Coop Readiness - How soon can chicks go out in a coop?

[LaynaDon95]

I don't have any bigger hens, so they will be protected in the coop. I think I'll put a lamp in there some time this week and see how they do. Thanks!

Oh, well that makes things easier.

 

[hero2three]

Im in NW Arkansas myself. My chicks are 2-3 weeks old, and have awesome wing feathers, but nothing yet on the head, chest, or neck. Im planning on moving them out once those feathers come in.

 

[cvick]

I am a first timer with baby chicks. Ours are 4 weeks old and are in a brooder in the garage. If I put them out with the adult chickens...we only have three adults...do they need to still eat the start and grow food? I am in Virginia and the temps have been in the 70's at night. Should I have a separate place for them for a while?
Thanks

 

[ONSTAD1]

I'm sure I still have a few weeks to go, but my 7 pullets are currently 4 weeks old. They are getting louder, messier and stinkier and the giant Rubbermaid bin seems to be shrinking daily. I know they will be happier to have more space, but I feel like they're still too small to be put outside in the coop. They've just reached the point where they're comfortable at about 75ish degrees, which I can maintain inside my garage with a brooder light, but my brooder is not very big. Is coop readiness determined by age, size, weather? What are the best guidelines?

My chicks have been in the 4x4 coop since day one (first 4 weeks with a lamp). They are happy, healthy and friendly. good luck.

mo

 

[CAjerseychick]

Mine are 3 weeks old today-- for the past week or so we put them out in AM into a little run I built for them at the end of the Big Chicken Run (actually I even have been leaving the Run door open for the big chickens so they roam around the yard and around the little run)-- they LOVE being outside and the exposure is healthy for them-- exposure to dirt grass weeds bugs, natural soil bacteria etc...
Temps mid 90's and I have an old window blind (6x6ft) over that end of the run and they love the dappled sunlight that filters through as well... I cant wait to get them Out of the house-- plan on moving them into the coop (partitioned off from the 4 big chickens) Week 4-- its low 60's at night but they can huddle together and generate heat -- there are 15 of them.... (The first 4 went out at ages 3 and 4 weeks a month ago without heat and did fine-- I didnt know to worry about it...)....

 

[ElanaR]

Mine are pushing about 5 weeks and their cage has gotten awfully small (I used an old rabbit cage.) My males free range at night but have to go inside due to predators during night and while my chicks are mostly feathered put, I'm still nervous. My silkies are nearly 12 weeks and I will need to bite the bullet and put them out soon but they are so slow and docile I'm reluctant. The 13 female true blue whitings are to keep my 4 roosters busy

 

[Alley]

We live in Northern coast of California. Our average temperature this time of year is around 58 and low is 49. Our girls are completely feathered. I don't have a heat lamp but I want to put them in the big girl coop. Is it too early, they are 5 weeks old now.

 

[debid]

We live in Northern coast of California. Our average temperature this time of year is around 58 and low is 49. Our girls are completely feathered. I don't have a heat lamp but I want to put them in the big girl coop. Is it too early, they are 5 weeks old now.

If it's empty and safe, there's no reason they shouldn't be in it.

 

[50-140]

I have 10 birds which are 5 weeks from farm store to my house. I've had them out in a brooder in my coop for 4 days now. My coop is a Wood's open air so I blocked the front to keep the wind out. They're 4x4 brooder has 24" walls, and and they're looking good, one of these mornings I'm sure I'm going to find them out roaming. Nights are still getting down the 30's so they have two 250watt heat bulbs in the corners of the brooder.

 

[Jandsloch]

I did gradual transitions taking them outside for the day in the run in days it was in 60’s then back in at night. Did this for about a week then last day I put a heat lamp in the coop (it’s a smaller coop) and decided they would stay outside and I would use the lamp if temps dropped below 40’s at night. 2 of these 8 are Cornish cross about the size of regular hens at this point and they are all almost feathered ages vary youngest was almost 3 weeks. This night hubby and I brought 8 more home so my goal of not having chickies in the house was not succeeded lol but we are building a bigger coop for the first batch and when we r finished the newest 8 will go in the smaller coop and run with a light.