Are you chicks in the coop (those not hatched from a hen)

I kept mine in a xl wire dog kennel in the basement. The first group(3 chicks) lived in the house until 7-8 weeks old before they moved into the coop. The second group(5 chicks) lived in the basement were 4-12 weeks old before moving to the coop. We put the wire dog kennel inside the coop when moving the second group of chicks to start integrating them together. Now they are one big happy family.

 

Thanks for asking this question as I was planning to get chicks at the end of September and raising them in the coop from day 1. I wonder if you need a special brooder area in the coop if you don't have other chickens, or will they just huddle wherever they feel safe? I am planning on putting a heat lamp in there as the nighttime temps by that time will probably in the 60s here on the mountain. So should I cordon off a section with plywood for them to have a confined space or will they be fine in the coop itself. It's 7x8 ft.

Sorry for hijacking the thread but my guess is that my questions are very similar to yours.

 

My brooder is in the garage where I have better control over temperatures, weather, and predators.

I have raised a batch of chicks straight in a chicken coop when there were no other birds. They must be "fenced" in an area that keeps them close to their heat lamp, yet gives them space to move away from it. Corners should be rounded so they can't pile up in a corner and crush the chicks trapped in the corner.

In cool weather, you must be able to maintain air temperatures at the required level. That can be tricky in a coop.

 

If your coops are completed no other chickens in the coop I used a larger galvanized tub with a lamp til about 3 weeks until they are mostly feathered . You can have it on after that at nite if the temps are less than 70. At 3 weeks they were turned loose in their coop the light was still there if needed . I let them outside at 2 weeks but the temps were mid 80's.Their popdoor to the enclosed run was open during the day food & water in & out . They got to know where their coop was very early . They now put themselves to bed . I had optimal conditions both sets chicks I have gotten have done very well . My coops were in place before the chicks had a clear plan. I lost 1 chick since this journey began. good luck guys this just my way, you have to find your own that works for you. Sounds like you got good starts. My big coop is 8x8 small coop 4x8 . I still like to watch chick tv it's more fun now than when they were chicks. There are so many knowledgable people on here to help give you guidance about any given topic that will help you with your journey.

 

I raised mine in there coop from the get go.

 

Mine started off at two days old in the homemade brooder. It was made with half a dog crate and chicken wire with a heat lamp seen here....


brooder by Raven Wren Designs, on Flickr

They were put out at 5 weeks into the same dog crate only the crate was put together. Then I started having them free range and be penned with the big girls.

 

Ours were in the coop from the start and nowhere near the house. Well they were in the far end of the back yard until we got the run done but that was only because I didn't want to walk to the back 40 every time I needed to check on them (we have 10 acres here). We put a large piece of cardboard in the coop to partition part of it off and they stayed in there with a heat lamp.

 

Hi from Ga. Our brooders are in the tack room we keep them in there for 6 weeks then move them to a growing pen.