Can I move them out of the brooder and into the coop?

[bawkbawk]

We have 8 hens which are now 4 weeks old.

they have been in the brooder in the garage, and I'm thinking of moving them out to the coop/run. The coop is about 4X3 with an attached run (might be a little small once they get bigger--we didn't think they'd all survive the trip and their first few weeks...).

We live in Northern AZ where it is 80 during the day, but goes down to mid-40s at night.

What do you think? Can we move them outside yet? Do they need a light in the coop for extra warmth?

Thanks!

 

[chicknchick]

The 40's is still too cold for your chicks so you should definitely include a light. I have 6 - 3week old chicks and they just spent their first night in the coop last night. We installed a light and I put a 60 degree bulb in it. I live in Austin, TX so it stays pretty warm here at night - lows in the upper 70's. I put a wireless thermometer in my coop so I could moniter the temp from the house. It stayed right around 80 all night. My chicks don't like the dark either. We got home after dark last night and they were all huddled in the corner of their run. This morning I went out to the coop to let them out into their run and they were all fine!

 

[sandy sea]

You could let them out in the run during the day, but it is way too cold for them at night.