Chicks going into coop

[Broncos52]

Hello, My chicks are right at 7 weeks old. today its about 18 degrees in NJ (feels like 2) at 9AM. Should I hold out longer before they go into the coop? what is the best time? February has lows in the mids 20s. Should I wait until March? I bought a heating pad to put up in the coop but am still unsure if I can put them in. The coop is on the older size while its in great shape not sure how well its insulated. I have attached a picture below. Its my first flock. trying to mitigate any mistakes. Any insight is awesome. Thanks!

 

[Taylor39]

If temps are still below 50 at night I would be hesitant. I've never used a heat pad. I've always used a light over my brooders and slowly moved it further away to get them used to being without the heat. I also don't do heat in my coop. I have hatched chicks under hens in winter in an unheated coop. But they had their mother to keep them warm and feathered much faster than my brooder chicks did.

You could try putting them out during the day and see how they handle it. If they're huddling together and not scratching and exploring it may be too soon for them.

 

[Carter Martin]

I live in Ireland and it doesn't get to cold here. I usually wait till they are fairly well feathered to move them out even in the summer. I use a heat lamp for my chicks directly after they hatch and in the summer I can start lifting the heat lamp up between 2-3 weeks and by 3-4 weeks I pretty much don't use it or it is so high that the heat doesn't affect them much and I can move them out. In your case with it being so cold I would probably make sure that they are pretty much fully feathered without much fuzz left before they are moved out. Also I keep my chicks out in a shed where it gets about as cold as the outside and so by the time they are off heat they are also adjusted to the cold. So I don't know if you keep yours in the house or out in a shed but I would try to slowly adjust them to the cold. This is what I would do without a heat pad. At seven weeks old the chicks should have a good many feathers and likely with a heat pad in your coop you could move them out soon. I haven't had experience with that.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Have the chicks been weaned off heat wherever the brooder is? How warm/cold is it where the brooder is? How well feathered are the chicks?

 

[springvalley123]

Another question: how many chicks are there? If there are fewer than say, eight, it'll be hard to effectively huddle for warmth. And what breed? Different breeds feather at different rates. Pictures of the birds would help the experts decide if the babies' heads and necks are feathered, or just their wings, tails and bodies. A lot of heat loss through the head you know.
I can't tell from the picture, does the door to the coop close, and is the window covered to keep out drafts? And how is the ventilation? Where are the roosts, in case they decide to roost? Looks like a nice roomy setup for the babies! Also, I second the idea about gradually adjusting the birds' temperature, even once fully feathered. As an analogy, you don't blanket a shetland pony in the fall, then take away the blanket in January. Best of luck with your chicken venture!