I have 3 adult hens and 5 5week olds and too many 2 week old chicks. I live in northern Ohio its about 60-75 in the evenings. The Question is... When can I put the 5wk olds in the coop? Should I keep them in a dog cage for a while first? Then put them together? Should they come in at night? No heat light in the coop. And the big question When can I let them free range? Will they follow the big girls around? Thank You in advance for the help!
I put my chicks outside in the coop when they were 5 weeks old and the temps were down in the 40s at night. They did just fine, I had a lamp in there for heat. I put their brooder inside the coop and clamped the lamp onto the side of the brooder, and ran an extension cord to the house to power the lamp. That way, if they got cold they could huddle inside the brooder. I took the lamp out when they were 7 weeks old, I probably could have taken it out at 6 weeks. You can let them free range whenever you want. They should get the idea from the older birds. Just watch them and make sure the older birds don't pick on them.
I am certainly no expert, so if your out there...please correct me if I'm wrong. Your 5 week olds will be fine in the night temperatures as long as the coop is draft free. If it makes you fell better to put a heat lamp with them, then go for it. However, you may want to introduce the 5 week olds to the adult birds without them having access to each other. I've read that the older birds may pick on the young ones and will peck at them, which could cause some injuries. I have the same cinerio....I have 6 9-week olds and just got 6 1-day olds. My DH is blocking off an area inside of the coop and run with wire so that when it's time the birds can go out in the coop/run. They will be able to see eachother but not reach eachother. I read that this would be best to introduce them together. I can't answer about the freerange, because I honestly have the same question....so someone please chime in. Good luck with your birds!