jackiek Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Hi there, I have five chicks and they are two days short of six weeks. They have been out in the run the last week during the day (as it is 75 F or 23.8 degree Celsius). I take them back into the brooder at night. I even turn on the brooder light at night and they average 70 until last evening. They are almost all feathered out (looks like there is a little down on their rump area) and I decided to put them outside into the cube for the first time tonight. Being a first time chicken mother, I'm quite anxious about their comfort and whether they will be ok being outside. It is supposed to get down to 40 F or 4 degree Celsius. Has any one experience with chicks going out into the Cube under such weather conditions and at this age? Will they be ok? Books say they can go outside between 4 to 6 weeks, but none mention the temperature. The Cube is also relatively big for them. I put a little box (with bottom cut out) into the cube too, hoping they would cuddle inside. Anyhow, any suggestions would be appreciated. Jackie p.s. I am the one with the terrible experience with the GO. The cube, however, is wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Bit late now, but they will struggle with the ladder. Are you going to help them in and out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 The 4-6 week guideline is for spring/summer and not this time of year You have missed an important stage which is to bring them in at night but with no heat/light, they need to be gradually introduced to cooler temps and darkness They will undoubtedly survive outside in a cube but not thrive as the sudden change will check their growth A cube also isnt ideal because of the steps, you'll have to help them down in the mornings or they could be injured from jumping down, also remove the roosting bars and fill the trays with bedding, roosting too early will bend their keel bones Dont be put off by this, you have got them this far well, maybe just being them back indoors for another couple of weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 I agree, they need to be out in the day, in in the night without heat for another couple of weeks. A gradual approach will lead to hardier birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 If you have put a small box inside *and* you have provided food and water *and* kept the door shut, they may well be ok. 6 weeks old is a tad early, IMO, for total independance. If you have older hens in your Cube, I would be concerned about the chicks mingling too soon too. Then again, you may be ok. Either way, do please let us know how it went. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiek Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 Hi all, Thanks for all your advise. I brought them in last night after all. I was fretting so much that I decided better safe than sorry while I wait for help from the forum. Funny thing is they seemed quite alright. They weren't in the box, but the temperature inside seemed much warmer than out. Anyhow, we brought them back into the brooder. We repeated the process again tonight as I didn't see this until an hour ago. I think I like the idea of first having them in brooder in garage without brooder lamp on and acclimatizing them. All that said, we helped them into the Cube this evening (and yesterday). We thought we would be helping them into the Cube till they figure out they like it. They are quite capable of getting up and down the steps. They have been spending time in the run during the day and quite a few of them have been flying and then hopping up the rungs to just hang out there. Thanks again for your advise. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiek Posted January 13, 2012 Author Share Posted January 13, 2012 I have a further question. I'm wondering at what age the chicks can go into the cube and use the roosting bars without harming their keel bones? I'm thinking I'd buy a ceramic heater for the cube for the chicks, but not sure for how long before I should remove the roosting bars as suggested above. Any opinions or suggestions? I didn't realize the chicks can't use the Cube (or Cube's Roosting Bars) immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 About 14 weeks is the right age to let them roost. An electric hen would be the safest form of heat in a cube but if you keep them in at night for another 10 days or so and let this cold snap pass I reckon you'd be ok to leave them out there with no extra heat and so save yourself the expense. An alternative would be to look at something like a Snugglesafe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiek Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 Thanks for the info. Very helpful to know about the roosting bars. The heater I ordered (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ICKBCW/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details) will arrive either Tuesday or Wednesday. In the meanwhile, do you reckon 8 degrees Celsius low to be ok at night? They are still living in the brooder. They don't seem particularly grateful to be in there at night (which is half the area of the Cube run). And I am just so keen for them to be out of the garage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
