3 weeks old today, moving out to coop wednesday with brooder?

[ColoradoChicken89]

I've got 7 chicks that turned 3 weeks only today, and they are living in a XL dog crate since I got them at about 3 days old; which is really starting to get overly cramped for them all. They seem to sit more on top of the brooding plate at this point, and I've really got nothing else to move them into. Their run/coop will be finished tomorrow and/or wedneday, so I'm hoping to move them into it then (with their brooding plate for maybe a week or two just as an extra precaution). They are quite feathered, but also still have a lot of fluff imo... (I can get some pictures tonight). Our weather has been anything from highs of 61 to highs of 85 (though we haven't gotten anything higher than that), with lows around the 49s-76s at night.

I'm a little concerned with the random heatwaves/cool days that they aren't ready for it, though it's really the best place for them (as it's built just for them)...

Also, should I turn the brooder on/off kinda depending outside temps or just leave it running? I'm planning on just starting their routine (sort of), where they are in the their coop all night, and then out in the run during the day. They will eventually get into a chicken tractor most of the afternoon, but I want them to be fully feathered and grown before the tractor.

 

[DobieLover]

I would move them out ASAP. If the night temps will be below 65, plug in the plate. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother. I would have a floor fan available to blow across them during the day if it gets hot in there. Have all ventilation open. You don't want them overheating. Make sure they have plenty of cool, clean water at all times.

 

[ColoradoChicken89]

I would move them out ASAP. If the night temps will be below 65, plug in the plate. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother. I would have a floor fan available to blow across them during the day if it gets hot in there. Have all ventilation open. You don't want them overheating. Make sure they have plenty of cool, clean water at all times.

Thanks! I will do this. I can't move them until I finish putting the coop together, but I might be able to get it done first thing tomorrow, and get them in there first thing after.

What is a "high" you recommend for the chicks to turn on a fan at? 75? I have a therometer I can throw in the coop and check 3-4 times a day to kinda make sure.

 

[DobieLover]

Thanks! I will do this. I can't move them until I finish putting the coop together, but I might be able to get it done first thing tomorrow, and get them in there first thing after.

What is a "high" you recommend for the chicks to turn on a fan at? 75? I have a therometer I can throw in the coop and check 3-4 times a day to kinda make sure.

View attachment 4156081

80 is pushing it.
Are the birds pictured yours? They are meat birds.

 

[ColoradoChicken89]

Sorry the picture is of my waterer, and I thought I also asked how you recommend keeping something like that cool? I plan on using 2 5gallon buckets.

 

[ColoradoChicken89]

80 is pushing it.
Are the birds pictured yours? They are meat birds.

no they are egg layers (EEs), and no those aren't mine pictuers (that was supposed to be about the water system). I can get a picture here in an hour. Those are probably a little bigger than mine, by about a week or two.

 

[ColoradoChicken89]

here is some pictures of my chicks

 

[rosemarythyme]

Your posted temperature ranges should be fine as long as the temperatures inside the coop match that. For the run, make sure there's some spots with deep shade where they can hang out if it gets hotter.

I'd personally would just leave the brooder plate on inside the coop for another week (rather than turning on and off... lazy that way) but they very likely won't use it much, if at all. But doesn't hurt to give them the option.

 

[DobieLover]

View attachment 4156551View attachment 4156552View attachment 4156550

here is some pictures of my chicks

You might want to rethink that chicken wire. It is not predator-proof at all. All it does is contain the chickens. Anything can break in there and kill them. And I agree with @rosemarythyme that you need shade in the run.

 

[ColoradoChicken89]

You might want to rethink that chicken wire. It is not predator-proof at all. All it does is contain the chickens. Anything can break in there and kill them. And I agree with @rosemarythyme that you need shade in the run.

Oh def! We are adding hardware cloth to the outside today when we build the coop. We've got enough to cover it 360. The chicken wire came with the run so we figured we would use it on the inside and hardware on the outside.