When do you put chicks outside?

AmeraucanaHank said:

Really, You must of cleaned it a lot!

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Actually I only cleaned every 10 days at first then more as they got older. I only had 4 though

The first time it was when I got tired of them stinking up my craft room.

WIchickMama said:

I enjoy reading about how everyone does it, didn't vote as I haven't done chicks YET. I have my 1st broody with 8 eggs and this will be my first chicks. They will hatch in the nesting box she chose, then I will move them all down to the coop floor to a nest in a secured area so they can all stay together for about 1-2 weeks and then open it up and let mama decide when to venture out with them.

Is this ok, all you with experience chime in? I am on the fence of securing them into a spot on the coop floor-main concern being that I don't want any of the larger birds (brahmas) to land on them when getting down from roosting or something OR falling out the coop door and me not finding them in time. My plan is just a place the length of the coop (6 ft) by about 2.5 ft-and covered so no one can perch and poop

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I havent done a broody but whrn i do i plan to seperate her away from the big hens and possibly have 2 of the nicest banties with her. She is a silkie and can barely protect herself so i am not taking any chances but if you hen is large fowl or is better on the pecking order shr should be fine with the whole flock

Pampered chicken girl said:

I havent done a broody but whrn i do i plan to seperate her away from the big hens and possibly have 2 of the nicest banties with her. She is a silkie and can barely protect herself so i am not taking any chances but if you hen is large fowl or is better on the pecking order shr should be fine with the whole flock

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She is a Leghorn, small but a standard and top of the flock. I am hoping she will be good. I didn't want to move her until they start to hatch. We don't have an extra coop but the one we have now is big enough for 15 and we have 7 and the run is big enough for 25.

Stacaroni said:

The first time it was when I got tired of them stinking up my craft room.

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Got lucky on that one, I have a fairly dead sense of smell. However, my wife was very glad to have the little stink nuggets out of our storage room though!

Battlepants said:

Got lucky on that one, I have a fairly dead sense of smell. However, my wife was very glad to have the little stink nuggets out of our storage room though!

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My husband lost his sense of smell a few years ago. There are definite advantages!

Between 4-6 weeks, depending on outside weather conditions. Got some, 4-5 week olds moving out Saturday.

Pampered chicken girl said:

Actually I only cleaned every 10 days at first then more as they got older. I only had 4 though

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That's great! I wish I cleaned mine out that much! :lol A piece of advise: Never brood ducklings inside your house! It'll stink for ever!

I got my first chicks last year and had them inside in a brooder until about 5-6 weeks when the coop was done that they could go in it.

This year I got chicks and made a brooder under my poop boards and put them in there around 5-7 days old, wanted to watch them for a bit first. Then opened brooder door for them around 4 weeks (was going to do it a bit sooner but had a broody on eggs so wasn't sure how she would be with them)..... the door was completely opened around 5 weeks old that anyone could come and go including the bigger ones.

I also had broody's hatch or was given chicks this year and I left them in the main coop with everyone and they decided what they wanted to do with them but I never separated them from the flock. Have chicks ready to hatch in my incubator on Sun/Mon and will be giving them to my broody to raise in the coop as well.

I have my chicks in a brooder inside as I got them shipped as day old chicks. Now at 2 1/2 weeks still inside. I'm waiting for more feathers to come in and less reliant on heat. Days are fine temps, but it does get into 60ish during the night. They will go to an outside see but don't touch run around 4 weeks. After a few weeks when they can't get through the chain link, I will open the door to the little run which is inside the chain link run. Still see but don't touch. Hopefully, late August They will be fully integrated.