Chickens First Night in the Coop

[Sk8inChick(en)]

Hello Chicken People!

Our chicken coop is just about finished and it's almost time to put the girls out in it.

However, their coop has taken a long time to finish and they have lived inside for all four months of their lives.

I'm reluctant to put them out there all the time, as they are used to indoor temperatures and the heat outside is frequently in the upper 90's and even 100's. At night, it usually only cools off to temps in the mid 80's.

What I'm wondering is, if it is okay for them to be out there right now, or if we should somehow "harden them off" to living outdoors.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[Frango Asado]

Whoa. Dude. You have kept your birdies indoors for four months? Mine have been inside for four weeks, and I'm itchin' to haul their butts to the coop--mine is almost finished as well. Living in chilly California I don't have the wicked heat problem you do, so I'll probably run a heat lamp at night for a couple more weeks at least (night time temps are around 60°F). I'm getting a bit tired of the pine shavings and chicken dust.

 

[cary 1973]

if you can put them out a little bit at a time to aclamate to the tempatures if there used to cool weather then you throw them in hot temps it will be harder on them when they are out make sure they have pleanty of shade to get to and cool water. but really i have no room to talk my chicks are same age and during the day they have decided they want to be indoor chicks again and took over the dog bed



but there butts get booted as soon as it is not so hot

 

[Sk8inChick(en)]

Whoa. Dude. You have kept your birdies indoors for four months? Mine have been inside for four weeks, and I'm itchin' to haul their butts to the coop--mine is almost finished as well. Living in chilly California I don't have the wicked heat problem you do, so I'll probably run a heat lamp at night for a couple more weeks at least (night time temps are around 60°F). I'm getting a bit tired of the pine shavings and chicken dust.

Yeah, it will be nice to have them outside for a change.

With temps frequently in the 100's, I'm still not quite sure I want then out there at night. It just seems so stuffy in that coop.

However, they do go outside and free range for at least an hour a day, and they seem to do fine with the heat.

If they are outside at night, though, they stand at the back door and squawk to be let inside. They still feel safest inside. Sigh. Will they ever get used to the coop?

 

[Sk8inChick(en)]

if you can put them out a little bit at a time to aclamate to the tempatures if there used to cool weather then you throw them in hot temps it will be harder on them when they are out make sure they have pleanty of shade to get to and cool water. but really i have no room to talk my chicks are same age and during the day they have decided they want to be indoor chicks again and took over the dog bed



but there butts get booted as soon as it is not so hot

That sounds like a good idea, but I'm not sure how to do that.

Would we just have them outside in the coop for the day and let them sleep inside for the night at first?

They do get to go outside at least once a day, and they seem to handle the heat okay.

I guess we will see how it goes.

Thanks for your reply!

 

[Sk8inChick(en)]

Update:

We had a break form the heat and the girls got kicked out to the coop tonight!

I'm worried about them, I think I may put a baby monitor in the coop. Okay, call me crazy if you want to. I'm just protective.

 

[cary 1973]

the first few night my girls went out i was out there half dozen times checking on them and there coop is just right out side my bed room window i dont think i really sleep for a week

 

[Sk8inChick(en)]

the first few night my girls went out i was out there half dozen times checking on them and there coop is just right out side my bed room window i dont think i really sleep for a week

Ha ha, same here.

It was hot today and we put out a fan and mister for them. I also put ice cubes in their water.

They have been so spoiled sleeping inside that tonight, when it got dark out, one of them wouldn't go in the coop. Instead, she went to the back door and wanted to be let inside!