When to put outside

[Missy3b]

My Cornish cross birds are two weeks old tomorrow and quickly outgrowing their inside cage. Are they like normal chicks and need to stay inside until fully feathered or can I go ahead and put them in the outdoor cage? I have had the heat lamp on them and have slowly been reducing the temp in the cage. I am in Missouri and we are having highs in the 60's and 70's and lows in the lower 50's. They are really stinking the place up and I am ready to move them out of the shop.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Judy]

I would move them, for sure. If you could hang a heat lamp in their space, you might be more comfortable about it.

 

[mstricer]

I put mine out yesterday they were 3 weeks and they were stinking also, I just use lots of straw and the lamp if they cry.

 

[Missy3b]

Because its my chicken tractor, I can't put the lamp on it(too far from a plug). I think I will add a bail of straw and see how they do.Thanks.

 

[Missy3b]

I did move the chicks outside last night. It got down to about 50 degrees. They are slightly dumb critters and would not go in the enclosed part; instead they kept coming out into the pen part of the cage. Finally ended up putting them in the house part and setting a straw bail in front of the opening. Checked on them first thing this morning and all was well.

 

[jaku]

Even if they don't go inside, at those temps they will be fine. They can handle freezing temps at three weeks.