You CAN Raise Chicks Outside in Cold Weather

saving grace

Loving Life
Feb 2, 2021
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1,907
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Canada
When I first began raising chicks in 2021, I was misinformed that the only way to raise them in safefully winter/spring was to keep them inside for the first 4-6 weeks of their life. I was told that the cold of an outdoor coop, plus any drafts, would be dangerous for young chicks.

Boy, is that information ALL wrong. I'm writing this now to save anyone reading this the trouble and anxiety that I experienced over the years.

My first batch of chicks arrived in early spring, 2021. I got 20 chicks and raised them in my basement for the first few weeks. Besides the smell, the endless dander, and the constant chirping, they took up a lot of space and gave my mom bad allergies. I was going to keep them inside for up to five weeks, worried as I was, but ended up taking them to their outdoor coop at three weeks old. I was terrified they weren't going to make it, that the transition from room temperature to 5c (40f) would somehow kill them, even with a heat lamp.

Guess what? They were completely fine.

Fast forward to 2022, this time I ordered ten ducklings, though it was far colder this year, -20c (-4f) and below. So, of course, I planned to raise them inside for the first few weeks. Things did not go to plan, however, when my mom's allergies got out of hand after only a few days of the ducklings being inside.

Terrified, I moved the ducklings to the coop. I did everything I could to keep them warm. I put them in a small container to conserve heat, kept the heat lamp low to the ground, and even put blankets over the top of their brooder to insulate it a bit. I thought for sure they weren't going to make it. I heard so many people saying you couldn't keep chicks outside in mild spring weather, let alone THIS cold.

Guess what? They were completely fine. They didn't even seem to feel the cold! They ran around, ate, splashed water everywhere, and everyone survived.

After that, I knew I was never bringing poultry inside, ever again. They don't belong inside, and unless you live in Antarctica, they will be fine.

Since then, I've raised many batches of chicks from day one outside. This year I even ordered my chicks early, to get a head start on the spring. My week-old chicks are currently enjoying their life inside their coop, and though it isn't as cold as when I brought the ducklings outside, it has been getting to -15c (5f) and all is fine. I don't have anything else for heat other than in infra-red heat lamp. No added insulation, blankets, or anything.

I will add, of course, that if you are looking to raise chicks outside in colder weather, it is a must that you use logic and caution, as you always should when raising animals. If you're using a heat lamp, make sure it is 100% secure, to prevent fires. Ensure the bulb is new, so it won't burn out and leave your chicks cold. You can hook up a thermometer inside that links to one in the brooder, so if you're anxious about the temp you can always quickly check that. Keep the water close to the heat so it doesn't freeze. Monitor your chicks' behaviour. Are they running around, eating lots, and happy? Great! Are they huddled beneath the heat, chirping loudly, and ignoring their food? Too cold!

I find that I have to bring my lamp pretty low down on really cold days. I very carefully watch the chicks for a while to make sure it isn't too hot. If they're panting, or trying to escape the heat, it is too low. And make sure to check each chick at least once every day for pasty butt. Here's a simple article on that, if you're curious! --> https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pasty-butt.75786/


I hope this post helps someone. This is exactly the kind of information I needed when I began raising chicks, and it would have reduced a LOT of anxiety.

Happy chick-raising! :jumpy
 
Chicks can be raised any dry draft free space. Ideally they need something to warm one spot for them. Heat lamps, brooder plates, Broody hen ect. The chicks do not need to be contained at the warm spot. They will go back to it when they need it.
Yes, exactly! I don't know where this misconception arose that chicks are extremely fragile and can only be brooded inside.
 
I usually let my chicks start running around outside in a safe place during the day around 2 to 3 days old, unless it is rainy, any time of the year. It works for me, but that is probably because I live in a relatively warm place.
 
I don't recall seeing anyone say that here. Where did you get that information?
It's been years, so I can't recall exactly, but when I was doing all my initial research on how to raise chicks, I came across a lot of users advising that it's a must to brood them indoors for the first few weeks.

Maybe (and hopefully) more people have caught on by now that it's not true. I remember seeing a lot of posts over the years of people asking if their chicks would survive being moved outdoors at 4/5 weeks, etc, in very decent weather.

And maybe the info I got wasn't from this site. It could easily have been elsewhere. :p
 
Here, a quick search brought this article up. I'm sure this is the kind of stuff I was getting this misinformed idea from. And the person who wrote this (apparently) has over ten years of experience raising chicks, so it's not someone inexperienced.
https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2018/02/beginners-guide-to-getting-started.html

She says to wait 6-8 WEEKS before taking them outside. It's crazy!
 
Here, a quick search brought this article up. I'm sure this is the kind of stuff I was getting this misinformed idea from. And the person who wrote this (apparently) has over ten years of experience raising chicks, so it's not someone inexperienced.
https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2018/02/beginners-guide-to-getting-started.html

She says to wait 6-8 WEEKS before taking them outside. It's crazy!
Yeah, her saying that they "they need to start off in the house" is not necessarily true. As long as they have shelter and a heat source, yes, chicks can be brooded in a coop. But it's not as easy to keep a close eye on them and many coops don't have electricity.

She says to wait 6-8 WEEKS before taking them outside. It's crazy!
She meant that at about 6-8 weeks is when they can be outside full time without a heat source.
 
She meant that at about 6-8 weeks is when they can be outside full time without a heat source.
It's a bit ambiguous, though, and you can see how a beginner like I was could have read that the wrong way.

I think, in general, that article (and so many others like it) acts as if chicks are way less hardy than they are. People new to keeping chickens are almost always going to be extra cautious about ensuring every chick is okay, and if you feed them this kind of info, it can put the idea into their heads that chicks are extremely fragile.

If it happened to me, surely it can happen to others.
 
This is exactly why I have been so nervous about raising chicks. We got our current girls at 8-10 weeks because of the potential for not being to successfully raise baby chicks. We love them and they love us, but I would love to see how chicks grow and hopefully connect with them earlier on in their lives.

Our thought for this year was to wait until it was a little warmer (and after everyone stopped hoarding the new chicks) and set up a brooder in our soon-to-be old coop after we moved the current girls into their new coop. This post makes me feel like it might work out well for us! Thank you!
 

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