Help please - when to put chicks from brooder to coop.

[sablevulpe]

On the same line, I am raising my first clutch... I have 4 araucanas, 4 buff orpingtons, and 2 barred brahmas. They are about 4 weeks (2 of them are 3 weeks) and most of them are nearly feathered out except for their heads... they are pretty efficient fliers (except the 2 youngest), like to perch a LOT and are starting to form combs. My problem is that one of the Orps is a little brute and is starting to pick on some of the others (not the smaller ones, he ignores them, and they are actually pretty fiesty and tough- araucanas). Do I move him out to the coop? Set up another brooder? Move them ALL out to the coop? I'm in MN, so the days are typically in the 70s now, evenings can get down to the upper 50s tho. My gut said I should have started with pullets, but the little ones were too cute to pass up. I'm definitely a super star to all the kids in the neighborhood!

Thanks in advance.

 

[CamsCluckinChicks]

If these 10 are the only chickens that'll be in the coop, I would move them. I would hang a brooder light for them so if they felt cold, they had that heat available, but I'm pretty sure they will be fine. I know my Bantam Cochin took care of 5 chicks by herself, without any additional heat, in 20 degree Farenheit weather. And they weren't feathered out at all in the beginning!!

 

[russ_t]

If your coop is enclosed to keep them out of the wind, then I would put the heat lamp about 12 - 15 inches off the floor in a corner. The chicks will be able to get right under the lamp to get warm and move away if they get too hot. I'd try it during the day and see if they huddle under the lamp or move about. If they they huddle during the day, it will certainly be too cold for them at night. On the other hand, if they avoid the lamp or are indifferent to it, I would give the coop a shot over night. Make sure that they have wood chip bedding or the like as it will help to keep the warmth in.

 

[sablevulpe]

These are the only 10 that will be in the coop, and it will be a fully enclosed coop (with lots of ventilation for their "summer house") thank you SO much for the reply. I just feel like they want more room, but I didn't want to confuse that with my own desire to get them out of my bathroom!!! I've brought them outside for a couple short stints and they LOVE it. I think that may have hastened their edginess in the brooder. The books out there have so many "YOU MUST DO" rules, and none of them have the same parameters... it's very comforting to have advice of folks that are actually hands-on (and willing to share!). thank you thank you.