When can my 1 week old baby chicks go outside with their mother?

Question

I have 3 x 1 week old baby chicks who are being raised by their mother. This is the first time that we have hatched our own chicks, and we are going away on Saturday for 6 days - so bad planning on our part.

They are currently penned in in a corner of our garage and need cleaning out every day / other day. We have a house sitter who will feed them, though I am not sure she will be too good at moving them for cleaning and this could be very stressful for all - hen, chicks and house sitter - so I was wondering if I can move them outside. I am also worried that after another week in the garage, mother hen might go a bit stir crazy and need more space...

I have a hen house ready for them which I have removed the perches from, and a run that I plan to attach to the house so they can come and go as they please - I just wonder if it is warm enough for them here in the UK where today is 18 / 19 Celsius - and what if they get wet in the rain, or are they clever enough to take shelter in the house? They sit under the hen most of the time.

Any advice would be gratefully received. Thanks.

Susan

Answer 1

i do not think that it is warm enough...

put  a bulb in the cage and that would help the heating...

THEY WILL DIE IF THEY GET WET!!!!

ARE U NUTS!!!

DO NOT LET THEM GET SOAKED IN THE RAIN!

PUT places with platforms or roofs so that  they could go there and not to get wet..

put a perch there so that they would be more encouraged to go there.....

the chicks can go out if they can already walk...

10 pts?

email me still....

for more info...  

Answer 2

If I were you i would put them out in there hen house while you are gone, the momma hen will take care of there babies if they get cold she wont let them get wet either, yes they are smart enough to go in the chicken house when its raining, dark ect. I live in Canada we have had our momma hen and her babies out when it was about 14/15 Celsius, Keep them locked up in the hen house while you are gone though it will be easier for your pet sitter. Good Luck