When to put hens out side?

Jmomoon · Jan 27, 2013

I'm in Ridgefield Washington. I have two French hens (blue copper mt. marans)in a kennel in my front room. They are getting messy and my Pugs and my Bullmastif Rot mix are all very curious.They are almost chickens. Lol! They do have feathers now. I got them for Christmas. A gift for myself. They are about 8 weeks old. The question is when should I put them outside in the coop? The coop does have a heat lamp in it but its only 45' out threr.It's 70' in the house I've had a heat lamp on them and it reads 60'. Last week it was frozen fog out side. This week in the 40' during the day at night around 36'. I'm torn on what to do. I don't want them to suffer. As it is they are going to go threw the pecking order with othe hens in coop.

sumi · Jan 27, 2013

If they have to share the coop with other chickens it would be better if you can keep them separate in the coop until they are closer in size. They are old enough to move outside now.