when to put my chicks outside

[Silkie_Lover1]

I am new to chickens and have three silkie chicks. They are 5 weeks old and that is the age my aunt put her chicks outside but she has bigger breeds so I feel like my silkies are to small to go outside.

I also have a question about temperature. Where I live the temperature is at about 90 degrees outside. Is that to hot for the chicks. Right now their brooder is at 78 degrees.

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

I put mine out at five weeks, 2 weeks ago. 1 is a silkies.i put them in a wire crate for a week, then opened up small doors for them to slip in and out with the bigger chickens. I also provide frozen water bottles for them to help cool them off in the heat. 1 for the bigs and 1 for the littles.
They stand on them and/or lay next to them.

 

[Silkie_Lover1]

I put mine out at five weeks, 2 weeks ago. 1 is a silkies.i put them in a wire crate for a week, then opened up small doors for them to slip in and out with the bigger chickens. I also provide frozen water bottles for them to help cool them off in the heat. 1 for the bigs and 1 for the littles.
They stand on them and/or lay next to them.

Thank you, I will use the frozen water bottles.

 

[K_Elise]

As far as the heat goes. I would provide your chicks with a shallow water bowl so they can stand in it when they get hot. I live in AZ, high temps right now are 110°, and have a kiddie pool for them to stand in. They love their pool.

 

[Silkie_Lover1]

As far as the heat goes. I would provide your chicks with a shallow water bowl so they can stand in it when they get hot. I live in AZ, high temps right now are 110°, and have a kiddie pool for them to stand in. They love their pool.

lol, do you have a picture?

 

[snow5164]

Are there other birds ? Or is it just them? I’d put them out and as mentioned above shallow water is very important.

Shade and water... I dig them shallow spots in the dirt too..

 

[Silkie_Lover1]

Are there other birds ? Or is it just them? I’d put them out and as mentioned above shallow water is very important.

Shade and water... I dig them shallow spots in the dirt too..

nope it is just them. they are my first chickens so I want to make sure I take great care of them

where I have my coop they will get lots of shade and I have an old kiddie pool that I could use, but how shallow should the water be?

 

[snow5164]

You know I need to see a picture? I love my silkies,

A pools way to deep for them,
I use an old pie plate from the second hand store. You want them to be able to step in, Ive floated treats in it too..

Think of them as kids that want to have fun..like Carol my hen that really , really wants to fly

 

[BirdGirl2004]

I have had my chicks out since day 1. Of course I had a light on them until they were a couple weeks old, then I just set a box on top of then that acts as a mother hen. Me personally, if they are feathered out they should be just fine to be outside without a heat lamp. You're chickens will be just fine outside, especially if it's 90 degrees outside. Just let them have ample food and water/shade ALL the time. I can not express it enough that they need ALLL the things!! My hen got stuck in the coo for the day ( the door shut on her ) and I found her dead later that night!

Good luck!

 

[BirdGirl2004]

You know I need to see a picture? I love my silkies,

A pools way to deep for them,
I use an old pie plate from the second hand store. You want them to be able to step in, Ive floated treats in it too..

Think of them as kids that want to have fun..like Carol my hen that really , really wants to flyView attachment 1471824

Awwww. She's SOO cute!!