2 Week old Chicks... when can they go outside to get some sun?

[PairOFWings]

Hello! Title is pretty self explanatory.. but I live on the Central Coast of California and it's starting to get warmer during the day (today is a exception with temps only reaching 66 this afternoon).

But I was hoping to get my 2 week old chicks out in a big dog crate so they can get some sun and play in the grass a bit. When can I start doing that? Does it need to reach a certain temp before I can?

Thanks so much!

Bonus baby picture!

 

[RiddleMe]

You can actually get them out at any time. Think about when a broody takes her chicks out into the world, they are usually only a couple days old. Just monitor them, if they start peeping a lot, they are probably getting cold and need a quick warm up. I often put 2-3 week old chicks outside, in a small coop/run set up, with a heat lamp in the coop, even when it's still getting down around freezing at night. They spend the bulk of their day outside, with occasional trips inside to warm up, then bed down inside for the night.

 

[PairOFWings]

You can actually get them out at any time. Think about when a broody takes her chicks out into the world, they are usually only a couple days old. Just monitor them, if they start peeping a lot, they are probably getting cold and need a quick warm up. I often put 2-3 week old chicks outside, in a small coop/run set up, with a heat lamp in the coop, even when it's still getting down around freezing at night. They spend the bulk of their day outside, with occasional trips inside to warm up, then bed down inside for the night.

Thank you so much for responding!

I'm such a rule-following person, Im worried about messing this whole baby-chicken thing up!

I suppose I could take them out and set up a heat lamp in a corner of the crate.. I bet they would like that. My husband is still building the coop, they are brooding in my office, which I am not a fan of and I bet they are getting bored, too.

Im wondering if I can set them up in the garage for the rest of their brooding process? There is no door on the garage, so I would place the brooder IN a wire dog grate for extra protection with a heat lamp over top. Do you think that would be ok? Even if the temps arent higher than 45 (-\+) at night?

 

[RiddleMe]

My brooder is in my garage, has always been there since I don't want all that dust and dander in my house. Granted we do have a door on the garage, but it still gets pretty darn cold out there. But as long as they have a spot where they can get warm, I've never had an issue. Honestly, my personal opinion is that when they can get away from the heat and self regulate, I seem to have healthier chicks. There are nights when part of my brooder may be as low as 40 degrees but it's still a nice 85ish under the heat lamp. They know to move if they get too warm/cold. Biggest concern I would have with an open garage is just making sure their area it is predator proof, you don't want anything coming in there and reaching through to get at them.

 

[PairOFWings]

Thank you so much! You have totally given me the confidence to set up their space in the garage. I am using sand bedding, so it's not as bad as having shavings in the house, but let's be honest, it still doesnt smell like roses!

Thanks again!