sayccrn
Songster
Back story: The older chicks are about 4 weeks old and nicely, but not fully feathered. I got two more, one died (hopefully will be getting a buddy this week for her) Older chicks have been going to the chicken tractor I built if it is at least high 70's out. baby chick is besides herself if left alone, but the older chicks don't want to have anything to do with her, and just stare at her through the divider. Last night, We got a pop up T-storm and it got noticeably cooler, like low 70's, so we brought the older chicks back inside. She quited down almost immediately. I tried to put them together without the hardware cloth separating them and again the older chicks are acting scared of her. She is even trying to hop on the ones back!  LOL The box is getting awful crowded already. The first batch is about a month old. I have a nice coop, I built, but it may get too hot in the sun(I have no shade).  So, I don't know when I should move the older birds out to the coop. Plus, if I move the older birds out then what about them getting used to one another again?  I've also heard that you are to lock them in their coop for a week. I don't think I can do that, it gets too hot here. 2 days ago it was already 87, last summer we had record breaking 90 or above for over 90 days. What's the next best step for them?  Move the older chicks to the coop I built during the day or just to the tractor? (what's the best temp for them, and what's too hot in the coop, that sits in the sun, but has lots of screened windows.) this picture is from last Thursday, when I got the baby chick.