Moving Day! Transitioning Baby Chicks from Brooder to Chicken Run

There comes a time in every chick's life when they outgrow the brooder and are ready to take the next big step—moving outside! On Robards Farm, that moment is always a mix of excitement and nerves (for both the chicks and the chicken keeper).

In this post, I’ll walk you through how I move our baby chicks from their warm, cozy brooder to a separate grow-out area in the chicken run, where they can safely adjust to their new environment and get acquainted with the older flock members—without the risk of bullying or stress. I’ll also include tips to make the transition smooth and stress-free.

🐥 When Are Chicks Ready to Move Outside?

Typically, chicks are ready to move outside between 4–6 weeks of age, depending on their feathering and the outdoor temperatures. At this stage, they should be mostly feathered and able to regulate their body temperature. I always keep an eye on the weather—especially overnight lows—and wait for a stretch of mild days before making the big move. This year's up and down weather caused me to wait an extra week until I was sure the night time lows were above freezing. It was beginning to get hard to contain the chicks in the brooder set up.

As they get older, they begin to fly around and easily make it to the top of the playpen. I don't like to put a top on it - only because it makes it harder to access the waterer and feeder to fill and ensure the whole space is clean. These 5 chicks were definitely ready for the transition.

🏡 Preparing the Grow-Out Space

In our chicken run, I’ve created a secure, sectioned-off area where the chicks will be protected from the adult hens but still able to see and interact through the fencing. This "see but no touch" setup is key for a smooth integration later.

What I include in the grow-out area:

• A dog kennel modular fence

  • 
    

    

    Dog kennel

• A plastic dog house that will be used for sleeping and weather protection. We have screwed a wire gate to be able to close them in at night as an extra means of protection. Any suitable "house" will work here - we had this house already and didn't need to buy anything - it's nice to be able to repurpose

• Chick-sized feeders and waterers

• Shade and wind protection

• Plenty of clean bedding

• Sand in their small run area to make clean up easier

• Predator-proof fencing

🚚 Moving Day!

When it's time to move the chicks, I try to do it during calm, mild weather—late morning or early afternoon works best.

My moving-day routine:

1. Gently transfer the chicks out of the brooder to a holding area. This year the weather was nice so I let them spend some time outside in the sunshine while I cleaned out the brooder and moved the feeder and waterer to their new grow out pen.

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

2. Bring them out to the grow-out pen and let them explore while supervised.

3. Stay nearby for the first hour to make sure they settle in and aren’t overly stressed.

Expect some chirping and pacing at first, but they usually settle down once they realize there’s space to scratch and explore.

🐔 Letting the Older Flock Observe

The older hens are very curious about the new arrivals! I let them watch each other through the fencing for at least a week or two. This helps the chicks build confidence while letting the older birds get used to them.

Bonus tip: Toss some scratch or treats near the dividing fence so everyone associates the newcomers with something positive!

💡 What Comes Next?

After a couple of weeks of peaceful side-by-side living, I’ll start supervised visits, then fully integrate the flocks when the chicks are big enough to hold their own. One of my biggest realizations is that chickens are mean and pecking order is a rule of nature. Its hard to be fully mentally prepared to watch the new hens get put in their place by the older ones, but this will inevitably happen. But that’s a post for another day!