The Poultry Keeper

EGirl · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 1238 Location: Dublin, Ireland

Hi guys,

Tomorrow is to be fine & warm and I thought I might take my chicks out to the grass for a short while, they are 10 days old. I won't let them get cold or eaten by the other chooks, obviously. Just wondered what y'all thought?

thanks Wink

Diane · Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 274 Location: Dorset

Don't see why not - just for 15- 20 mins or so - keeping an eye on them. I have 10 day old chicks with a broody and they seem to be ok for about 20 mins and then go back underneath her for a warm-up. But only if it's a nice warm day and not for much longer than 20 mins or so, in case they get a chill.

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1267 Location: Correze

I use a broody as a guide. As Diane says, they'll certainly be fine for a short time. I use a polycarbonate cold-frame as a temporary run - so no draughts - and keep a close eye for when they start to huddle.

jreeve · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 91 Location: North Wales

It was really hot the other day so i had my chicks out in a mini run on the lawn.. they were too hot under their lamp with the heat aswell, so i thought i'd let them have a little day out! They were about the same age as yours. They are two weeks old now and were out yesterday again, for a good couple of hours. As long as its warm and they are either supervised or definately safe from predators/wind+rain/extreme heat etc they will be fine Smile

Tarka · Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 379

I think it's a good idea as long as your out with them for 15 minutes , the problem is " if you left them and it turned windy they " could " catch a chill and Sad

I have some that are two weeks now and we sit out with them for 20 minutes if the suns out .

EGirl · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 1238 Location: Dublin, Ireland

Thanks guys, I have brought them out into the sunshine twice now. I just release them onto the lawn and sit with them. They're really facinating to watch and I love to see them jumping around and trying to fly.

Even more touching is that they come over to me if they hear a loud noise or there's a gust of wind, bless! I've also reduced the lamp to a 40 watt, they complained a bit but seem to have adapted well. They have lots of wing feathers and starting to get back & neck ones so I think they are fine!

Sylvia · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:10 am Post subject:

As an experiment with my 23 x 3 week old chicks I have separated them into 2 mini flocks, one lot I have outside in a small coup with a heat lamp and a run attached the other I have left inside in the brooder (2 x 1.5 metre).
The ones in the outside coup are free to come and go into the run from the time I open up about mid morning until I put them to bed late afternoon/early evening, depending on the weather.
Although I only did this split last weekend it is amazing the difference in the 2 lots of chicks, the ones outside seem to be much stronger with more feathering and much more confidence.
I have only tried this experiment as it is so warm/hot here and I was able to put a heat lamp in the coup but have found it interesting to see the difference.