when can I get my chicks out to their coop?

[ameraucana 25]

my chicks are almost 6 weeks old and the low temps are 35 degrees during the night and 70 during the day I have this coop https://www.omlet.us/eglu-pro-chicken-coop/ when Is the soonest I could get them outside? They are cold hardy breeds consisting of Rhode Island reds, ameraucanas, silver laced Wyandottes, chocolate orpingtons and buckeyes. want to get them out their as soon as possible.

 

[WhiskeyTheRedd]

Id say 8 weeks will do better. I always would stay on the cautious side. if they have a good coop that will keep them warm and out of the wind and rain/snow, They will likely be FINE as soon as they are fully feathered. At 6 weeks generally less than 50 degrees MIGHT not be very fun for them.

 

[ameraucana 25]

What if we put a heating plate in their coop?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Put them out now they will be just fine. I brood out in my barn with a heat plate and everyone self weans off of the heat around 3-4 weeks. It’s 40F today and I have week olds out in the brooder now…none are even under the plate and are all out running around.

 

[ameraucana 25]

So you think the heat plate is needed?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

So you think the heat plate is needed?

At 7 weeks absolutely not. I remove the heat plate when mine are 4 weeks old.

 

[ameraucana 25]

So about to hit six weeks it isn't needed

 

[NatJ]

my chicks are almost 6 weeks old and the low temps are 35 degrees during the night and 70 during the day I have this coop https://www.omlet.us/eglu-pro-chicken-coop/ when Is the soonest I could get them outside? They are cold hardy breeds consisting of Rhode Island reds, ameraucanas, silver laced Wyandottes, chocolate orpingtons and buckeyes. want to get them out their as soon as possible.

Where are they now? What temperature do they have now?
It can make a big difference in whether they are ready to move outside.

 

[ameraucana 25]

In my house and it is about 65F

 

[NatJ]

In my house and it is about 65F

In that case, assuming they are mostly feathered, I think they can probably move outside soon.

I mention "mostly feathered" because some chicks grow their feathers much faster than others. Chicks that grow feathers really slowly would need to be older before they have enough feathers to move out.

You could spend a few days putting them outside in the morning and bringing them back inside at night, or you could just pick a day and put them out and be done with it.

If you look at the weather forecast, sometimes you can pick a time when their first night or two will be a bit warmer than usual, but unless there is a big temperature difference, that probably does more to make the owner feel better than to help the chicks.