First time posting, new member...Do you have to keep the chicks in a brooder???

[capemaychickens]

Good morning everyone. I apologize if this topic was covered but I attempted to find info without any luck. I currently have 10 chicks in a plastic bin with heat lamp. Our coop is finished and ready to go and also has electricity. I have the chicks in the living room in the house right now but was hoping to get some info on whether or not I can keep them in the coop. I can easily hook up the heat lamp in the coop and give them access to the secure coop but was wondering if that will work? The coop and current brooder have sand bottom and the coop area has zero areas where the chicks could escape or get stuck. We live in Cape May NJ and the weather is definitely starting to warm up. I would definitely leave the lamp on at night when the temp drops but would like some input if possible. Thank you all for your time.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yes yes, move them out to the coop and continue with the heat lamp out there, when it's warm enough some outside time will be nice for them too. You and your chicks will both be happier.

 

[azygous]

I wrote an article about brooding in the coop or run if you want to see how I do it. It's linked below this post under "Articles", the second link.

The way I do it, since my coops are small and only for roosting, is to brood in my enclosed run. The article has pictures so you can see what it looks like. When the chicks reach four or five weeks, they move into the coop.

I also do not brood with a heat lamp any longer. I use the heating pad system, and it's so much safer and easier. In fact, their heating pad cave is moved into the coop with the chicks for their first few nights so they transition easier with something familiar to them.

 

[TheDalekDiva]

I was just wondering, is your coop indoors or outdoors? I am getting 4 baby chicks, and when the coop arrived, I stuck my hand inside it and found it was rather warm in there. Where I live, it doesn't usually get colder than 3 degrees celsius in the winter. We don't have any ice, snow, or even frost, just a bit of rain. There is a shed in the backyard that has power, I was thinking of possibly plugging the heat lamp into the shed, and the cord could go through the two small holes so that the heat lamp could have power. Is it possible for them to grow up outdoors in a coop like this?

 

[capemaychickens]

Indoor coop. Built as a shed. Giving it a shot tonight with the lil ones being out in the coop. My wife is nervous but so far so good they seem to love all the room and being out of the plastic bin. Sand floor on coop and heat lamp is on! Keepin our fingers crossed

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They will be fine, don't give in to any urges to turn back. The first night is always the hardest on chicks and keepers.