Chicken coop help

[gypsydragonfly]

Hello!
My name is Liz and I am new to having chickens and need some help with my coop, my chicks are 6 weeks old and need to go outside so the lows in my area are anywhere from 36-46 degrees right now and then go in the 50s but at the time of them going outside I was wondering if I should provide a SAFE heating source (what is a safe heating source????) and hay? I don't want to put a heat lamp with hay and burn the coop down so was wondering if just hay will do because the placement of the heat lamp is not ideal and also can anyone help me with the sex of these chicks, I have a couple pictures of there tail feathers right now
Thank you!!

 

[5Sons Coop]

Hi, Liz I live in. Northern Wisconsin just to give you an idea of the weather. By looking at your pictures I would say your chicks are ready for the coop! What I do is slowing take away there light in the brooder. Then outside hopefully on a nice windless day. It still gets below freezing at night so back in the brooder at about 70 for the night. Another thing I like to do is size the coop for the number of chicks I have. Use there body heat to keep them warm. I have an insulated coop and will have an insulated medium size coop complete soon. In my large coop I will put a box with a hole cut in it. If the chicks are cold they will all be cuddling in the box. If this happens I do run a heat light. I have read other threads where people like to use heat pads. My boys had a lizard (RIP) and they have a small heat pad and a fake rock that heats up from it. I am going to try and brood with those and move the 2 heat sources right into the coop with the chicks.

 

[gypsydragonfly]

Thank you 5 sons coop!!!

 

[gypsydragonfly]

So I took here light out of the broody for the day then I'll put it back at night, the room they are in now is not heated but is draft free, when they go outside should I block off the run?? @5Sons Coop

 

[5Sons Coop]

I keep my coop sealed real well durning this time. Make sure there is still some venting. I give my chickens outdoor "recess" until they get cold. Then back in to warm up really good...then back out for a treat...soon you can just read them and it gets warmer out, they get big enough to warm there own coop with the door open and you catch yourself not caring so much if you closed the door before you went to bed or not. Oh and I don't let mine get wet...just seems like added trouble when you already have your hands full acclimating them.