You CAN Raise Chicks Outside in Cold Weather

[Toothpick]

I've always read 95 during the first week and 5 degrees lower every week after. And once fully feathered they don't need the heat at all. BUT, like everything with chickens there is some wiggle room.

I adjust the heat lamp but I don't worry too much about the temp under it because the chicks regulate themself. I just make sure I have a big enough brooder where they can get away from or go to the heat when needed.

 

[saving grace]

Our thought for this year was to wait until it was a little warmer (and after everyone stopped hoarding the new chicks) and set up a brooder in our soon-to-be old coop after we moved the current girls into their new coop. This post makes me feel like it might work out well for us! Thank you!

Yes, I would definitely encourage giving it a go! Getting a head start on the chicks early in spring is great, that way you might already be getting pullet eggs by the time late summer comes around.

So glad this post could be of some help. Hope your chick-raising goes well!

 

[saving grace]

I've always read 95 during the first week and 5 degrees lower every week after. And once fully feathered they don't need the heat at all. BUT, like everything with chickens there is some wiggle room.

I adjust the heat lamp but I don't worry too much about the temp under it because the chicks regulate themself. I just make sure I have a big enough brooder where they can get away from or go to the heat when needed.

Yeah, I don't stick by the temperature chart very much either. I simply observe the chicks and see what makes them comfortable.

 

[camoloc]

so far I've enjoyed watching the chicks inside in a spare room.

in just one weeks time It seems like they've grow some already. some beginnings of tail feathers on some.

not sure what that means for a naked neck but will know shortly.

Given they're TSC chicks.....probably had a rough journey and are young I'd expect.

either way my groups doing well.

moved them into a condo Gaylord shipping container from my workplace this weekend. chainsaw outside to make a lean in opening!!!

camo

 

[wolfpack65]

I'm gonna say, this is the first time I've had chicks and they are currently living in my dining room. They will be 5wk old on Thursday; living in a 6'x2.5' aluminum trough from TSC.

This past weekend, I cleaned my dining room/kitchen and worked on my living room. The dust!!!! I really wish they weren't in the house.

The weather here in northwestern NC for the next 10 days is mid to upper 60's high & 50-ish for lows. I'm thinking that I am just going to move them to my workshop (it is draft free) and make sure that the heat lamp is sufficient to keep them warm there. I don't know that I can handle this dust for another 2-3 weeks....

They all seem to be about fully feathered, I do see a fluff of down here or there, but in general, fully feathered...and, I guess they could be a little older than 5wk - not sure how long TSC had them when I purchased on 2/20.

So, are the outside temps here OK for moving them outside for the next couple of weeks, till I get my coop/run delivered the first week of April??

 

[Yardmom]

I'm gonna say, this is the first time I've had chicks and they are currently living in my dining room. They will be 5wk old on Thursday; living in a 6'x2.5' aluminum trough from TSC.

This past weekend, I cleaned my dining room/kitchen and worked on my living room. The dust!!!! I really wish they weren't in the house.

The weather here in northwestern NC for the next 10 days is mid to upper 60's high & 50-ish for lows. I'm thinking that I am just going to move them to my workshop (it is draft free) and make sure that the heat lamp is sufficient to keep them warm there. I don't know that I can handle this dust for another 2-3 weeks....

They all seem to be about fully feathered, I do see a fluff of down here or there, but in general, fully feathered...and, I guess they could be a little older than 5wk - not sure how long TSC had them when I purchased on 2/20.

So, are the outside temps here OK for moving them outside for the next couple of weeks, till I get my coop/run delivered the first week of April??

If you have a predator proof, draft free, and dry area, you can put them outside. Mostly feathered chicks will be fine in 50 degrees.

 

[wolfpack65]

Oh yea it’s predator proof. I’m gonna get some help to get them moved out there this week.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The weather here in northwestern NC for the next 10 days is mid to upper 60's high & 50-ish for lows. I'm thinking that I am just going to move them to my workshop (it is draft free) and make sure that the heat lamp is sufficient to keep them warm there. I don't know that I can handle this dust for another 2-3 weeks....

Is the workshop noticeably colder than outside temps? There's no need for healthy standard 5 week olds to be on heat at 50-60s.

 

[Raubkatze]

I don't recall seeing anyone say that here. Where did you get that information?

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.

 

[Raubkatze]

This is exactly why I have been so nervous about raising chicks. We got our current girls at 8-10 weeks because of the potential for not being to successfully raise baby chicks. We love them and they love us, but I would love to see how chicks grow and hopefully connect with them earlier on in their lives.

Our thought for this year was to wait until it was a little warmer (and after everyone stopped hoarding the new chicks) and set up a brooder in our soon-to-be old coop after we moved the current girls into their new coop. This post makes me feel like it might work out well for us! Thank you!

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.