You CAN Raise Chicks Outside in Cold Weather

[dearmeghann]

Honestly, next time around I think I will do started pullets. Chicks have been a lot of stress! I do love getting to see them grow though and knowing that I have a relationship with them. I have been trying to teach them things like "step up," to get them to be on my hand. I think I am about 50/50 on if they actually understand me or not.

Our girls love us and love us feeding them snacks - but they're not cuddly like I've seen other chickens.

 

[Raubkatze]

Our girls love us and love us feeding them snacks - but they're not cuddly like I've seen other chickens.

Did you do pullets or chicks?

My Australorps loved to cuddle from Day 1. My mystery breed (were in the barred rock bin at TSC, but they are maturing to look more like some kind of easter egger mix) were very standoffish until about a week ago. They are all 6 weeks now.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Not here, but in multiple other places I have been told that I would kill my chicks if I put them outside too early. I live in MI, we get some really cold weather. Even when asking on a MI FB group I was told to not put them outside. At 6 weeks they are still inside. I have four cats. It has been a very stressful 6 weeks because the cats want to do what cats do. They don't understand why these things that sound exactly like their cat toys are off limits.

I'm in West MI so I understand about the weather. I have 1 week old chicks out in the coop with a heat lamp and they are doing great. Granted, I am making several trips out to make sure that the temperature is at a good level for them. I either have to raise the lamp during the day or lower it at night. If yours are 6 weeks old, they should be fine out in a coop or garage as long as it's draft free.

 

[dearmeghann]

Did you do pullets or chicks?

My Australorps loved to cuddle from Day 1. My mystery breed (were in the barred rock bin at TSC, but they are maturing to look more like some kind of easter egger mix) were very standoffish until about a week ago. They are all 6 weeks now.

Last year, we got them at 8-weeks old. We're wanting to raise new chicks to add to the flock - we're hoping they'll be cuddlier if we raise them ourselves.

 

[wolfpack65]

OK, temps today here in Ashe Co NC is around 48F but winds are getting up to 20+mph.

This is only my 7wk old chicks 2nd day living outside in their new coop/run. I guess I’m concerned that the “feels like” temps are going to be too cold for them?

Should I just leave them out in the run with their food/water and put them in the coop this evening or should I put them in for the remainder of the day today?

It’s going to be warmer after today, still some wind, but will feel warmer.

 

[StinkyAcres]

OK, temps today here in Ashe Co NC is around 48F but winds are getting up to 20+mph.

This is only my 7wk old chicks 2nd day living outside in their new coop/run. I guess I’m concerned that the “feels like” temps are going to be too cold for them?

Should I just leave them out in the run with their food/water and put them in the coop this evening or should I put them in for the remainder of the day today?

It’s going to be warmer after today, still some wind, but will feel warmer.

If they are looking cold (huddling, heads tucked in) I would keep them inside. Do they not have access to the coop whenever they want?

 

[GlicksChicks]

I hatched chicks in November and raised them outside through the winter. They survived 1° weather and were just fine!

 

[wolfpack65]

If they are looking cold (huddling, heads tucked in) I would keep them inside. Do they not have access to the coop whenever they want?

I’m headed out to check on them. They do have access to the coop but I closed the door to it this morning. I guess I should be leaving that open for them.

I’m trying to learn myself and also tech them to go into the coop in the evenings - thought it might be better to make them stay in the run and then put them in the coop at night myself…

 

[StinkyAcres]

I’m headed out to check on them. They do have access to the coop but I closed the door to it this morning. I guess I should be leaving that open for them.

I’m trying to learn myself and also tech them to go into the coop in the evenings - thought it might be better to make them stay in the run and then put them in the coop at night myself…

Yes, you should definitely be leaving the coop door open. It's actually best to lock them in the coop for a week or so at first so they know where home is. That is usually enough to get them to go back into the coop at night on their own.

 

[redinator]

It's been years, so I can't recall exactly, but when I was doing all my initial research on how to raise chicks, I came across a lot of users advising that it's a must to brood them indoors for the first few weeks.

Maybe (and hopefully) more people have caught on by now that it's not true. I remember seeing a lot of posts over the years of people asking if their chicks would survive being moved outdoors at 4/5 weeks, etc, in very decent weather.

And maybe the info I got wasn't from this site. It could easily have been elsewhere.

I think it has to do with the 'commercial requirements' for chicks that never see the light of day. I came across the this when I first started raising chicks
Baby chicks need a specific temperature range in their brooder for proper development. For the first week, the temperature should be 95°F (35°C). After the first week, the temperature can be lowered by 5°F (3°C) each week until it reaches the ambient room temperature.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Week 1: 95°F (35°C).
• Week 2: 90°F (32.2°C).
• Week 3: 85°F (29.4°C).
• Week 4: 80°F (26.7°C).
  • Weeks 5-6: 75°F (24°C).
  • Weeks 7-8: 70°F (21°C).

I was quickly set straight when I found this site and haven't looked back...
I keep them indoors for the first two weeks so they get use to my dogs and I can keep a closer eye for health issues, but when they start hoping on the brooder plate rather than under it, I use that as my gauge that they no longer need it and are ready to go outside.