How to add two indoor chicks to the gang outside?

[mopalia]

I told earlier about my hen who set up housekeeping under the cedar tree unbeknownst to me. She hatched quite a brood (not sure they were all actually hers, the other hen might have been laying in the nest, too), and she has been a great mom to 10 chicks outside. But one was born a day late, had trouble walking, and I took it in and by the third day it was walking just fine, so I trapped one of the outdoor chicks to raise them together. The latecomer wasn't really strong enough to set out with the mob. The chicks are now in their 5th week. How do I integrate these two indoor chicks with the mob? I"m disabled, so it's a real problem to take them out and bring them back. I could put them out in a large pen so they can be seen and not touched, but I couldn't bring them in at night - it's 90+F by day and under 60 at night (central CA). The "mob" outside consists of Mom and the 9 chicks, two much older Wyandottes, and a very flighty former flockmate of Mom's. They are all getting along pretty well. So what's my best move in getting these two out of my living room and into the "real" chicken world? Thanks for all the excellent help you've given me and this unexpected foray into chicken farming! (And the rooster has been re-homed, so no more surprises!)

 

[DobieLover]

Is the area where you can pen them well shaded and in a place that you can put a fan on them to keep them from overheating? Is it predator-proof? If it is not predator-proof and you leave them out there overnight, they obviously run the risk of getting killed. Where does the rest of the flock stay at night?

And the rooster has been re-homed, so no more surprises!

And you won't be surprised when half of the chicks turn out to be cockerels that also need to be rehomed.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The 60 at night is not a problem for your chicks. They could handle much colder temperatures. The 90+ might be more of an issue since they will be penned in a specific area. Mine do fine in 90+ but mine can find shade and have plenty of water. Can you put a pen somewhere in the shade?

Predators are a real issue. I don't know enough about your situation to make any suggestions except to consider potential predators.

It sounds like yours free range so having enough room isn't an issue. Where they sleep at night might be. I'd house them outside for a week or two where the others can see them and then just turn them loose. See what happens. I think the odds of them doing OK are pretty good. They may join some of the others or they may stay to themselves until they reach maturity. Then they should merge into the flock.

 

[mopalia]

Is the area where you can pen them well shaded and in a place that you can put a fan on them to keep them from overheating? Is it predator-proof? If it is not predator-proof and you leave them out there overnight, they obviously run the risk of getting killed. Where does the rest of the flock stay at night?


And you won't be surprised when half of the chicks turn out to be cockerels that also need to be rehomed.

Well shaded, with optional mister if it goes towards 100. No predators. Flock sleeps in the coop, which has plenty of room for all of them. Expecting at least 50% roos, and really little hope of rehoming them - resigning myself to finding a kind way to send them to freezer camp.

 

[mopalia]

The 60 at night is not a problem for your chicks. They could handle much colder temperatures. The 90+ might be more of an issue since they will be penned in a specific area. Mine do fine in 90+ but mine can find shade and have plenty of water. Can you put a pen somewhere in the shade?

Predators are a real issue. I don't know enough about your situation to make any suggestions except to consider potential predators.

It sounds like yours free range so having enough room isn't an issue. Where they sleep at night might be. I'd house them outside for a week or two where the others can see them and then just turn them loose. See what happens. I think the odds of them doing OK are pretty good. They may join some of the others or they may stay to themselves until they reach maturity. Then they should merge into the flock.

Oddly, no predators. Cage can be in total shade, with mister available if temperatures go up towards the 100s.
I like the housing them outside for a week, then turning them loose. Let's see what happens! Thanks for a good commonsense approach.