When is it okay to venture outside???

[Crazy_chicken_gal]

My chicks will be 4 weeks old on Monday and the daytime temps are around 60-65 degrees fahrenheit right now. They are currently eating only chick starter and have been in the brooder since they came home at day 3!

A few questions:

1. When the right time is to start taking field trips outside with them?
2. Do I offer them grit the day before we go outside so that it's in their system when they go out, and continue to give it after?
3. How long is an appropriate time to stay outside in that weather with 4 week old chicks?


I've had all 6 chicks make it and I'm terrified that if I take the plunge to go outside they will eat something and not digest it properly. My chicken mom anxiety is starting to sky rocket so any advice and tips would be greatly appreciated by this newbie!!! Thank you in advance!

 

[Mylied]

Think like a mother hen. They take them out at just a couple days old. The chicks pick up grit from the ground while they are pecking. They should be mostly feathered so if it's sunny and warm, they'll be fine. Do you still have a heat lamp on them? If so, watch their behavior. If they start huddling bring them in.

 

[Crazy_chicken_gal]

Think like a mother hen. They take them out at just a couple days old. The chicks pick up grit from the ground while they are pecking. They should be mostly feathered so if it's sunny and warm, they'll be fine. Do you still have a heat lamp on them? If so, watch their behavior. If they start huddling bring them in.

Thanks for your response! Yes they are under a heat lamp at 80 degrees right now, will go down to 75 once they are 4 weeks on Monday.

 

[maryn7]

I started taking mine out at about 2 weeks, but on nice days only. I built a 9x9 square from 2x12s that they bopped around in while I supervised - usually for about an hour (or less if the sun disappeared). Once they got big enough to hop out of the enclosure consistently (between weeks three and four), I let them sort of free range - I have a fenced yard, so your mileage may vary.

I got bored sitting out there for an hour stretch at time and they were super grumpy about going back into the brooder several times a day. We built out a structure over the enclosure and covered it with hardware cloth, so no predators could get at them. They've got about 3' of height, so they can run around and practice their perching and roosting. They're a *little* irritated not to have total run of the yard anymore, but at 5.5 weeks they're now outside as soon as it's about 60 and I put them in when the temp starts to drop at night.

Pretty much been a win-win for them, the cat who couldn't understand why he kept getting put in the house, and me, who can finally get some work done without feeling guilty about depriving chickens of playtime.

Re: grit. I didn't have any on hand, but found a mix of construction sand, gravel and small stones. They seem to be managing themselves fine. I leave out the chick feed, and they're mostly eating that with a little bit of grass, etc. But I would definitely put out something if you can't put them in an area where they can find what they need.

 

[Crazy_chicken_gal]

I started taking mine out at about 2 weeks, but on nice days only. I built a 9x9 square from 2x12s that they bopped around in while I supervised - usually for about an hour (or less if the sun disappeared). Once they got big enough to hop out of the enclosure consistently (between weeks three and four), I let them sort of free range - I have a fenced yard, so your mileage may vary.

I got bored sitting out there for an hour stretch at time and they were super grumpy about going back into the brooder several times a day. We built out a structure over the enclosure and covered it with hardware cloth, so no predators could get at them. They've got about 3' of height, so they can run around and practice their perching and roosting. They're a *little* irritated not to have total run of the yard anymore, but at 5.5 weeks they're now outside as soon as it's about 60 and I put them in when the temp starts to drop at night.

Pretty much been a win-win for them, the cat who couldn't understand why he kept getting put in the house, and me, who can finally get some work done without feeling guilty about depriving chickens of playtime.

Re: grit. I didn't have any on hand, but found a mix of construction sand, gravel and small stones. They seem to be managing themselves fine. I leave out the chick feed, and they're mostly eating that with a little bit of grass, etc. But I would definitely put out something if you can't put them in an area where they can find what they need.

Thank you for this!! I have chick grit available and just wasn't sure when the time was to give it to them. Their 12 x 12 coop and run are finished and predator proofed. We live in an area with a ton of hawks, ospreys, bald eagles, etc. on a farm field with little coverage, so we felt it was too quick of a death sentence to let them free range. I may start having them take supervised field trips outside starting next week and then bringing them in afterwards. Thanks for your experience!

 

[maryn7]

We definitely do *not* live in an area with lots of birds of prey, so I think your approach seems smart.

Mine were totally different birds when I took them out. Now I can't even get the brooder lid set down before my BR is on top of the brooder, ready to go outside. Today she just let herself out of the garage and walked over to the enclosure before I had a chance to pick her up. (She is a real handful, tbh.)

Good luck! I think you will all have fun. And have a great weekend.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I;d start them on the grit now to get it in their systems.

As far as how early they can go out, I have chicks that just turned 1 week old outside with a heat pad, with highs in the 60s. Even at that tender age they opt to spend 20, 30 minutes at a time away from the heat. So as you can imagine by 4 weeks, yours can handle that much easily, even if they haven't yet been weaned off heat.

 

[Crazy_chicken_gal]

We definitely do *not* live in an area with lots of birds of prey, so I think your approach seems smart.

Mine were totally different birds when I took them out. Now I can't even get the brooder lid set down before my BR is on top of the brooder, ready to go outside. Today she just let herself out of the garage and walked over to the enclosure before I had a chance to pick her up. (She is a real handful, tbh.)

Good luck! I think you will all have fun. And have a great weekend.

My barred rock is my most inquisitive baby, she has quite the personality! I can totally see her doing something like that too. Chickens really are so fun! Enjoy your weekend as well!

 

[Crazy_chicken_gal]

I;d start them on the grit now to get it in their systems.

As far as how early they can go out, I have chicks that just turned 1 week old outside with a heat pad, with highs in the 60s. Even at that tender age they opt to spend 20, 30 minutes at a time away from the heat. So as you can imagine by 4 weeks, yours can handle that much easily, even if they haven't yet been weaned off heat.

Thank you for this advice! The grit won't hurt their systems if they're eating it before they have anything other than chick feed right? I'm honestly such a worried mess about it all (them not having enough grit, not digesting grass, them eating too much grit, etc.). I'm a new chick mom and I can't believe my anxiety level with them! I just feel like our routine has worked so well and they've all grown up healthy to 4 weeks so far and I'm afraid a change in the routine will hurt them. But I know I need to take the plunge eventually for them to go out! Lol

 

[rosemarythyme]

The grit won't hurt their systems if they're eating it before they have anything other than chick feed right?

I've given my chicks grit from the start, regardless if they were raised indoors or out. Unless they're eating excessive amounts of it, it can only help them, not hurt them.