5 week old

[michmarie10]

Needing some advise in how to move my 5 week old babies to the coop safely. I live in Northern Michigan temps approximately 48 degrees during the day and around 35-40 at night. I have six babies . I have them in a pack and play and are definitely out of room.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Needing some advise in how to move my 5 week old babies to the coop safely. I live in Northern Michigan temps approximately 48 degrees during the day and around 35-40 at night. I have six babies . I have them in a pack and play and are definitely out of room.

I live in north east Michigan, & don't move my peeps to the small coop until between 6-8 weeks old depending on weather to make sure they have grown enough down feathers.

I use a small prefab coop for chick acclimation, I make sure it has a nice thick layer of straw to hold heat for chilly days, & nights.

 

[michmarie10]

Thank you. What should I do for more room for them inside for another 2 weeks?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thank you. What should I do for more room for them inside for another 2 weeks?

Can I see your set up? I use a large storage tote as a brooder.

 

[michmarie10]

Can I see your set up? I use a large storage tote as a brooder.

 

[michmarie10]

I took the heat plate out a week ago and the room they are in stays about 75-78

 

[MysteryChicken]

That's bigger then my tote, looks like they can live another week, in there at least. It's not too cramped.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I took the heat plate out a week ago and the room they are in stays about 75-78

The amount of feathers they have they can survive between 70°F & 67°F. The basement at my grandpa's house is cooler then this, so it helps with acclimation before going outside for acclimation of the outdoor temperatures.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You need to start dropping the temperatures - at this point it's not their age that's preventing you from moving them out, but the fact that you have them in a room that's frankly very warm.

You can either move them somewhere cooler that's still warmer than outdoors (i.e. garage), or crack the window to let cooler air in, or start taking them outside for "play time" to expose them to cooler temperatures. Gradually do these things for longer and longer periods each day, then in a week, week and a half or so, they can go out permanently.