How long should chicks be kept inside?

Lorelei · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:22 am

Just a quick question. How long should chicks be kept inside and in under heat (especially in this cold weather). I have had some previously that from about 8 weeks they were outside but that was around November time.
Also how do I go about introducing them to my 3 existing chooks?

pjh · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:46 am

short answer is----there is no right answer----------------------------------
mine are usually outside by 6 weeks,but I guess that depends on your temperature and the line you are breeding----the chicks need to be fully feathered to maintain their body heat, so slow feathering varieties need warmth longer, also would depend on the number of chicks , a group of 10 will keep themselves warmer than 2 or 3 little chicks---have read a lot about cold brooders lately and they seem to be good alternative to heat---have not tried one myself before, but am about to :-D

I would not be in any rush to introduce them to the existing chooks, mature chooks can be nasty to little ones---cheers pam

Deans' Poultry · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:46 am

Gday there Lorelei, in summer i was putting birds out into the grower pens when i felt they had enough feathering to keep warm. Usually 3-4 weeks, breed. dependant. Back then i was keeping the brooder light on them until about 2 weeks of age. Now that it's getting colder i am keeping the brooder light on until they are 3-4 weeks of age and put them out at about 6 weeks. In the back section of the house in the first grower pen i have spread out a bale of sorgham stubble to keep them warm on cold nights.

Lorelei · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:33 pm

Thanks for the info - I will play it safe and keep the inside a bit longer. To be honest I am not sure of precise age as they were given to me. I was told they are around 3 weeks. Here is a link to some pics (do you think that is about right?).
http://paforumphotogallery.com/displayi ... 0057&pos=1

Also I am unsure of breed, so I know that can make it dependent too!
I am going to get a second pen to keep them in so as to not rush them into meeting the other chooks (who are still quite young themselves) yet.

greenaus · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:53 pm

Sew a couple of scarves to put on the naked necks. :-D

As I continue to learn, my advice would be to go with what has been said previously.

Perhaps adjust according to your location and conditions.

I prefer the cold to the heat, but I am still a sook when it's cold. I am finding the nights quite cool outside right now, so feel a little sorry for my adult chooks.

The mother hens are keeping their 17 chickens comfy, so I know they're fine.

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:24 am

Hi Lorelei,

Other than temperature, the other issue to be considered when introducing your little ones to the flock is disease. Chicks are more susceptible to diseases like Marek's until they are around 25 weeks of age. If you have older chooks/chicks that may have been exposed to the disease, or it is present in the outdoor environment, then young chicks may be at risk.

It's just one of those things - sometimes it matters, sometimes not. I know show breeders who faithfully isolate young ones until they are 5 months old or so, but I have taken calculated risks and have been lucky so far. Sometimes you just run out of room otherwise!

The other issue is feeding them - if you have young chicks that still need starter/grower and older ones that need something else..... I have all these dilemmas!!

Deb :-D

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

Hi Lorelei, Like debbie I am more concerned about health issues when putting them out. When they are fully feathered (about the six week mark) they seem to cope ok with a mild climate outdoors as long as they have a warm box to go to. However, they are very susceptible to coccidiosis at this age when they go onto the ground. If you put them out, choose somewhere that no other birds have been on and keep them separate from your flock. They eventually pick up your local bugs and parasites but the older they are when it happens, the better their immunity will be. If I can leave them inside until they are 8-10 weeks then I do, but this is not always possible due to caging.

Lorelei · **Posted:** Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:08 pm

Thanks guys that is certainly helpful. I am going to keep them inside as long as I can and then will get them into a seperate cage (and location) for a while to avoid disease as much as possible. I have such a problem with wild birds getting in I worry about that too for disease. I have already lost a few chickens previously and I think it is because of that. Again, appreciate all teh advice as I learn this chicken world!

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

Lorelei, I notice you are in Darlington, W.A. The good thing about your location is that it's not as humid as the eastern coast. That helps keep some diseases at a minimum - especially now that the cooler weather has started. You also have that lovely sandy Perth soil, which helps so much with drainage and keeping pens dry. You might have to keep them warm on some of those chilly nights up in the hills, though :-D

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