Brooder vs Coop

[Wendyfox9]

I have my 12 2 week old buffs in a box in the coop. With the weather we have been having I only have the light on at night. They are outgrowing the box. Does anyone see any reason I couldnt just give them the run of the coop (4x8 coop)? I would also like to take them out fo a little exercise.

 

[chixrus2013]

I have my 12 2 week old buffs in a box in the coop. With the weather we have been having I only have the light on at night. They are outgrowing the box. Does anyone see any reason I couldnt just give them the run of the coop (4x8 coop)? I would also like to take them out fo a little exercise.

I let mine have the run of the coop during the day at 2 weeks and would bring them in at night because we were still having 30's and 40's at night and I thought it would be too cold even with the heat lamp in there. Then at 3 weeks and a little warmer nights I started leaving them out with heat lamp at night and they were fine. They started staying out during the day, in the coop at first, and then in the run as of 3 1/2 weeks, without needing any heat lamp and temps have only been in the 50's and 60's. Now, tonight, for the first time, I shut off the heat lamp even at night. It's going to be in the 50's out tonight, but, they didn't seem interested in being under the lamp and started sleeping as far away as possible from it. They have been in a little "bed" I created out of an upside down large bin cover with hay on top. I have 8 chicks and they nestle there with one another and are so cute. They will be 4 weeks old a couple of days from now. Not fully feathered yet but getting there. They even went in on their own from the run tonight as soon as dusk started and they got up to their "bed" on their own. Previous nights I directed them up there.
They love their run that is attached to the coop but, I did do what I had read as a suggestion, and that was to keep them enclosed in the coop for 3 days in order for them to get used to the coop being "home" so that they would want to come back in it at night. Then after 3 days I let them out into the run. It was still a little bit of a challenge to get back into the coop to eat and drink and also the first night, but, now they're all set.
Not sure what your temps have been but, I would certainly let them out into your coop to play and exercise.

 

[Wendyfox9]

Thanks! It has been in the 70s in the day and 60s at night. I think I will let them loose in the coop for about a week before I let them in the yard. I don't have a run, they will be free range in our fenced in yard.

 

[chixrus2013]

Thanks! It has been in the 70s in the day and 60s at night. I think I will let them loose in the coop for about a week before I let them in the yard. I don't have a run, they will be free range in our fenced in yard.

I plan to free range mine when we're outside as well, but, I won't dare do that now. They are too hard to catch at this 4 week old stage and they are not trained to come to me yet. I also worry about animals and hawks when they're this little. My biggest thing is trying to figure out if I can be done with the warming lamp. Last night, with temps in the 50's, they were fine without it in the coop. Tonight and tomorrow night it's going to back in the 40's. I think that may be too cold??? Wish it would warm up!!!

 

[Wendyfox9]

I plan to free range mine when we're outside as well, but, I won't dare do that now. They are too hard to catch at this 4 week old stage and they are not trained to come to me yet. I also worry about animals and hawks when they're this little. My biggest thing is trying to figure out if I can be done with the warming lamp. Last night, with temps in the 50's, they were fine without it in the coop. Tonight and tomorrow night it's going to back in the 40's. I think that may be too cold??? Wish it would warm up!!!

Yes they would be impossible to rangle back in the coop at this age! I will be putting up a temporary fence until they get the hang of coming in on their own. I keep the light on if it gets below high 60's.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yeah, they can handle much colder temperatures than many people think they can. But they have limits. Frankly I don't know what those limits are. I think some of it has to do with what the coop looks like, especially ventilation and wind protection. That box may be helping to keep them warm enough.

The idea is that they need a warm enough spot in the coldest temperatures and a cool enough spot in the warmest temperatures. You can get some pretty big temperature swings brooding outside. I put my chicks in my 3' x 6' brooder straight from the incubator or post office even when the outside lows are below freezing or in the 90's F. As long as I keep one end toasty warm and one end cool those baby chicks are good at regulating the temperature for themselves. Your 2 week olds can handle that.

It sounds like you are using a heat lamp, I do too. Don't use the clamp that came with it, it is unreliable. Do not use string or plastic that can burn or melt. Use wire to firmly hold it in place.

The way I'd set it up is to wire that heat lamp on one end or corner of your 4' x 8' coop to keep that area warm but let the rest cool off as it will. Hopefully you have decent ventilation so it can cool off. Let them decide where they want to play and sleep. That should take away all of that kind of worry and concern from you even if the weather throws you a surprise.

In those temperatures I'd be very comfortable removing all heat at four weeks, I consider that extremely safe.

 

[Wendyfox9]

I agree. I have heard they feather more quickly when exposed to cooler temps. The last time I had chickens they were in the house for 12 weeks. I'll never do that again! These buffs feathered much quicker and I don't worry about them at all. I just went into the coop and one was sitting on the edge of the box! Now they have the run of the coop but still have the heatlamp.