When do you put chicks outside?

[Pampered chicken girl]

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.

Oh if she's alpha girl you should be fine. She'll protect them good

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

I am planning on getting some chicks sometime and keeping them in till about 2-3 weeks then my broody can do the rest. She will adopt 3 mouth olds so they'll be good with her. I will be separating her from the flock with the rest of the bantams permanently and the chicks will be those bantams.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I have a 10x10 brooder in the barn that everyone gets moved to day 1. The brooder has plywood at the bottom, hardware cloth all around the top and hardware cloth over the entire door top to bottom. I had an outlet installed inside to plug in my heat plate and an outdoor pendant light hung above for extra lighting. Everyone can see/hear the chicks without being able to touch them. This last batch at 4 weeks I opened the door and they integrated with the others seemlessly.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Also if the 6-8 wk old were being bullied / not let on the roost they could go back to ther pen free choice. I am 100% hands off , work it out amongst themselves and only step in if i need to. Otherwise im therr for feed, water, shelter.

I dont lock them away at nite give a kiss and treat.. its a frikin chicken. Not a dog. Not a child. Some people take this to the extreme.

These mini dinosaurs survived since beginning of time without human interference. The way it should be

I must say the way people in the site feel about their chooks is the opposite of this philosophy you have. It's fine really, but just be nice to those of us who feel differently.

 

[jus10inla]

Call an ace an ace and spade a spade… its life. Dont get me wrong i will cry just as much as the next person. Dont let the 6’2 310 lb country boy fool ya.

But im not a softie / coddle type. This generation behind me was so sheltered and “safe space” / dont discipline minded / everything is rainbows and sparkles. Hate to tell them the world aint perfect and therr in for a rude of awakening later in life

 

[jus10inla]

I must say the way people in the site feel about their chooks is the opposite of this philosophy you have. It's fine really, but just be nice to those of us who feel differently.

Also not sure what u mean by that, but i have raised thousands of birds easily. They all were well taken care of. Im in the south… a open air / fully open pen concept works great here. The chickens have it made. Moms raise there biddys, when i do incubate they are not allowed to be bullied.

I have no problem culling . I have people been buying birds from me for years. Last thing i want is bad / mean roo genetics or poor hen behavior, i will also pull chicks from mom if she not doin her job

 

[john folger]

mine go outside after anour 36hr old , 80 to 95 deg outside,

 

[StinkyAcres]

4+ weeks. Depends on the weather and how many feathers they have.