I'm a really nervous mom

On June 6 the chicks will be 3 weeks old I know I probably asked this before but I just want to make sure.. Can I put them in the coop ? Here are the temps for the next ten days just an idea.

Right now I have them in the brooder in my bathroom and every time I'm cleaning the brooder they are flying all over right out of the brooder lol I don't have the lamp on anymore and they are getting to big for brooder I have to clean it twice a day .. The coop is big 8x5 with a 6 foot run, I have 6 girls 1 Orpington 1 barred rock 1 jersey giant 1 Rhode Island Red 1 Easter egged and 1 Auracana.. Would I need to put the lamp outside? I've been taking them out a little each day.. Any advice would be appreciated..

Thanks
Roe

Also should I use pine shavings for coop and run? Or sand and if I use sand what kind should I get ? Is there a specific sand?

Rosey516 said:

On June 6 the chicks will be 3 weeks old I know I probably asked this before but I just want to make sure.. Can I put them in the coop ? Here are the temps for the next ten days just an idea.

Right now I have them in the brooder in my bathroom and every time I'm cleaning the brooder they are flying all over right out of the brooder lol I don't have the lamp on anymore and they are getting to big for brooder I have to clean it twice a day .. The coop is big 8x5 with a 6 foot run, I have 6 girls 1 Orpington 1 barred rock 1 jersey giant 1 Rhode Island Red 1 Easter egged and 1 Auracana.. Would I need to put the lamp outside? I've been taking them out a little each day.. Any advice would be appreciated..

Thanks
Roe

Also should I use pine shavings for coop and run? Or sand and if I use sand what kind should I get ? Is there a specific sand?

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HaHa!!
Your okay!
Chicks are a lot tougher than you think!!!
I live in Central Alberta, Canada. My Chicks have been sleeping in the coop since they were 5 DAYS OLD. Heat lamp keeps it about 15 degrees c. They are great! I have 32 chicks! they either go under the heat or sleep in the cold!
Every chick is fine!!!

chickens really said:

HaHa!!
Your okay!
Chicks are a lot tougher than you think!!!
I live in Central Alberta, Canada. My Chicks have been sleeping in the coop since they were 5 DAYS OLD. Heat lamp keeps it about 15 degrees c. They are great! I have 32 chicks! they either go under the heat or sleep in the cold!
Every chick is fine!!!

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As far as bedding goes?
I switch to sand once they are all feathered out! By then they can roost!

What temperatures are they acclimated to? If they are used to those temperatures they might be fine, I personally would move them out and run the heat lamp at night for a few weeks and any colder days. How feathered out are they? That can also help determine if they are ready.

oldhenlikesdogs said:

What temperatures are they acclimated to? If they are used to those temperatures they might be fine, I personally would move them out and run the heat lamp at night for a few weeks and any colder days. How feathered out are they? That can also help determine if they are ready.

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Ditto that

CTKen said:

Ditto that

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They were started at 26 to 30 degrees Celsius
At FIVE days I moved them out too the coop! 32 Chicks stink!
Temp outside was only 3 degrees celsius.
Under the heat lamp till 3 weeks old was between 20 and 15 degrees celsius .
Now its been raised to 10 degrees celsius and they have free run in the chicken run and whole coop all day!
I unplug the lamp during the day. I do provide a little heat at night!
They are all feathering great!
Happy CHICKS!

Please bear with me I'm learning as I go thanks to all of you.. So this is their feathering I don't think all the baby fluff is gone.. so I should put pine shavings in coop and sand in run.. Also should I put the diatomaceous dirt in?

I'd forgo the DE. They look like they may need heat at night for a bit longer. Only a week. Are you using a lamp with them now? I'm more concerned about them possibly overheating in the house if that answer is yes. What are you using for a brooder? What are the dimensions of it? What is the temp in there? Wanna have a run that will be much more natural for them, and give them plenty of healthy opportunity to act like chickens, and give them health benefits besides? Scratch the sand idea. Work on building up 6" of mulch in that run (after giving them opportunity to destroy the grass!) Leaves, garden debris, used coop litter, grass clippings (from untreated lawns) wood chips. This will attract beneficial insects and worms, help prevent sick soil, (ever seen a bare concrete hard chicken run crusted over with dried poo... when it rains, it turns into a poo mud slick) give them healthy bacteria and fungi for their gut flora, and keep them busy for hours.

I agree! No need for DE.
Once they are bigger use sand in coop and run!
Soon I will be Changing to sand once my Chicks start roosting for the night!
I also use a dropping board under the roost for easy cleaning every morning.
My brooder was a Baby playpen. Then a puppy playpen. Now its my entire coop and run.
Coop is 8x10, Run is 8x12.

I would definitely get them out to the coop but expect to run a heat lamp for a few more weeks. If the days get 75 or over they will be okay during the day with it off. I would run it at night for another 3-4 weeks depending on temperatures.

They are so cute. I haven't used sand for my chickens, but use it for my turkeys. I would make the switch either after you stop using the heat lamp or when your chicks start roosting, as sand can be cold.