Raising chicks is not only rewarding, it can also be highly profitable. However, to ensure your chicks are being raised right, you’ll need to fully understand when they’re able to leave their brooder, go into the coop, and eventually be outside. Although this may sound like an easy question to answer, it really depends on several different factors. So, when can chicks go outside?
Hen raised chicks vs incubator raised chicks
Baby hen chicks that are raised by their mother are usually outside from the start, but they still depend on their mothers for warmth, food, and love. Baby hen chicks like to explore their environment, but once they get frightened, they always run back to their mothers. As time goes on, the baby hen chicks grow up and begin to be self sufficient.
Incubator raised chicks on the other hand should not be taken to the outside right away. In fact, there is a process you should follow. It’s important to follow this process, so the chicks develop and grow properly. Follow the steps below to ensure you’re introducing your little ones to the outside at the right time. So now, let’s answer the question, when can chicks go outside?
Moving your chicks from the brooder to the chicken coop
One of the main factors that comes into play when deciding when to move your baby chicks from the brooder to the outdoors is the kind of weather your area is currently experiencing. Chicks that are born in the warmer months won’t need their heat source as long as chicks born in the colder months. As a result, it takes longer period of time to raise these chicks.
Baby chicks that are born to a hen will always position themselves under their mother’s wing for warmth. This usually goes on for the first few days. As time goes on, they’ll begin to venture out more and more on their own. Once they start to be come self sufficient, you can start to take them on little field trips to the outdoors before permanently moving them. Before you do this though, you should consider the following factors:
The chicks age and feathering
As a chick becomes fully feathered, their ability to regulate the temperature of their bodies becomes easier and easier. Usually after about 6 weeks, chicks are fully feathered. This is one good sign they can handle being taken on a short trip and eventually in the chicken coop.
Temperature of the brooder
Like mentioned above, if your baby chicks are born in the winter, they’ll probably require more time in the brooder than chicks who were born in the summer. The chart below is a basic guide to how warm you should keep your brooder in regard to how many weeks old they are.
| Week Old | Temperature |
| Week 1 | 90 to 95° F |
| Week 2 | 85° F |
| Week 3 | 85° F |
| Week 4 | 75° F |
| Week 5 | 70° F |
| Week 6 | 65° F |
After 6 weeks, you will be able to start taking your chicks to the outdoors with no supplementary heat source as long as the weather outside is at least 65° F. If by chance you do take your chicks outdoors, and they’re not ready, they’ll let you know. How exactly?
If you take your chicks outdoors and they’re not ready for it, they’ll let you know. Chicks that are cold and unhappy will start to squawk and make a lot of noise. This is not to be confused with the noise these baby birds make when they’re excited about the new environment they’re in.
Things you could consider when preparing your chicken coop
You’ll want to make sure that you get your chicken coop properly prepared before you start the process of moving your chicks to the is area. So, what does this include? First, you’ll need to determine whether or not your chicks will need an alternative heat source. If so, make sure there’s reliable electricity available. Your electricity will need to be wired correctly, so your chicks won’t be able to peck through the wires and electrocute themselves.
Another consideration you’ll want to think about is whether or not your chicken coop can keep predators out. This is very important to the survival of your baby chicks. When designing and building your coop, use hardware cloth. For those who are unfamiliar with what hardware cloth is, it’s wire mesh that’s constructed of wires that are either woven or welded together. It’s reliable, durable, and will get the job done.
Raising a large number of chicks is also something you should consider. Every baby chick produces its own heat, and when you get a lot of chicks together in a confined space, their body heat works together to keep them all warm and cozy.
The last thing you should consider is removing the hen from the chicken coop or wait until the chicks have become fully matured to introduce them this new environment. Why? Small chicks can be seriously injured by the big hens either by mistake or due to the pecking order.
Start with miniature trips
Once you know that your baby chicks are ready to be introduced to the outdoors, you don’t want to just throw them in the coop and walk away. This would have a very shocking effect on them. Start by taking them outside for short, little trips. You can do this by putting them in the grass or the coop for just a little bit, and then take them back to the brooder. Repeat this process until they get comfortable with their new environment.
Not only are short trips to the outdoors good for your chicks’ comfortability, they’re also good for their diets, it allows them to get their exercise in, and they give your chicks the experience they need to adapt to the outside elements.
Once your chicks are ready, move them to the chicken coop
After you have taken your chicks on a few short trips, and they’re comfortable with being outdoors, you can now place them in the chicken coop for good. If you’re wanting to eventually let your chicks roam freely on your farm, it’s highly recommended you keep them in the coop for quite a few weeks before letting them roam freely. One of the main reasons for this is because chicks that are given this period in the coop will understand when the sun sets and rises. Chicks that are not given this time in the coop will not know that they should return home at dusk. As a result, they’re more vulnerable to various predators like larger birds, cats, and wolves.
Letting your chicks roam freely
If you are choosing to let your chicks roam freely instead of keeping them in the coop, you’ll want to make sure there’s always food and water available. Even if your chicks are eating grass and other nuggets they find in the lawn, that’s just not enough to keep them nourished.
Another thing you’ll want to make sure you provide your free-roaming chicks is some sort of shelter. This is especially important when it’s raining, snowing, or the wind is blowing hard. Above all, take care of your chicks just as you would another pet.
- Can Chickens Eat Pineapple? Is It Healthy for Them? - February 21, 2019
- What Is a Wether Goat, and What Are the Benefits of Owning One? - February 12, 2019
- What Is the Largest Chicken Breed? Here Are the Top 10 Biggest Breeds - July 1, 2018
Kazem Naderi
Thursday 25th of March 2021
Hello,
I have a Mama hen with 6 chickens that are two weeks old. The temperature here is not 45 Fahrenheit or 8 Celsius. They are in their enclosed sleeping area at night. At what temperature can I let the hen and her chickens in the coop's run where they are exposed to outside temperature?
Thanks for your help Kazem
Debi
Wednesday 11th of May 2022
@Kazem Naderi, I live in Maryland. My hens raise chicks from eggs and I have a 20 by 70 foot run. I let the mother hen take care of her chicks as she pleases. I would like to not let the chicks out of the run until they are about five or six weeks, but the hens need to get back to the hut to lay eggs. There are about 30 chickens and they just ignore the chicks for the most part. I have an acre of fenced in back yard and I have lost a few to predators over the years. I chose the buff Orphington because they are large and the owls and chicken hawks do not usually hunt them after about six or eight weeks old. I also have a great rooster.