When do the chicks live out side?

[bawkbawkbawk]

I raised my first group of chicks in a cardboard box and was obsessed with the heat lamp and keeping the temperature warm enough. I was afraid to bring them outside for fear they would catch a chill.

My new group of chicks are being raised by my broody BO in the coop and they've been running around outside since day four or five! Of course they have Mama Hen to dive under and keep warm when needed but it seems they are much more resilient than I originally thought as far as temperature goes. Our weather this time of year is in the high 60's to mid-70's during the day and probably in the mid-to-high 50's at night.

The chicks are almost a month old now and they will still cuddle beneath Mama hen at night or for a mid-day nap but I wonder if at this point it's more for comfort than warmth.

 

[cam123]

Quote:
Totally agree with this one!! My girls are about this old, and they sooo need to go outside now! But we have to build a bigger coop considering we are adding 6 to our 4 that are already out. As soon as you feel safe kicking them out the door, do it. Just make sure they have enough feathers to keep them warm, and plenty of water to keep them hydrated! Make sure you have taken all the precautions against predators before you give them the boot. Since they are still small, they aren't able to defend themselves as well. Good luck!!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I know what you mean. My first broody had her chicks outside when they were 3 days old. It was February and there was still some snow on the ground. Made me a nervous wreck.
All that's necessary for you to take them outside is to play the role of mama hen, watching for signs of chilling and of course predators.

 

[WendyGrama]

With 11, now 3 week chicks, my choice has been build a temp pen for outdoors or finish the main coop and pen so I am going with that for now. However they have been introduced in their 5' by 5' floor pen to several rocks of all sizes, and large twisted wood perch and today I added a large chefs tray of dirt and grass for them to scuffle in, they are having a ball with that. No less dust of course but good to see them experiencing a little of the great outdoors and not bored and trying to fly out.

I also had to treat for cocci even with them started on medicated feed. Had one very listless today, not like her at all, made me notice she is the smallest of the welsumers, her tail was drooping, she was sleeping a lot and almost seemed drunk and disoriented so we will see if she makes it. Started their treatment today and chose to keep her with the rest of the chicks unless they started picking on her. She was up and around later in the day so maybe we have passed the crisis and maybe not, they were all sleeping when I arrived home this evening, will know more when I turn on the heat lamp later tonight.

They started in a large guinea pig cage the first 1.5 weeks but were getting way to active for just that, and already starting to move away from the light, it was good for then though. Now with the extra space when the light is on, at night only, they can be right under it, which is nice for the banty's or away in a cooler corner for the bigger girls.

 

[Kyle241]

We put ours outside for the first time last yesterday and they are 3 1/2 wks. They loved the run and were fine in the coop last night. We left the heat lamp on for them as the last few nights have been in the 60's.

 

[WVChickenFarmer]

All of my chicks were around 4 weeks old when we put them out in the coop for the first time. But I really think it is up to you when you feel they are ready and also the weather. We was ready for ours to go out and so was they.

 

[Tracydr]

I usually get mine into an outdoor pen around two weeks old, if the weather is nice. If it's a little cool, I attach a heat lamp and bring them in at night. I cover the pen with sheets to keep them from getting too much sun and to keep cats out. When I lived out in the country, I would put them in a stall and sometimes I'd lose one to a snake but usually they did fine. I keep the tiny Banties in a little longer.

 

[glenny]

My chicks are 4 weeks old and have been in their outdoor coop for almost a week. It is chilly here at night (into the 50's) so I provide an area of the coop that is protected from drafts and has a heat lamp. They seem to be faring well and are eager to be released into the larger part of the coop in the still chilly mornings. Friends who are old hands at keeping chickens say that when the birds are too big to hide under their mama's wings they are old enough to be in the open air.

 

[maplelaneacres]

Our Chicks are about 2 months old and Hubby just finished coop...went in tonight for the first time...

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

The 'temps here have me very hot (it 90 at night and 108++ during the day) so mine don't have heat unless they just hatched, but within 1-2 wks I don't have a light on them.

~ Aspen