Heat, winter and leaving the brooder

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know what that looks like but as long as those windows are protected from predators and are higher than where the chickens are sleeping it should not matter.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have decided since cold snap is over ( mid 30ish) at night to go ahead and let them sleep in the coop.. this leaves room in the garage for me to put the 3 week olds in the garage..if they seem to be struggling i will take them back into the garage.. this week is mid 60s to 70 day and mid 40s at night.. fingers crossed another question? I have 3 ventilation windows . 2 across from each other and the 3rd is on the back..do i need all 3 open for ventilation or is the 2 across from each other enough and do i leave them full open at night or partially closed? Thank you for the advice!

Have you read my article on coop ventilation? https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

The key thing is to have no drafts down where the chickens are and plenty of fresh air up above.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Heating pad? That i haven't heard about. Could it cause a fire in the coop ? Do you drill a hole for the cord? My coops are mass produce kind and wondering how that works?

Heating pads are a home made set up some of us use in lieu of heat lamps. Lower fire risk in that there should be no risk of hot bulbs shattering or making contact with bedding.

I use a prefab coop for my brooder that already had power cord notches in it, so I didn't have to add a hole. Just so you can see how I brood (heating pad is blue item on left):

As for the food , should i then stop heating lamp in the garage at night so they can sleep and have extra room? I do have a roosting bar in the brooder so they can use it or should i just coop them?

If the chicks were younger I'd say it depends on how warm it is in there at night, however yours look well feathered for moving out so I'd opt to move them into the coop permanently instead at this time, which sounds like that's what you're currently planning on?

 

[Fnyfce51]

Thank you all! Update, chicks are fine outside.. still have an issue with them refusing to roost and piling in a nesting box but will try some of the other thread advice i have found to try and resolve it. I have a new batch going out next week and i feel more confident knowing it was fine the first time and should be again. Appreciate u all!