2 week old chicks

[Easomaha]

Ok my two week old chicks can now fly out of the 24” brooder but they love to be out I let them out daily in there coop weather permitting the problem is I can’t have them getting out of the brooder do to three cats but the coop is empty and if I keep them in the house I think that’s the better option. Everybody just keeps saying keep them inside my 5 chickens are healthy lol

 

[igorsMistress]

Why don't you just put them in the coop full time?

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you can provide power to your coop they can stay out there full time. I don't know what your overnight lows are but they may still need supplemental heat at night out there. My permanent brooder is in the coop, the chicks go out there straight from the incubator or the post office. During one heat wave I turned daytime heat off at 2 days and overnight heat off at 5 days. During winter I usually leave it on for five weeks. Your overnight lows will have a lot to do with when they no longer need heat. All they need is a warm spot to go to so they can warm up if they need it.

I've seen two week old chicks do some remarkable flying. You might want to make a wire or plastic mesh top on your brooder to keep them in. The ventilation up high is probably a good thing, I would not want to seal the top.

 

[Easomaha]

Yeah that’s what I was thinking. The lows around her right now overnights is about 55 but the highs are around 80 during the day.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If your lows were in the upper 70's maybe, but not 55.

 

[Easomaha]

I put two heat lamps in the coop and they seem fine I’ll keep a close eye on them over night to see the temps.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How large is your coop that you need 2 heat lamps? Unless the space is very large, that's probably overkill on the heat.

 

[MinniesMomma]

I'm jumping in here, but I am kind of in the same boat. Our daytime temperatures are in the 90s and nighttime lows mid-70s. It would be okay for them to move out to their grow out pen full time?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm jumping in here, but I am kind of in the same boat. Our daytime temperatures are in the 90s and nighttime lows mid-70s. It would be okay for them to move out to their grow out pen full time?

How old are they? Have they been exposed to cooler temperatures so they have acclimated a bit? What is your house air conditioner set at, mid 70's? Try taking away the heat and see how they react. That way you can see for yourself.

I do not believe in that start at 90 to 95 and drop it a week rule, I've seen chicks handle much cooler temperatures than that too often. I do think they need pretty warm temps the first few days but they quickly manage temps cooler than that chart provides. It is an extremely safe chart, you will not get in trouble temperature wise as long as long as you follow it no matter how horrible your coop or brooder happens to be. With decent wind protection and bedding to snuggle down in or with a few other chicks to snuggle up to they can go lower than with them exposed to the wind. The quality of your coop factors in a bit, having more than one chick makes a difference. I hesitate to show that chart because people will think it is something rigid and unbending, it's not. But maybe you can see how close you are to this extremely safe chart.

Day 0 to 7 - o weeks - 90 to 95
Day 8 to 14 -1 week - 85 to 90
Day 15 to 21 - 2 weeks - 80 to 85
Day 22 to 28 - 3 weeks - 75 to 80

The best way to find out is to let them tell you. If you air condition your house you may have a real good test.

 

[MinniesMomma]

They were hatched June 6th . Their room is not air-conditioned and the average temperature in there is about 80 degrees with it of course being warmer under the heat lamp. The heat lamp is currently about four feet above the floor level of their brooder. They move all over the brooder and I do not see them huddling together under the heat lamp at all. The outside grow up coop has a nesting area that is fully enclosed as well as a little run. They would be exposed to my current chickens but not able to mingle with them.