chicks leaving brooder and moving outside

[newbiechickenfan]

This is my first flock. My 5 chicks are now 3 weeks old and growing fast. I have already prepared a nice spot for them for when they are ready to move outside. They have a lovely, roomy coop plus a nice fenced in run to play in until they are full grown. When they are full grown they will have run of a section of my yard and I will use the run for when I am not home. My question is how best to transition them from the brooder to the coop. Should I just put them in the coop and not the run at first so they know where they are suppose to sleep once they do get let out?

 

[Katydid2011]

I would keep them in the coop for a few days before I let them out into the run, because it will help them to identify the coop as home. Then, they'll automatically return to it before dark.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

what she said

 

[newbiechickenfan]

Thanks, that's what I figured would be best.

 

[duckinnut]

Let them get accustomed to the coop for a few days to a week but make sure the coop doesn't get too hot as well. The first few weeks that mine went out it was kind of a chore because that were not always receptive of going back in at night but the finally figured it out. My problem was my coop is 8x8 and raised off the ground 2ft,so at round up time it was not fun. Once they saw one go in ,chickens being chickens they had to see where she was going. Now they are turnkey,soon as I open the coop door at dusk the few stragglers come running in fear of missing something. Best of luck and welcome to the addiction.

 

[newbiechickenfan]

Yes, that's exactly what I was afraid of, they wouldn't know how to get in the coop if I put them in the run too soon. I'll make sure they have plenty of ventilation in the coop too. Thanks for the advice.