2 week old buffs, can I move them to the coop

[bigmommaharvey]

I have 2 week old buff orphingtons, 17 of them. they have gone 3 or 4 days without heat in our mudroom (67 degrees F) and seem ok. but today it was 64 so I turned the heat lamp on for them. I was thinking of getting a heat plate from TSC, producers pride brand for them. I'm in KY we are building our coop today. id like to get them in the coop as soon as you guys think it would be safe.
I am very new to being a chick momma any help is appreciated.

 

[azygous]

Chicks can go live in a coop at any time. In fact, it's much preferable to a confining brooder.

Many of us have shunned traditional container brooding and instead brood from day one in our coop or run. Currently, I have four six-day olds in my run with a heating pad heat source.

Here's a tip. To get your chicks accustomed to using a heat plate, give it to them while they are still in the tank. They won't need it during the day, but unless they understand it as a heat source when the night turns chilly, they may not use it.

This will also serve as a transition tool to help them not to be upset when their environment changes from confining tank to a roomy coop.

 

[bigmommaharvey]

Chicks can go live in a coop at any time. In fact, it's much preferable to a confining brooder.

Many of us have shunned traditional container brooding and instead brood from day one in our coop or run. Currently, I have four six-day olds in my run with a heating pad heat source.

Here's a tip. To get your chicks accustomed to using a heat plate, give it to them while they are still in the tank. They won't need it during the day, but unless they understand it as a heat source when the night turns chilly, they may not use it.

This will also serve as a transition tool to help them not to be upset when their environment changes from confining tank to a roomy coop.

would you recommend hovering the heat plate or just have it upright?

 

[3KillerBs]

As long as they have heat it's better for them to be in the coop than in a confined brooder.

This is my setup in my outdoor brooder:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-to-outdoor-brooder-conversion.76634/

The lamp is there because it went down to near-freezing when they were only a day old and most heat plates work best in 50F or above.

would you recommend hovering the heat plate or just have it upright?

When used as a brooder the plate is to be horizontal. The chicks need to be able to get under it and touch it with their backs.

 

[Blooie]

Chicks can go live in a coop at any time. In fact, it's much preferable to a confining brooder.

Many of us have shunned traditional container brooding and instead brood from day one in our coop or run. Currently, I have four six-day olds in my run with a heating pad heat source.

Here's a tip. To get your chicks accustomed to using a heat plate, give it to them while they are still in the tank. They won't need it during the day, but unless they understand it as a heat source when the night turns chilly, they may not use it.

This will also serve as a transition tool to help them not to be upset when their environment changes from confining tank to a roomy coop.

I have three 4 day olds out in the coop with Mama Heating Pad and 8 more coming by Wednesday. They’ll go out there to live as well when they get here.

My friend @azygous is spot on when she says to put your heat plate in the tank BEFORE you transition the chicks to outside. The best heat source in the world does them no good if they don’t know to use it.

And @3KillerBs is right….they need to be able to duck under for a warmup and need the heat right on them to do that.

Good luck!

 

[bigmommaharvey]

I have three 4 day olds out in the coop with Mama Heating Pad and 8 more coming by Wednesday. They’ll go out there to live as well when they get here.

My friend @azygous is spot on when she says to put your heat plate in the tank BEFORE you transition the chicks to outside. The best heat source in the world does them no good if they don’t know to use it.

And @3KillerBs is right….they need to be able to duck under for a warmup and need the heat right on them to do that.

Good luck!

how long should I let them use the heat plate before moving them to the coop? a night or two? Also, my coop floor is 1" wire mesh, should I put some cardboard down and pine shavings until they are a little bigger? Or is the wire mesh ok for 2 weekers?

 

[nuthatched]

how long should I let them use the heat plate before moving them to the coop? a night or two? Also, my coop floor is 1" wire mesh, should I put some cardboard down and pine shavings until they are a little bigger? Or is the wire mesh ok for 2 weekers?

I think their legs will fall through.

 

[bigmommaharvey]

I think their legs will fall through.

ok so maybe cardboard and pine shavings ya think?

 

[nuthatched]

ok so maybe cardboard and pine shavings ya think?

Cardboard could be slick. I'd the shavings are deep enough, yes. Or puppy pads.

 

[Blooie]

how long should I let them use the heat plate before moving them to the coop? a night or two? Also, my coop floor is 1" wire mesh, should I put some cardboard down and pine shavings until they are a little bigger? Or is the wire mesh ok for 2 weekers?

I’d never use a wire floor for any of my chickens, adults or babies, so I’m afraid I’m not able to advise you. Looks like you’ve been given a couple of ideas, though.

As for how many nights to use the heat plate indoors before moving them out, that depends on them and how long it takes them to ”adopt” it.