At what age should you move chicks to the coop?

[Mrs. K]

I don't use electricity. I move mine out around 3-4 weeks, but I train mine to sleep in a dog crate, under an insulation. I have used wool pompom or an old pillow supported just a couple of inches up from an insulated floor.

I use the heat lamp in the garage in one area of the brooder area. So my chicks can go to the warmth, and go to cooler areas as needed. I use the lamp as light too as it is dark in the garage.

I put them to bed in the dog crate - making sure that they can move deeper or out to the edge much like being under a hen- I move them there at night, and shut off the heat lamp. Within 30 seconds the stop peeping and are sound of sleep. If you put your hand in there, they are as warm as toast.

So about 3-4 weeks - I put that in the coop/run. In the run, I have good wind protection, and they can get in the dog crate for a warm up. As it gets dark, they go there. I carry it in the coop.

Works slick for me.

Mrs K

 

[jreardon1918]

We also move the chicks outside at just a few days old. Our first batch we brooded in the house. We will not do that again. They live in the run in a see but no touch from the big girls. We use a MHP, Momma Heating Pad for a heat source. Here are a couple articles we did for this setup.

MHP in March outdoors

Brooder in covered run - Updated 7/11 Six weeks

Hope this helps.