First night in the coop

[KayChickMom29]

I'm debating if I should let my 3 week old chicks spend the night in their coop tonight with the heat lamp through the window or if it's still way too soon. They're getting so cramped inside the house . It's a beautiful sunny 70 degrees today, with a low of 48 degrees and no rain/no heavy winds. They're about half fluff and half feathering. They've been outside most of the day and they've been happily running around the run of their coop and occasionally gathering together for power naps with the heat lamp. What do you all think???

 

[nuthatched]

Kick em out.

 

[KayChickMom29]

Kick em out.

Hahaha! You really think they're ready for the eviction notice?

 

[nuthatched]

Hahaha! You really think they're ready for the eviction notice?

I'd shut the door so they don't wander out but yes.

 

[lagrange chicks]

Look a little under feathered for the air coming your way, we are 32F now in southern Wi. Might need the heat lamp in the coop, secure it good.

 

[KayChickMom29]

Look a little under feathered for the air coming your way, we are 32F now in southern Wi. Might need the heat lamp in the coop, secure it good.

Oh, definitely will need the heat lamp still. I just feel bad for them being all "cooped" up inside the house (pun intended). We'll get down to the high 30s at night next week, with highs of 50s-60s. But the weather is improving for sure.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Good point about the coming forecast.

My concerns are leaning more to coop size and if they will be able to get away from the heat if needed. That and a heat lamp must be very securely attached. Never ever trust that clamp.

 

[KayChickMom29]

Good point about the coming forecast.

My concerns are leaning more to coop size and if they will be able to get away from the heat if needed. That and a heat lamp must be very securely attached. Never ever trust that clamp.

I did put in 2 windows, one on each side of the coop. I can maybe fasten it to the outside of the coop so that it points inside the window and its not directly on them. Do you think that would be enough?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I did put in 2 windows, one on each side of the coop. I can maybe fasten it to the outside of the coop so that it points inside the window and its not directly on them. Do you think that would be enough?

It takes just one drop of water to cause the bulb to literally explode.

My vote is to keep the lamp inside the coop and very securely attached if you do put them out.

A better option is to make a bigger brooder inside the house, a garage or a shed.

 

[lagrange chicks]

Put a thermometer in the coop. Last spring I put chicks out mid April that were 6 weeks old with a reptile heat bulb, my thermometer keeps low and high temps and some nights still went below freezing. They all survived but I felt bad for them.