How Fast Do Chickens Grow (when can I move chicks to their coop)?

On By Daphne Cybele Van SchaickIn The Birds & the Bees

Day old chicks are super cute, but what you may not realize is that these cute balls of fluff grow faster than you can imagine. How fast? They easily double or triple in size each week after the first week. Progression pics of my own chicks, from first days on upDay old chicks are super cute, but what you may not realize is that these cute balls of fluff grow faster than you can imagine. How fast?  They easily double or triple in size each week after the first week. Below are some progression pics of my own chicks, from first days on up. If you click an image, it should give you a date and age.

March 14 – just a couple days old
March 14, a couple days old
March 14, a couple days old
March 18 – one week
March 22 – ten+ days
March 24 (two weeks)
March 24 (two weeks)
March 30 three weeks
April 5 (rooster, 3 weeks))
April 12 – one month old
April 12 one month
April 19 – about five weeks
April 19 five weeks
April 19 five weeks
May 8 seven weeks first free range
May 8 – seven weeks
May 8 first free range
May 31 10 weeks
June 17 (hen about three months)
June 24 12+ weeks
July 22 Four month old Young Rooster
July 30 Four month old Young Hens
August 3 five month rooster
November: First Fall hen in front, rooster in back
November, First Fall
First winter rooster almost 1 year old

When can you move them to the coop? If you are raising chicks in the house, you may soon begin wondering exactly how quickly they grow and when you can move them out to the coop (you do have a coop ready, right?  no?  best get one QUICKLY).  Chicks can be moved outdoors to the coop (without a source of heat) when temperatures are mild enough (above 65 F) that they don’t need supplemental heat, OR when they are fully feathered (generally by six weeks). If you have electricity in your coop, you have the ability to plug in a Brinsea ecoglow or other heat source, so you may be able to move them out in colder temps, or a little before they are fully feathered. One point to remember: a larger amount of chicks (25 chicks for example)  will be able to keep themselves warm than just a few chicks. This is why most hatcheries have a minimum order of 25 chicks, so that they can send chicks through the mail without a heat source.

Good luck, and get that coop ready!  If you need tips on raising chicks in the house, check out Tips for Brooding Chicks Indoors (or a post in which I write about how I did it and how to keep your sanity after week three).

Like this post?  Have a question?  Leave us a comment below!

I’m happy to answer your questions about raising chicks, or point you in the right direction if I don’t know myself.

Read more about why I blog about chickens.

 

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6 thoughts on “How Fast Do Chickens Grow (when can I move chicks to their coop)?”

    1. Yep, completely and thank you. Puppies and chickens start out small and before you know it…. Full grown fur and feathers (and priceless experiences too… like administering medication by dropper to twenty five individual chicken beaks or gullets per vet instruction). Things to know ahead of time!

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