From Brooder to Coop

[Onyx9370]

I've read a lot about moving chicks from their indoor heated brooded to the outdoor coop, and I've found some useful information, but i would love some opinions on my specific situation. I have some 1-2 week old pullets in a brooder in the house with a heat lamp. I know they are too young now to go outside (i took my 2 week olds out for a few minutes today and it was about 60-65 degrees and I could tell they got chilly.), I know they need to have all of their feathers before I put them out. I would just like to know the lowest temperature it can be outside for them to thrive without a heat lamp in the coop. I could put a heat lamp in the coop, but it makes me nervous about starting a fire or the extension cord shorting out because of rain or something. I know to wean them from the heat lamp gradually, I just want to make sure that when I do put them in the coop they will be ok, warm enough on their own ect. There are 35 of them so they can get warmth from each other. Thanks!

 

[gcbsmommy]

I put my 27 chicks in the coop when they were 4 weeks old (10 days ago). They were all feathered out and my brooder was just over-run (poor planning on my part, I know! FIrst timer!). Anyway, I live in FL and asked several people - everyone has a different opinion but the general concensus is 6-8 weeks. But, since I live in Florida where temperatures are milder, and because of outgrowing the brooder, I put them out there. They did great. We did have a cold snap last week dipping into the 30s and I put a heat lamp out there a couple nights, but they have been out there without the lamp with temperatures in the 40s at night. So far, everyone continues to look happy and healthy (and they have a lot more playing room out there.) Hope that helps!

 

[Onyx9370]

Thanks! That helps a lot! I live in Tennessee and right now it's starting to transition into spring, but we still have a couple weeks to go before we have temperatures consistently over 40 degrees at night. I'm just terrified that if I put a heat lamp in the coop it will start a fire. And it wont be long before my brood outgrows their brooder. Also a first timer!

 

[chickadoodles]

You could try getting one of those closet light sockets for the coop. They do not require wiring and yet you can keep the chicks warm.
Next winter you will need a heat lamp also if the temps go down where you live. I am new to chicks also but I will be using the closet light fixtures in my coop. Hope this helps.

 

[angdonnie]

Hi. I am from Tennessee also. I had 20 last year and started them off in the coop with a heat lamp. This year, I hatched 10 of my own, and they are my babies, they have been in the house from the beginning (will be 3 weeks old in 2 days). I have to move them to the coop. They are getting too big / smelly to keep in the house!!! I will be moving the heat lamp out there, but I am still worried about them. They will need some sort of heat source for a while. Although, my 1 year olds are fine without it.

 

[debid]

The adults don't need heat here unless you have some very tender and poorly insulated breed (thinking of Silkies...). As for chicks, there isn't a set number of weeks. They should be feathered on the head and back which happens at different times for different breeds. I've had some that were ready by four weeks and others were more like seven. I brood outdoors so it's easy enough to see whether they are sleeping under the lamp or away from it. If you can give an in-between step like moving them to an unheated garage with their lamp for a couple of weeks, you may worry less.

 

[strssdmom]

I am from Indiana, a bit cooler than you. The Indiana thread talks about not needing a heat light in your coop at all even in winter. Some people talk about going out 3 times a day to break up the ice in their waterers. So, I am guessing if they don't need a light here in the coop, then you won't need one there in the coop.

My personal experience (as little as that is)...I kept my chicks in the house in a brooder until I couldn't stand the smell any longer (about 4-5 weeks we have two batches a week apart in age), now they are in an unheated garage with a heat light on only at night. Next week they will be transitioned to the coop with no heat light. I will be doing Deep Litter Method, so if they are cold they can all huddle together in the litter or on the perches.

I am a first timer, so I am not saying I am right. This is just how we are doing the process of transitioning our 29 chicks.

Good Luck! Let us know what you decide and how it works for you.

 

[xxxgeorgiexxx]

i always move mine in the coop at around 6-8 weeks