Can they stay out tonight? - Page 2

Mine went out last night for the first time in the coop.  They've been in my sun room, so they've been acclimated.  Only thing is, the coop isn't exactly wind proof.  I'm going to have to fix that with some plastic or something.

First time chick owner here just joined BYC happy to join as we enter our new DIY journey I have been wondering about when our chickies can venture out as well. I am thinking all of ours are in the 5-6 week range...8 marans(pretty sure cuckoo) and 2 cornish rock...(if I am getting it correct) my Aunt is helping us get started by giving us our first chicks but glad to join this site so I do not drive her crazy with questions everyday! LOL

we already took the chicks outside for some fresh air and sunshine a couple of days ago...then the rain stopped us from doing it again...they didn't know what to do with themselves at first...took them a while to explore around the little makeshift middle of the yard pin my husband threw together. They were outside most of the day then we brought them back in. We are just now finishing our coop and run. While I am nervous about how they will do out there, looking forward to introducing the chicks to their new living space! COME ON SPRING warm up already

how soon are these guys supposed to know how to put themselves back in the coop from the run after a long day.  i had to run my babies to ground to get them in the coop.  way too cold for them to decide they would stay outside all night.

If you lock them in the coop for a few days, they will realize that it is for sleeping and go in there on their own.  We used the coop as the brooder, so they already knew it was the bed!  The very first night at dusk they went in there by themselves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aeropennchick 

If you lock them in the coop for a few days, they will realize that it is for sleeping and go in there on their own.  We used the coop as the brooder, so they already knew it was the bed!  The very first night at dusk they went in there by themselves.

I started out showing them the coop by putting them in the coop directly... but then I had the reverse problem: They didn't seem to know to go down the ramp to the outside! And now that I put them outside, they don't know to go inside. Weird chickens.

Quote:

Originally Posted by L3Home 

 

 

I started out showing them the coop by putting them in the coop directly... but then I had the reverse problem: They didn't seem to know to go down the ramp to the outside! And now that I put them outside, they don't know to go inside. Weird chickens.

  Mine had a bit of a hard time figuring out how to get up and down, too!  I kinda shoo'd a few up and down the ramp, until like two of them could do it, and then the other chickens learned from them.