When is it safe to move chicks outside

[Rebecca1]

this is our first time having chickens so its a learning experiance and I am wondering when its safe to move them outside. Right now the chicks are 4+ weeks old and their run and coup should be done (fingers crossed and prayers for good weather) by next week and right now the weather has been between 50 ish going up to the 80's during the day and nights have been around 45 ish.

 

[Teach97]

i move birds around when the wife isn't looking that way she doesn't know exactly how many i have!

depends on if you are planning on offering any additional heat, how big of an area, how big of holes you have for them to get out of.....

for me i have found that a good way to determine if they are ready is if they have real feathers on their heads....if they do they are fairly self sufficient

 

[columbiacritter]

How many of what kind? Large fowl from sturdier breeds can go out sooner. Smaller or fancier varieties that may be less hardy need more coddling.

I have 9 LF pullets about 4 wks old I am putting out during the day into a safe enclosure within my main run. They are separated from my large hens, who want to eat them, but still able to see and interact with them. It's be in the low 50's upper 40's during the day, but plunging into the low 30's at night so I've been putting the pullets into a dog carrier in the warm coop at night. If it's was safe for them to be with the big hens I'd just let them be going in and out of the coop with the rest, but it'll be a few weeks before they'll be big enough to integrate with the rest.

 

[Rebecca1]

The feathers on their heads are really coming in but in general they are still looking pretty scruffy. We don't have power in the shed which is about medium in standard shed sizes. Would it be better at this point to move them out during the day and back to the garage with the heat lamp at night for a few more weeks?

 

[AuntieE]

I just asked the same question.

Feathering seems to be the key from what I've read. If it's reaching 80 during the day they should be fine then. Mine are 5 weeks and outside in 55 degree weather right now and are much happier campers then when in their inside brooder. At night, I would be putting mine out if I had a coop ready (almost done-hopefully this week it will be ready.) It would need to be draft free, and have bedding they can burrow in if they want. I've read from some people that they still use a heat lamp, others say the birds are fine without it.
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