We are new to raising chickens & we were wondering what is a good age to put them outside in a coop? They have their feathers now, they lost all of their fur & look like they can take colder temps.
Start putting them out now! For the first week or so, just leave them out during the day and then for longer and longer periods of time until eventually it is all night!! I did this with mine when they were just a few days old. Of course it was spring and about 60 -70* during the day. But by about 3 weeks they were out all night, no light, and it was in the 40's and a few nights got into the 30's. There were 5 of them and they had a little house to go in. At one month, they were free ranging. You can kind of tell if they appear to be too cold. But, they are good at huddling and keeping each other warm. Oh, and welcome to BYC!!
In summer I would go for 5-7 weeks, but in winter I'd wait till around 8-9 weeks and keep a close eye on them. You don't want to have them in the house with a heat lamp on monday - and out in the coop on tuesday - you need to make sure they can handle the cooler temps. It also makes a difference as to how many there are - 2 chicks would struggle with cooler temps - but 15 would keep each other warm.
Depends on where you live and the temps. I put mine out at 4-5 weeks. I put a heat lamp on at night for them.
Put mine in at 2 weeks, but had heat lamp on at all times. I really don't go by age, more by how fast their growing, and temps. (when I feel they can handle it) I put a loud mouth guinea chick out at 1 day old. She is doing just fine.
