[gsc]

Well all my book reading is about to go out the window.  With the nice weather - been told to get them out asap.  They are a week old and growing well.

What do you think?

[Casey76]

I chucked my "big-uns" out this weekend - they are 4 weeks old and just about fully feathered.  The weather is very nice (and I'm sure warmer outside than under the EH - which they had been spending more time on top of than under!) and they have shade in the little coop/run

I'm not sure if i wuld put my littlies out just yet (a week old) they can't control their body temp and might find the hot weather hard to cope with.  You could put them out for an hour or two with sufficient shade I think (and I might do this tonight, once the worst of the heat has gone)

[gsc]

Thanks Casey - what about at night when it's colder?  Do they seem OK?

Maybe I will try my week olds for an hour or two this afternoon - very hot here so maybe about 4 or 5.  Need to make sure they can't escape through the run mesh first 

[Casey76]

Well it's not dropping below about 18C on a night here, and they all bundle up todether (I have 7 out) so they make a nice warm pile.  It they were any fewer I would probably wait until they have more feathers (the two boys are still a bit fluffy rather than feathery).

And yes, little chickies are escape artists!

[gsc]

Mine are in my front room aka the hatchery in one of those chick enclosures


Not sure they need the electric hen in the day so much.

[Tazzy]

Mine have been going outside from day 2, with little Olive keeping a watchful eye on them. She gives a particular type of 'cluck' that seems to magnetise the chicks into racing staright back to her 

[gsc]

Ah but mine don't have a 'mommy' - only me 

[Potiron]

 My two week old Speckled Sussex are out in an old but secure rabbit hutch (minus rabbit),  If it starts to cool off a bit, late in the evening they just hop into the rabbit nest box.

[gsc]

Mine still have heat at the moment so maybe I will wean them off it ove a week to get them out at 2 weeks?.

[gsc]

Well wouldn't you just know it - as soon as I decide they are going out for an hour or two the blessed sun goes in and look likes it's gone for a week or so at least