25-4 wk old chicks brooder too small/move

[kingsfarm]

They have been outside from day 1 (Oct.11) 4 weeks ago in brooder with heat lamp. Soon there will be no more room for them to really move around, fly etc...I want to move them to an A frame coop/pen. dirt floor, roost ... instead of wire floor, roost(a 2x4)...I will hang a heat lamp only because they are 4 weeks and not completely feathered out...head feathers coming in...they have done well in the 40 degree weather we have had, my question is will they be ok on dirt floor - big coop? or just wait two more weeks till they are all featherd out - the poo situation on the boards not wire has to be washed off every 2nd or third day... Is the poo situation a bad thing for them, I hose off roost daily (they are removable)...Just can't decide what is best to do...

 

[LilBizzy]

I think they will be fine on dirt floor. They will enjoy the larger space, for sure. More space makes them less likely to pick on each other. I had a January hatch where they lived in the brooder in our spare room. It got too small and messy, so out to the big house they went. ( I ended up bringing them back into the house the first night- it was February, and below freezing, and I felt bad for them LOL)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yeah, go for space. They'll be much happier. With dirt they can dustbathe.

 

[M.sue]

Yup, give them their new house, just make sure to keep the heat lamp in there for them and adjust accordingly.

 

[kingsfarm]

Thank you LilBizzy,ChickenCanoe and M.sue --- I will take you advice and move them...thank you, thank you, thank you.....G