[wannabesmallholder]

Bear with me because I haven't done this before...

I have 8 chicks which are coming up to 4 weeks old and are getting lots of feathers. They have an electric hen. They were in our hall and for the past 10 days I've been gradually turning the electric hen off a few more hours each day. A couple of days ago I moved them to our utility, which is colder than the hall and they are now going all day without the electric hen and I'm wondering if they can go all night without in the next few days too.

When do I start getting them outside? And er, in this weather? Presumably going outside should be bit by bit too, as I did with turning off the electric hen? I'm guessing it would be really not a good idea to start putting them out for an hour or so now, when it's sub zero and snowing..... but looking at the forecast, although it's going to be warming up next week, it still is chilly and will be wet, which I guess won't do them much good either. (we are Hampshire, so not got the very worst of the weather) I'm conscious that they should be working up to going outside permanently as a. want them to be fairly hardy and b. we are going away at Easter and it will be much easier to get people to look after them if they're outside the whole time by then.

[Steph Hen]

As you say, not outside in this weather.
Look at the chicks behaviour, if they're grouped together, hunched and fluffed up, or making that loud cheep noise, they're far too cold. If they're happily cheering abuot eating, they're fine.  At 8 weeks I'd be looking to get my chicks off heat, outside, but depends upon many factors.
Could you put electric hen on a timer plug so it cuts on and off for a few hours in the night so it's just a few hours in the coldest time of night?
If they're cold they will eat more. I give my bantams a heat lamp in all cold weather above their perch, they're adults!
Your chicks are probably tougher than you'd think, if they've got good feathers and can huddle together at night, so as long as they're not 'sad', they'll be fine.

[wannabesmallholder]

Ok thanks [member=28951]Steph Hen[/member] . So next week, when the weather gets warmer, but wetter, would I be ok to start putting them outside for a few hours, gradually building up? The run is covered. They are off the electric hen all day in my utility now and only had it for a few hours overnight last night. They seem happy enough - moving around and eating and actually when the electric hen is on, I've noticed that most of them choose not to go under it, rather sitting bunched together when they are not up and feeding.

If they get too cold, how long before it is dangerous. I.e. How often should they be checked once spending time outside?

[Marches Farmer]

I don't put the incubators on until mid April, when the chicks will be able to cope with going outside in a very sheltered coop in late May, when they're three weeks old.  This is not a natural time of year for chicks to be hatched, let alone without a Mama to brood them.  They don't just need to survive, they need to thrive, and that won't happen if they get chilled or are using their feed to keep warm rather than to grow.

[Steph Hen]

Damp and wet is bad, but if your run is covered may be fine. On the day they go out, check on them every hour. Is there shelter from the sides from wind? Chicks are tougher than they seem. True this isn't an easy time of year to have them, but if you're careful and watch them and are responsive they will be fine :-)

I've eggs in the incubator and by luck a broody hen. But I'll be keeping them in the barn with her till there's a nice day.

Do they have any artificial light? When I've had off season chicks I like to make it seem more like mid summer - light from about 4am till 9pm or so. More time for them to feed and drink. Just an idea.

[wannabesmallholder]

Thanks again [member=28951]Steph Hen[/member] - yes I've been leaving the light on til I go to bed. I can shelter the run from the prevailing wind - that's a good idea. I know it's not a brilliant time to have them, but the timings were out of my control (a school hatching project) and we've got them now! Thanks for your help - fingers crossed for milder weather next week.