Upstate New York outdoor temperatures with eight week old chicks

[VaLexx]

So high, I live in upstate New York, and I have production Red chickens there eight weeks old this Thursday and I am wondering when I can put them outside since our temperatures continue to fluctuate from 50 to 90° during daytime and nighttime temperatures between 30 and 65°. Is it safe to put them outside now or should I wait? Also, any recommendations on how secure your chicken coop should be would be helpful does it have to be like Fort Knox so the predators don’t get in

 

[DobieLover]

They can go out now.
They are fully feathered and don't need heat.
Make sure they have lots of fluffy dry bedding in a draft free location in the coop and they will be just fine.
You should have a predator proof coop. No openings greater than 1/2".
Note that I, too, am in upstate NY.

 

[VaLexx]

They can go out now.
They are fully feathered and don't need heat.
Make sure they have lots of fluffy dry bedding in a draft free location in the coop and they will be just fine.
You should have a predator proof coop. No openings greater than 1/2".
Note that I, too, am in upstate NY.

If you could, I’d like to have you check out my coop design and tell me what you think. I built it out of pallets I think it should suffice.

Also, take note the triangles above the door for the peak of the roof now have half inch welded wire, stapled all to it, so nothing can get in there and it cuts down on wind and rain also chicken door has been cut open on the inside of the pen so that they can roam freely through the day when I’m at work. My concern is predators getting in there while I’m not home.
I also put half inch welded wire, 3 foot high all the way around the outside chicken pen to help deter predators, but I feel like they may be able to get under it if they try hard enough

 

[VaLexx]

Inside the coop I do not believe there’s any holes greater than a half inch. I made it pretty tight in there, so at night they should be fine.

 

[VaLexx]

Also coop is 8x6.5
Pen is 13x9.5

 

[DobieLover]

I would install a predator apron around the entire setup to deter diggers.
The thing about the 1/2" hardware cloth going up the way you have it is it does not have a lot of vertical support. A dog could slam into that and break right in.
How far is your coop from power? Could you put some hot wires around the setup?

 

[VaLexx]

I could put hot wire around it I live pretty far out in the middle of nowhere not too concerned about dogs never seen one running out here not to say they won’t but unlikely
However, I do have coyotes, bobcats, ferret, looking things, raccoons, hawks, bald eagles

 

[DobieLover]

I could put hot wire around it I live pretty far out in the middle of nowhere not too concerned about dogs never seen one running out here not to say they won’t but unlikely
However, I do have coyotes, bobcats, ferret, looking things, raccoons, hawks, bald eagles

The ferret looking things (but BIGGER) are Fisher cats and pound for pound are more vicious than the bobcats. You probably also have black bears. I do. I would run the hot wires.