Almost 5 week old chicks, moving to coop

[Airyaman]

So right now I really don't have any open run space but I do have an open coop space I can move my last set of chicks into. They are not quite 5 weeks, but this week the outdoor temps will be in the 70s and mid 80s which is unusual for this time of year in Alabama. That said, 90s and above will be here again starting next week.

Will they be OK in the 90s? All of the my other flocks tolerate that but they all have runs and free ranging time during the day (when I'm home to let them out, which is most days).

One of my runs is still tied up by the Black Australorp flock I need to clear out (5 cockerels, 2 hens). Not sure if I will be able to get them out by next week but I need to make some type of decision soon. So if I can do that the 5 week old chicks will have run space, but until then, just coop space, which is much larger than their brooder.

Advice? Not concerned about this week, but next week when summer comes back...

 

[rosemarythyme]

With the hotter days, they'll be restricted to coop only? Have you taken the temperature inside the coop and compared it to outside, or is it a true open air coop where temps inside and out are the same since its essentially the same space?

 

[Ridgerunner]

It depends on what the coop looks like. How well ventilated is it? What material is it made from and is it shaded? The concern is that it might turn into an oven in direct sunlight.

Wood is cooler than metal or plastic. They will need plenty of water. I don't know if you need to provide shade or not. The more ventilation, the better.

 

[Airyaman]

With the hotter days, they'll be restricted to coop only? Have you taken the temperature inside the coop and compared it to outside, or is it a true open air coop where temps inside and out are the same since its essentially the same space?

I hope by next week when the temps go back up that I'll have some run space for them. The coop is actually well shaded during much of the day, and I have an exhaust fan up high that pulls out hot air, as well as sealed motor floor fans blowing into each coop space. The shed roof is open at each end for air flow.

I have a thermometer in the coop and it typically runs about what the outdoor temp does at the hottest part of the day, and cooler from the shade during much of the rest of the day.

It depends on what the coop looks like. How well ventilated is it? What material is it made from and is it shaded? The concern is that it might turn into an oven in direct sunlight.

See above. It is wood except the roof which is unpainted Galvalume. The roof is 7' - 10' above the coop floor and open at the eaves and top (it is a single slope shed roof).

Wood is cooler than metal or plastic. They will need plenty of water. I don't know if you need to provide shade or not. The more ventilation, the better.

Always keep fresh water for my birds, and change 1-2 times a day on hotter days if I am home (most days).

 

[rosemarythyme]

I hope by next week when the temps go back up that I'll have some run space for them. The coop is actually well shaded during much of the day, and I have an exhaust fan up high that pulls out hot air, as well as sealed motor floor fans blowing into each coop space. The shed roof is open at each end for air flow.

I have a thermometer in the coop and it typically runs about what the outdoor temp does at the hottest part of the day, and cooler from the shade during much of the rest of the day.

Should be good then, since you know the coop isn't an oven. Some electrolytes might help as well if you notice signs of heat stress during the hotter days, but I think healthy 5 week olds should be able to handle the increase in temperature just fine.