger gals got shipped outside and my bantam chicks remain inside. They love it since they get to run around in the coop during the day while I am out there, dust bathing in the shavings and running around...and the feathering is almost 100% now.

 

[whoisit]

so glad to see so many from my home town area with chickens,I live in york now and don't get up that way much but did see the duck's in mill hall last time