Froggyskull_3_small
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How old should my hens be before I can move them to their coop?

I live in Denver (natch), where the average last frost is May 15. My chicks are 4 weeks old right now, and I have six of them.

Matt from Denver asked in Gardening over 2 years ago | Report

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2 Answers

  • Goonies_small
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    I'm not a gardening expert, but I've raised a quite a few chickens in the city. You definitley need to wait until the last frost. We usually put our chicks out at 6-7 weeks in Seattle, when they have enough adult feathers to be outside. If your coop is well sealed from drafts, etc. you should be able to put them out May 15, no problem.

    Are there any chicken clubs/groups in Denver? We have Seattle Tilth here, where I was able to take a one-day chicken raising class. I got a lot of valuable info that way.

    so-so answered in Gardening over 2 years ago | Report
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  • Lisa_july09_small
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    I have raised several hens over the years but Denver and Seattle differ greatly as far as climate goes . . . Our night-time temperatures are very mild. In May we seldom see temps lower than 40F. Since I know nothing about your cold Rocky Mountain nights, I would watch the weather and the hens' development. When the hens are fully feathered and are starting to show top notch and waddles they should be hardy enough to be outside -- especially if their coop is snug, dry and can be closed up to keep out the cold.
    Find others in your area who are raising chickens and tap into the collective wisdom. Good luck and have fun!

    Lisa Taylor answered in Gardening over 2 years ago | Report
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