Coop questions

[yiayiacheryl]

Good morning from Massachusetts ....

Have a few questions from the experts:

1. Is it a good idea to paint the inside of the coop with high gloss paint for easy cleaning?
2. I have a fenced in backyard and does not abut any woods. Do you think it is necessary to trench around the coop to lay chicken wire down to protect the chicks from predators?
3. My chicks are 6 weeks old and are living in my garage with a red heat lamp. I want to put them in the coop as soon as possible. Our weather is always changing. Today will be 85 and tomorrow 55. Do you think it is ok to put them in the coop? Also, should a light be put in the coop on a timer for the evenings?
4. Yesterday it was 85 degrees and I checked on them and they were huddled. Not sure why as it was very warm. I am trying to wean them off the heat lamp but since they were huddled I put it back on. Did I do the right thing?


Thanks for any answers!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Good morning from Massachusetts ....

Have a few questions from the experts:

1. Is it a good idea to paint the inside of the coop with high gloss paint for easy cleaning?
It is a good idea. Sometimes it looks like they have poop fights.
2. I have a fenced in backyard and does not abut any woods. Do you think it is necessary to trench around the coop to lay chicken wire down to protect the chicks from predators?
Abutting to woods doesn't matter, the predators are everywhere under cover of darkness at night. Without knowing how your setup is built, I can't answer that. You could wait and see if you have any digging.
3. My chicks are 6 weeks old and are living in my garage with a red heat lamp. I want to put them in the coop as soon as possible. Our weather is always changing. Today will be 85 and tomorrow 55. Do you think it is ok to put them in the coop?
Put them out now. Mine have been out in the same weather conditions since they were 3 weeks without heat. Yours are definitely ready to be weaned from heat.
Also, should a light be put in the coop on a timer for the evenings?
No, they don't need a light, they're better off with it getting dark at dusk. They need a dark period anyway and hemeral lighting is best.
4. Yesterday it was 85 degrees and I checked on them and they were huddled. Not sure why as it was very warm. I am trying to wean them off the heat lamp but since they were huddled I put it back on. Did I do the right thing?
Turn it off. They always huddle when they sleep regardless of the ambient temperature.
If they are huddling during the day, they're too cold.


Thanks for any answers!

Welcome and good luck.

 

[Blooie]

Yup, what he/she said!

 

[yiayiacheryl]

Thank you so much for this good information....Just a couple more questions.

Just finished painting inside the closed portion of the coop. There is a slide door that has a rope to open and close. Do you close the door each night when the chicks go in for the night then open in the morning?
Also, I have heard that you should not let the chicks use the nesting boxes until they are ready to lay eggs. Any tips as to how to close it off to them and should you open it up to them when they are 6 months old?
Thank you again for all your help.

 

[chickencoop789]

Thank you so much for this good information....Just a couple more questions.

Just finished painting inside the closed portion of the coop. There is a slide door that has a rope to open and close. Do you close the door each night when the chicks go in for the night then open in the morning?
Yes
Also, I have heard that you should not let the chicks use the nesting boxes until they are ready to lay eggs. Any tips as to how to close it off to them and should you open it up to them when they are 6 months old?
I just nailed a plank of wood over the nesting boxes until I found the first egg in the bedding. I removed the wood that day and the girls knew what to do. They all started laying in the boxes.
Thank you again for all your help.