Brooder to Coop Transitioning

[bragabit]

I am sure this question is asked A LOT here. But I am new to this and want to do it right.

Here are my basics. I have 13 chicks all in one brooder.

4 7 week olds
5 6 week olds
4 4 week olds

The 7 week old babies can fly/jump out of the brooder. The brooder is too big to cover the top up completely. I took the 4 oldest chicks and took them to the outside coop with the adults. I have a Bunny Hutch in there that is completely enclosed and a mini-enclosed run. So can the chicks stay in there? If they are in there for a week could they join the adult ladies next week?? How would I do that to minimize blood shed?

I appreciate any help.

 

[debilorrah]

Up to 8 week in the house with the brooder and heat lamp
At 8 weeks, we move them into this brooder outside with the heat lamp

We leave them in there until they are fully feathered. You can see it is right next to the roost (to the left), so the chicks are visible to the other birds but separated to avoid injury. They are usually in there to about 12 weeks.

To the left of the brooder, we cut a small opening in the wire and open it during the day, so the chicks can get in and out but the bigger birds won't fit in - a safety net so to speak. We keep that open for 4 weeks, and then put them in with the flock. There is the normal pecking order business but we have not ever had an injured bird following this method.

Good luck!!!!