Don't know how I got so lucky

[Vickilynn45]

My chicks (8 weeks) will be spending their fifth night in their new coop tonight, and I'm surprised how easy the transition was. They had access to their run during the day while we finished up the coop, but would come back into their big box at night. From the first day we let them walk up their ramp and peek inside, they have been in love with their new home. They have gone each night into their coop as the sun started to go down without us having to push them in. The first night they slept in a pile in the corner, but the next night started roosting on the waist-high roost.. I expected to have to lock them in for a few days so they would know it was home, and I expected them to cry to come back in the house, but that hasn't been the case and I'm so relieved. It has to just be the instinct in them??

 

[ECBW]

This is very natural. As long as the environmrnt is indusive to their nature, no problem.

Mine was restless in the brooder some where around 6 to 8 weeks. Put them in the grow-out coop for three days, then gave them access to the run. 5 days later, they were out free ranging (10-ft radius) and dodging the grown birds that came to check out the the grow-out coop.

They are now about 2.5 months and start to range out about 30 feet.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

My chicks are about 3 weeks old and staying out in their coop all night now. It's a huge dog house. I was bringing them in at night putting them in their tote but they started flying out and I would wake up to find them at the door ready to go outside and poop everywhere. And I had to crawl into the dog house when it started to get dark to get them out. On a warm night i left them out to see how they'd react. Now if they think they are coming in the house they run from me, but if they know i am not bringing them in they'll get right up in my lap.

 

[Vickilynn45]

So good to know that it's much easier than I thought it would be. This is our first time raising chickens and it's been so exciting for us- I'm really hoping to have land some day and do some chicken-math lol!!

 

[MelissasYard]

My babies (about 3 weeks to 5 weeks in age) are spending their first nights in their new coop too! I put them out yesterday after noon as soon as the coop was finished! The weather was nice then it got cold around midnight so I brought them back in the house but to be totally honest... they looked totally fine in their new coop with the heat lamp and bedding. They were all cuddled together and didn't look cold at all.

 

[Vickilynn45]

^^^^^ I had been really worried the first few nights about the cold too. It's hard when it's our first time with chickens to know exactly what they can handle and what they can't. But how exciting to see them in their new home, glad yours is working out great!

 

[RonC]

Most breeds at 4-5 weeks they can handle 55 degrees at night no problem. Some develop feathers slower than other so take a little longer. I would ween them from their heatlamp before just putting them outside but if they have a draft free coop they are good.