Moving Chicks Outside

[rosemarythyme]

I imagine keep them acclimated to the coop with nesting boxes blocked as to not let them pick up the habit of sleeping in that space? Also keep roosting bars away for a bit until 6/7 weeks so they can get used to those and not potentially injure themselves?

I don't block nests with chicks but I don't generally need to block them. It doesn't hurt to block them but be ready to remove them a few weeks before they come into lay so they can explore them.

How high are the roosts? Even 2-3 week old chicks can easily slow their descent by flapping and I think it's fairly rare to have fall injuries as long as they have room to flap and landing space to stop on.

Was also reading somewhere to keep them in the coop for a several weeks before access to the run so they associate the space with home to come back and roost at night fall - picking up a good habit of returning to roost. Thoughts on this?

I'm a fan of doing that with chicks, provided you have enough space, natural light and ventilation in the coop for them to use during that time. If your coop meets or exceeds the recommended 4 sq ft per bird minimum then that should be plenty of space to house chicks for a week or two.

 

[Mikski]

My chicks made the permanent move outside today! I mounted the producer’s pride brooding plate on the wall and turned it to “heater” mode to give them some supplemental heat while evenings are still getting pretty cold. They have been spending daytimes out in their run already. When I went to check on them at dusk they had all made their way into the coop and were huddled up on the floor so I closed their auto door and said goodnight. Hoping they stay warm enough and are happy healthy birds in the morning.

 

[pdnarus10]

Hello! First time chick owner over here. I have a flock of 12 chicks, mixed breeds. They are all currently 3-4 weeks old. Temperatures next week are supposed to be mid 60s during the day, and low 40s overnight. Currently, chickies have happily been going outside during the day (covered/enclosed run w/access to coop - temps in high 50s, low 60s but sunny) but still sleeping in their brooder at night. Could I move the chickies outside overnight next week (4-5 weeks old)? They aren’t fully feathered yet, but rapidly getting there. I have the ability to run an extension cord and could put their brooder plate in the coop. Would that be necessary? If so, would I want the brooder plate vertical or horizontal? Would I want it on the brooder setting or the heater setting? Should I flip the brooder plate vertical in their brooder now? Sorry for so many questions! Eager to get the sweet (but stinky) chickies out of my house and into their permanent residence, but also want to make sure they will continue to be happy and healthy! Thanks!

I would probably wait until they are fully feathered without a heat plate. Just put the plates vertical. And I think they will be fine in the co-op. If you have that many together, they'll get warm and cuddle next to each other. I definitely would use the heater plate until they're fully feathered

 

[Mikski]

I would probably wait until they are fully feathered without a heat plate. Just put the plates vertical. And I think they will be fine in the co-op. If you have that many together, they'll get warm and cuddle next to each other. I definitely would use the heater plate until they're fully feathered

Thanks! They moved out a couple weeks ago but I’ve kept their heat plate on. We are going through a cold snap this week but once the weather warms up I was considering turning it off since they are all fully feathered now.

 

[Henora]

Also keep roosting bars away for a bit until 6/7 weeks so they can get used to those and not potentially injure themselves?

Do y’all think that would be okay?

Was also reading somewhere to keep them in the coop for a several weeks before access to the run so they associate the space with home to come back and roost at night fall - picking up a good habit of returning to roost. Thoughts on this?

Thanks for the wealth of information!

Is run fully secure? I put mine (4 wks old) out in the coop with free access to the run and then go out there in the evening to make sure everyone gets to bed. I have the chick flock beside an adult run and by the 2nd night they were going in their coop on their own at the same time as the adults before sunset.

I also give a baby roost bar in their brooder before they're even a wk old, it's like 3" off the floor. They still sleep on the floor at night though, even at one month old. I had a group before where we put them on the roost at night but they would fly off on their own.

 

[Henora]

Thanks! They moved out a couple weeks ago but I’ve kept their heat plate on. We are going through a cold snap this week but once the weather warms up I was considering turning it off since they are all fully feathered now.

So they're about 7 or 8 wks old? Do you mind telling me how cold it is? I have my 1 month olds out and it'll get down to 42 at the lowest next week.

 

[Mikski]

So they're about 7 or 8 wks old? Do you mind telling me how cold it is? I have my 1 month olds out and it'll get down to 42 at the lowest next week.

I moved mine outside full time at 4-5 weeks old. It was still getting down to low 30s at night, so I had a brooder plate set up on the floor of the coop so they could still huddle under for warmth. I removed that when they were probably 7-8 weeks old and overnight temps were then in the mid to high 30s. Daytime temps are anywhere from 50-70 right now. All my chicks are doing well and put themselves to sleep in the coop at night (I have an auto-door that shuts at dark). I do have 12 so there were a fair number of them which helped provide more huddle heat too.

 

[Henora]

I moved mine outside full time at 4-5 weeks old. It was still getting down to low 30s at night, so I had a brooder plate set up on the floor of the coop so they could still huddle under for warmth. I removed that when they were probably 7-8 weeks old and overnight temps were then in the mid to high 30s. Daytime temps are anywhere from 50-70 right now. All my chicks are doing well and put themselves to sleep in the coop at night (I have an auto-door that shuts at dark). I do have 12 so there were a fair number of them which helped provide more huddle heat too.

Thanks for the update! I won't worry too much then