Can I transition them to the coop/run?

[Kim_1970]

I have 11 chicks that were born around 3/30.
They have been in a spare bedroom in a 4' x 2' and now that the warmer temps in the house are here I have turned out the heat lamp for the past week or so - this way they get adjusted to night and day. The temp doesnt go below 72 in the room.

My DH is fixing the coop and run this weekend so I can get them out to their permanent home finally... and start to clean the dust from the spare room. My question is, this coming week is going to be a little colder than it has been. The day highs are supposed to be in the low to mid 60's and nights in the low to mid 40's. It does get fairly windy here (today the winds are about 30 mph). Can I safely move them out? I plan on running a heat bulb 250 watt red out there near their roost.

 

[BarredBuff]

That should be fine with the lamp.

 

[RAWR]

i would wait for a little bit before i move them out
but you can move them out with the heat lamp

 

[teach1rusl]

So they're at least five weeks old...sure. With a bulb handy (and I might consider a 100 or 150W rather than the 250), they will go under the lamp if they get chilled. If they haven't learned to roost yet, I might make sure the heat is somewhere they CAN get under together. I don't think they'll hang out in the run if it gets too cold for them; they'll go back inside. So just be sure that their pop door stays open during the day. Then close them up securely at night.
Do make sure the lamp is not clamped, that you actually wire or chain it up securely. A back-up wire would be good too. Good luck!! I remember my sleepless night the first night my chicks spent out in the coop...lol!!! I walked out into the dark twice during the night to check on them...heehee

 

[ShaggysGirl]

My youngsters are 5 weeks. I've had them outside in the garage unheated with a 250 red light since they were 2 days old. So yep you can. I'll be moving the 20 them into our small 5 x 10 coop Monday or so. There they will have access to the run. Since we are still getting cold some nights (going down to 37F tonight) I'll still be using a red heat lamp till it stays in the 50s or 60s over night. They will cuddle for warmth. When ever I get a little worried about the young ones I try to remember that for years and years people raised chickens outside with no electricity

A tip when you put them in the coop have them closed in there for a few days so they learn they are home before you open it up and let them out to the run. They most times will go back in a dusk when you do it this way. Also having a light in the coop will help too. They don't like to be out in the dark and will go into the light.
Rhonda

 

[Kim_1970]

Quote:
What type of lights do you all use for "all the time" when you dont need a heat light? Do you use florescent or still a red light?