Coop question

[FirstTimeChikens]

I live in Kentucky. When can I move the babies into the coop? I have about 22. They will be 6 weeks a day before we leave for Florida. Will they be alright with minimal amount of "checking up" on for their first couple of days in the coop?

 

[swamphiker]

They may not understand how to roost and go in the coop in the evening. As long as you are sure your setup is predator-proof, you can probably get away with someone only checking up on them in the evenings to make sure they made it inside if you have an automatic door. When chickens are small, predator proofing is particularly important since they can be more easily picked off by hawks, owls, or even snakes.

 

[FirstTimeChikens]

They may not understand how to roost and go in the coop in the evening. As long as you are sure your setup is predator-proof, you can probably get away with someone only checking up on them in the evenings to make sure they made it inside if you have an automatic door. When chickens are small, predator proofing is particularly important since they can be more easily picked off by hawks, owls, or even snakes.

We will close off nesting boxes and isolate them in the coop for a while... if that's okay. We have stick in the brooder they roost on, so a couple have learned how to do it

 

[rosemarythyme]

How old are the chicks right now? What are your temperatures high/low right now? Are the chicks weaned off heat right now or can you run electricity to the coop?

Assuming the chicks are 3-4 weeks or so and weaned off heat (I imagine it's pretty warm where you're at) they really can be outside right now, and that'll give you 2 weeks to acclimate them to the set up and make necessary adjustments before you leave.

 

[FirstTimeChikens]

How old are the chicks right now? What are your temperatures high/low right now? Are the chicks weaned off heat right now or can you run electricity to the coop?

Assuming the chicks are 3-4 weeks or so and weaned off heat (I imagine it's pretty warm where you're at) they really can be outside right now, and that'll give you 2 weeks to acclimate them to the set up and make necessary adjustments before you leave.

They are almost 4 weeks. It's warm where I am at but I haven't weaned them off entirely, the hot side of the brooder is in the high 80s. Should I start taking the heat away even more? Like turn off the lamp completely? They are in my garage. Outside, the highs during the day are in the 80s and 90s, and the lows are in the 60s and 70s.

 

[rosemarythyme]

80 is higher than you'd want in a controlled environment at this point. At 4 weeks they could be completely off heat and given how hot is is outside, you don't even need to wean them off it, just move them outside.

 

[FirstTimeChikens]

80 is higher than you'd want in a controlled environment at this point. At 4 weeks they could be completely off heat and given how hot is is outside, you don't even need to wean them off it, just move them outside.

Okay. I do have 2 younger ones. Will they be okay moving outside too or do they need to stay inside? They are maybe a week or two old

 

[rosemarythyme]

Okay. I do have 2 younger ones. Will they be okay moving outside too or do they need to stay inside? They are maybe a week or two old

Do you have the option of running electricity out, and if yes, what's the heat source you're using?

If not, they can probably go out in another week, or you could do daytime in the coop with the others right now, then bring them in at night for about a week. It's mainly night time temps that I'd keep an eye on, day time's more than hot enough.

 

[FirstTimeChikens]

Do you have the option of running electricity out, and if yes, what's the heat source you're using?

If not, they can probably go out in another week, or you could do daytime in the coop with the others right now, then bring them in at night for about a week. It's mainly night time temps that I'd keep an eye on, day time's more than hot enough.

I can bring heat out (we have an outlet) but I don't know if we have anything that can actually heat the coop. This is my first batch of chickens ever, fresh coop, everything, so we don't have supplies like that on hand. I may try the day time thing, as I took the older ones out to play in the grass today and they seemed fine. Thank you for the help! I may also try to take the heating light away from the older ones while they are in the brooder and just keep it on the younger ones, as the garage is at least 80 or a little under by itself. Again, thank you! I know heat is more of a concern than cold is when they are this age.