When to move chicks outside -North TX

[TheBushyFamilyFarm]

Our chicks are 6 weeks old. We have a handful of different breeds (barred rock, Easter eggers, black star, gold star). We’ve been bringing them outside in a large dog crate during the day this week, and tucking them back indoors at night in our laundry room. They seem happy out there and I’d like to move them outside with our bigger girls, but not sure about the temps here in TX. Daytime temps are pretty consistently in the 60s/70s, but we still have overnight lows that dip down into the 50s and even 40s.

So… when would you move them outside? And would you plug a radiant heater into the coop for them?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Move them out now and begin the integration process (have they been doing see but no touch during the day, or have you had them separate from the older birds?) No heater needed, they're very well feathered. I'd pick a warmer night if possible but if weather looks bad you could just bring them back inside (minus the heat plate) for the evening.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Can we get a picture of what they will be living in outdoors?

 

[TheBushyFamilyFarm]

Move them out now and begin the integration process (have they been doing see but no touch during the day, or have you had them separate from the older birds?) No heater needed, they're very well feathered. I'd pick a warmer night if possible but if weather looks bad you could just bring them back inside (minus the heat plate) for the evening.

We’ve had them separated from the other birds. I’ve basically just placed their dog crate right next to the enclosed chicken run.

 

[TheBushyFamilyFarm]

Can we get a picture of what they will be living in outdoors?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

They'll be in that grey building on the left? I'd put them out there and leave them there. They're fully feathered, and they will huddle together at night to stay warm if necessary. People forget that chickens are birds, and if sparrows and cardinals can handle the weather, sleeping outside, our chickens certainly can, in a nice comfy house. They'll be fine, no heater required.

 

[TheBushyFamilyFarm]

They'll be in that grey building on the left? I'd put them out there and leave them there. They're fully feathered, and they will huddle together at night to stay warm if necessary. People forget that chickens are birds, and if sparrows and cardinals can handle the weather, sleeping outside, our chickens certainly can, in a nice comfy house. They'll be fine, no heater required.

Yes, that’s the grey coop they’ll sleep in on the left!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Nice looking coop. Does it have plenty of ventilation?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is the coop the same one the adults are in? If so, I wouldn't put them in at night until you have a good week at least of them proving they can get along in the run during the day. Actually putting them with the others in the coop is for me the last step, as the coop doesn't give them room to escape like the larger run would.

 

[TheBushyFamilyFarm]

Nice looking coop. Does it have plenty of ventilation?

It is ventilated, yes. Hard to tell from that photo. The ventilation is near the top on the sides of the coop.