Brooding Questions

[Butterchurn2002]

We just bought our first chicks ever. We've had them a week and they are doing fine. What we aren't sure of is when can we put them in the coop? The coop is a bit far from the house to heat it. So, we aren't sure when to transfer them to it.
Also, do we feed and water them inside or out the coop?

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

Feeding and watering outside can depend on your set up! I keep food in the run and move it outside during the day, water allowed in run, extra in the coop during the hot summer days.

Chicks should be moslty feathered before they go out in my opinion, I like 6 weeks for medium, and bantam, 8 weeks for slow feathering breeds, or just go off of how they react!

I was taught that week 1 chicks need a brooder light at 100°, week 2 90°, week 3 80°, week 4 70° and week 5 and beyond we just put a lightbulb into their bigger brooder lamp just in case someone needs to warm up a little or get near it for bed! Outside weather depends on when I personally put them out, it rains more than national average here in WA so I try to make sure they got a few weeks dry and not cold/hot

 

[preciouschick]

We bought our chicken in April. We too are new chicken owners. we were told not to put them out in the coop until they had all their feathers. Which we did but it was warm outside by then. So any heat wasnt necessary. We were also told to keep them in the coop for at least 3 days so they know where their new home is. We also do food and water in the coop and outside. Some of our chickens go in to eat and some eat outside. It is a matter of preference. Although for the 3 days have food and water inside for them. Where there is food you need water also.
At first not all of my chickens would roost. They would huddle in a corner together. I would sit them on the bars until they got the idea. Eventually I added higher 2 x 4 wood bars. I also put a board across the nesting boxes because they were huddling in them to sleep. I am sure more seasoned owners will help also, hopefully what I have done is correct. It worked for them and us.
Hope this helps

 

[nao57]

You will want to keep them separate from your other chickens. The adults may try to eat them.

Is the coop empty? Or does it have other birds already in it?


If the coop is empty and will only have chicks in it then you could put the food and water in their with them. You don't want to put the chicks with other birds yet, until they are big enough to survive being with them. (People also don't always agree with how soon this can be. But I'll let others talk about that.)

You could put a cheap thermometer inside the coop also and then check it during some very specific times. You will want to check it for the period of time between 1-4 PM (when its hottest outside). And you will also want to check it for during the night when it would be coldest a few times. (After you get a feel for the ranges during different times of the year you won't have to be doing this often. But it will help in answering the questions you have about this stuff.)

Plus, you can get thermometers cheap, even for a buck at the dollar store, etc.

How cold is it where you are at? I can't see your location, so its hard for me to comment more on this. And when does your 'real cold' season start? And do you get a lot of wind (and wind chill?) when it does get cold?

Depending on those answers we can help you figure out a more tailored response for just you.

 

[Butterchurn2002]

We just bought our first chicks ever. We've had them a week and they are doing fine. What we aren't sure of is when can we put them in the coop? The coop is a bit far from the house to heat it. So, we aren't sure when to transfer them to it.
Also, do we feed and water them inside or out the coop?

We do not own any other birds, so the coop will only have our chicks in it. Right now they are a little over a week old and we have 10 in a 50 gallon plastic container. We have 2 each of ISA Brown, Barred Rock, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, Sapphire Splash from Hoover Hatcheries. I know we will need a larger brooder in a couple weeks

 

[nao57]

View attachment 2310702

We do not own any other birds, so the coop will only have our chicks in it. Right now they are a little over a week old and we have 10 in a 50 gallon plastic container. We have 2 each of ISA Brown, Barred Rock, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, Sapphire Splash from Hoover Hatcheries. I know we will need a larger brooder in a couple weeks

You will want a warming source for them then to put out there. An extension cord can make this possible, reasonably cheap. You can get 50 foot and 100 foot extension cords without losing too much; about $20 or less.

Technically, hatcheries do send them out with no heating sources, letting them warm each other in a big puppy pile. But I don't like to leave things to chance like that. I'd make sure I kept my investment and put a warming source in there. But you don't have to have the biggest baddest most expensive items to make this work.

There's some filipino poultry channels where they just modify an existing light bulb and socket to heat up their pens on the cheap.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you start weaning them off heat early, they can go out as early as 3 weeks sans heat, assuming your temperatures are fairly moderate and the coop is draft free but well ventilated.

If sending them out that early makes you nervous, then 4-5 weeks is a good age to have them out. They'll want the extra space.

 

[Butterchurn2002]

Thanks for the replies. I forgot to mention that we live in Central Ohio. Right now highs in low 80s and lows in upper 50s to low 60s.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks for the replies. I forgot to mention that we live in Central Ohio. Right now highs in low 80s and lows in upper 50s to low 60s.

With those temps they should be fine to go out at 3 weeks, provided the birds are healthy and feathering well (they won't be fully feathered) and that you've been reducing heat gradually and early.