Chicks in coop early?

[AlexEve]

Hi everyone!
My two chicks are almost a week old now, and I was wondering if I could put them in the coop at maybe 3 or 4 weeks? Their wing feathers are growing really quickly and I’m wondering if letting them stay in the coop with a heat lamp would give them the space to flap around? I would keep the run closed off until they are fully feathered too. Thanks!

 

[bluemtnwmn]

As long as safety, temp, food, water, and bedding requirements are being met there's no reason you can't have them in their coop. Also, be sure it's not drafty.

 

[nszrmch]

Yeah^ Just make sure to keep temps right and food and water available at all times!!

 

[AlexEve]

As long as safety, temp, food, water, and bedding requirements are being met there's no reason you can't have them in their coop. Also, be sure it's not drafty.

Great! Thank you! My birds are only a week old and already starting to jump and flap around, the coop would give them tons on space to do that

 

[goodeggsforyou]

More specific please...at what night time low temp. can chicks be put out Without a heat lamp? We are still having some nighttime lows into the forties at times but the chicks are almost fully feathered out and are 6 weeks old. We put them out daily for hours, and they are fine, but are still bringing them in at night. It would be nice to not have to put the heat lamp out there (for now.) Also, has anyone had experience with the heat screens that I am seeing advertised? Thank you.

 

[DobieLover]

I would avoid putting a heat lamp in the coop.
Do you have a heating pad WITHOUT auto shutoff? If so, you can make them a momma heat pad with it. Or use a brooder plate with a towel thrown over it. Both are much safer options.
I'd try to get them out now if you have a safe heat source. I've got chicks in my coop now with their mother. They've experienced multiple nights at below freezing temperatures. We even had blustery snow last Saturday. They are 12 days old and positively fine.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you can safely provide a heat source in the coop, no reason they can't be raised outside from the start.

More specific please...at what night time low temp. can chicks be put out Without a heat lamp? We are still having some nighttime lows into the forties at times but the chicks are almost fully feathered out and are 6 weeks old.

You're fine to leave them out at this point.

 

[goodeggsforyou]

I would avoid putting a great lamp in the coop.
Do you have a heating pad WITHOUT auto shutoff? If so, you can make then a momma heat pad with it. Or use a brooder plate with a towel thrown over it. Both are much safer options.
I'd try to get them out now if you have a safe heat source. I've got chicks in my coop now with their mother. They've experienced multiple nights at below freezing temperatures. We even had blustery snow last Saturday. They are 12 days old and positively fine.

Thank you so much for the good info! What about winter however when we will get freezing temps/snow here in the mountains? Is a heating pad enough at that point ( we will have three adult chickens in very small coop with a roosting bar, surrounded by a larger very secured in area that will be exposed to the outdoors.) There's enough room to put a heating pad, or 'screen", inside the coop where the roost is, or we could put a heat lamp in the outdoor space that they could hang out underneath, but they would be exposed to snow and elements. I was foolish buying a small coop.
So the questions are: 1) will a heating pad be enough heat in Winter, and 2) Does anyone have experience with heating "screens"? Thanks again!

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you so much for the good info! What about winter however when we will get freezing temps/snow here in the mountains? Is a heating pad enough at that point ( we will have three adult chickens in very small coop with a roosting bar, surrounded by a larger very secured in area that will be exposed to the outdoors.) There's enough room to put a heating pad, or 'screen", inside the coop where the roost is, or we could put a heat lamp in the outdoor space that they could hang out underneath, but they would be exposed to snow and elements. I was foolish buying a small coop.
So the questions are: 1) will a heating pad be enough heat in Winter, and 2) Does anyone have experience with heating "screens"? Thanks again!

?? You don't need to give them heat once they are feathered out. And it sounds like your coop is too small. You might want to think about building something larger.
Chickens require 4 sq ft per bird in the coop in general. The coop needs to be dry with lots of ventilation to move out stale damp air. It's the damp air that makes birds cold in the winter.

 

[AngieDawn]

We live in md and it was cold last weekend (like upper 20s at night). Mine were 4 weeks old and we used the chick heating pad sold on amazon for $29 (They moves out at 3 weeks old)!
I have 12 chicks and their brooder isn’t big

That being said I would not have put day old chicks out there. I’m sure it’s possible but I just like to check on them because it seems like I always have one that gets pasty butt or seems to need encouragement to drink and eat.

But it’s much warmer here this week so I did move my one week olds onto the sun porch which is fully enclosed but not heated. They have a heat lamp at night (Because It got down in the low 40’s last night) but only the heating pad during the day

All have been fine and happy

They need heat and food and light during daytime hours (ie they can’t be in a dark basement without windows without the lights on otherwise they won’t eat and drink enough)