Headchicken Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Hello all! So, as a first time chicken mom, got another question. My girls will be 5 wks old tomorrow and are growing very well! I'm in Florida, so during the day, I move the brooder out onto my screen porch (it's got a roof, so it's protected from any rain, etc) since the daytime highs are around 80 degrees F. I bring the brooder in at night, but keep them off heat (our house is generally around 70-75degrees F). At what point can the girls transition to the cube outside? What type of night-time low temps should I be looking for? Do I have to wait for the night lows to be in the 70's or would the upper 60's be alright (since they'll be together in a closed cube)? Thank you for your insight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLK69 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Hi, Have no idea - but you have made me laugh with your heat problems - we had snow again this week honestly. I'm sure someone will come along with a solution to your prob Can me and my chooks come visit you in sunshine florida ? please . . . . . LOL susie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I'd say about 8 - 9 weeks of age at the moment, before going outside. It's still cold at night time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I'm in Scotland and my chicks go out to a run within the garage at 3 weeks off heat (in March/April) - they run about daft during the day and all get popped in an eglu at night. I've stuck my hand in there late at night and they are roasting! I've had them out there when the water has been frozen in the morning and they've been absolutely fine. At 5 weeks in your temperatures I'm sure they would love it outside, only thing is you'd probably need to lift them into the cube at night. I have mine on a bed of straw till about 6 weeks then put the bars in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headchicken Posted March 13, 2009 Author Share Posted March 13, 2009 At 5 weeks in your temperatures I'm sure they would love it outside, only thing is you'd probably need to lift them into the cube at night. I have mine on a bed of straw till about 6 weeks then put the bars in Yes, I'll definitely be doing the "putting to bed" routine every night for a while with the cube no matter if it's now or a few weeks away. My sweet little girls love to "lift off" but have no control over where they go or the strenth (and feather density, I guess) to go very high. Great idea about the straw- I was wondering how they'd manage those bars... Susie-- come on down!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 The cube does make it more of a problem when they are young, due to the height, but my meat birds (they feather up really quickly) are all off heat by 5 weeks, essentially as soon as they are feathered up they can control their own heat levels. Mine have been out in the eglu from 6 weeks in British winter temps, so yours will be fine if fully feathered and if they have plenty of shade - chickens have more problems with getting too hot than too cold generally (not as young chicks under heat). Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
