OUTSIDE TIME

Just as grown hens benefit from time on pasture, so do chicks. When the fluffy babes reach two to three weeks in age, and the weather cooperates (it should be above 70 degrees outside), give them a few minutes outdoors to peck at the grass and explore the world. They’ll enjoy the new experience and the bright sunshine. Early exposure to the biodiversity of your yard’s soil will give your birds a healthy boost for when it comes time to transition outdoors permanently. Monitor the excursion and bring them inside before they seem chilly. Loud, alarmed peeping and huddling together are both signs they’ve become too cold.