When Can Chicks Go Outside?

Now that you have added baby chicks to your home, you may wonder when can chicks go outside?

Those cute fluffy chicks grow fast, and can also be a bit stinky and dusty in their brooder. Not only do most folks want to get them out of their house or garage as soon as possible, but many also want their chicks to have room to play and stretch their wings!

So, when can the chicks go outside?

Ultimately, this will be determined by the chicks age, your location, outdoor temperature.

Table of Contents

Momma Hen

When chicks are hatched by momma hen, they can be outside in some pretty cold temperatures. If the weather is too cold for the babies, they will huddle under mom’s feathers and against her chest- basically using mom as a heater.

The down that covers a chicks body is not very efficient at insulating or holding in heat, so it does not keep the young birds very warm. This is why they need to be kept in a warm brooder, or to warm up under mom from time to time.

When there is no mother hen caring for the chicks, we have to be mindful of the temperature so the chicks don’t get chilled.

Daytime Play

I always enjoy taking chicks out into the lawn to get some fresh air and sun. I often set up a playpen in the grass for them while I clean the brooder.

You can set up a daytime playpen outside for the chicks, as long as the temperature outside is at least as warm as the brooder. If they are outside, be sure to factor in cloud cover, wind, if the grass is wet, etc.. And make sure they have a little feeder and waterer outside as well. I never leave chicks unattended outside, as they can easily succumb to predators.

Moving Outside

Chicks can be moved into the outside henhouse permanently when the outside low temperature matches the target brooder temperature.

For example, in the temperature chart below, a 3 week old chick needs to be kept at 75-80 F. So, if your daytime temperatures are 85 F, but the nighttime low is 65 F, it is too cold for them to be outside. These chicks could be taken outside during the day, but would need to be brought back inside with a heat source in the evening.

Once chicks are fully feathered, around 6-10 weeks old depending on the breed, they can go outside as long as the temperatures are mild. I would avoid adding a supplemental heat source to the coop, as it is a major fire hazard.

Have More Questions?

If you have more questions on when chicks can go outside, feel free to leave your comment below!

You may also post your questions in my Facebook community called Hens & Hives!

Thermometer chart with chick age and appropriate brooder

FAQ

When can baby chicks go outside

Chicks can be moved into the outside henhouse permanently when the outside low temperature matches the target brooder temperature. They can have playtime outside during the day if the outside temperature is at least as warm as the brooder.

What age can chicks go outside

Once chicks are fully feathered, around 6-10 weeks old depending on the breed, they can go outside as long as the temperatures are mild (at least 50 degrees F).

When to put chicks outside

When can chicks move outside

When can you put chicks outside

When to move chicks outside

When can Chicks go outside without a heat lamp?

Can 6 week old chickens go outside?

Generally, yes! Once chicks are fully feathered, around 6-10 weeks old depending on the breed, they can go outside as long as the temperatures are mild (at least 50 degrees F).

When can Chicks go outside with their mother?