Hi from Kansas City, MO

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Melky said:
Mine were 4-5 weeks and feathered out and went into the coop with no heat at night as long as 60-70s. Did well. They will huddle together for heat. If temps lower 6-8 weeks is fine.
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Several of my i believe girls are getting a good amount of feathers. It’s staying pretty well between 50-70’s here but did get down in the 40’s last night. We are pretty much out of the super cold weather here in KC. Thank goodness!
 
Montanomom3 said:
Several of my i believe girls are getting a good amount of feathers. It’s staying pretty well between 50-70’s here but did get down in the 40’s last night. We are pretty much out of the super cold weather here in KC. Thank goodness!
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Same here! I am thanking the good lord for it too. The polar vortex this year was darn frigid. Happy Easter!
 
Montanomom3 said:
Thank you so much! That will help a lot. I didn’t know when we could do it. I had read they need to be in the brooder 6 weeks somewhere so i guess i need to read up more on here!
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There are differing opinions and "old ways" of doing things, but it's becoming more popular to just copy what a mother hen does. So I also like to raise chicks with a Mama Heating Pad... I think a heat lamp is best suited for brooding an extremely large amount of chicks (50-100+) at once. And it's so much healthier and more natural when chicks are exposed to the cooler room temperature air and only receive heat when they choose it themselves, and they can also sleep quietly through the night and have empty crops in the morning.

If moving to the coop at a very young age (1-2 weeks), I would still offer the heat source for a while longer, that's why the MHP or a heating plate is safer too. I've tried both methods and am amazed at how much easier the MHP is and seems to take all the guesswork out of what temperature to keep the brooder, and chicks become acclimated and grow feathers very quickly.

Do keep in mind that all hatching eggs are split pretty evenly between boys and girls. You can always post pics in the gender section:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/what-breed-or-gender-is-this.15/
to get opinions on what you have, but the most definitive rooster traits won't appear until about 12-14 weeks. I'm also not allowed to have roos in town, so I just get already sexed day-old pullets. But one of these days I'll be brave enough to hatch my own eggs :D
Good luck with your new babies!

More of my favorite links if you're interested:
Start Raising Your Chicks Outdoors
You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors
Pseudo Brooder Heater ‘Plate’
How Much Room Do Chickens Need
Chicken Coop Ventilation - Go Out There And Cut More Holes In Your Coop!
 
FlappyFeathers said:
There are differing opinions and "old ways" of doing things, but it's becoming more popular to just copy what a mother hen does. So I also like to raise chicks with a Mama Heating Pad... I think a heat lamp is best suited for brooding an extremely large amount of chicks (50-100+) at once. And it's so much healthier and more natural when chicks are exposed to the cooler room temperature air and only receive heat when they choose it themselves, and they can also sleep quietly through the night and have empty crops in the morning.

If moving to the coop at a very young age (1-2 weeks), I would still offer the heat source for a while longer, that's why the MHP or a heating plate is safer too. I've tried both methods and am amazed at how much easier the MHP is and seems to take all the guesswork out of what temperature to keep the brooder, and chicks become acclimated and grow feathers very quickly.

Do keep in mind that all hatching eggs are split pretty evenly between boys and girls. You can always post pics in the gender section:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/what-breed-or-gender-is-this.15/
to get opinions on what you have, but the most definitive rooster traits won't appear until about 12-14 weeks. I'm also not allowed to have roos in town, so I just get already sexed day-old pullets. But one of these days I'll be brave enough to hatch my own eggs :D
Good luck with your new babies!

More of my favorite links if you're interested:
Start Raising Your Chicks Outdoors
You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors
Pseudo Brooder Heater ‘Plate’
How Much Room Do Chickens Need
Chicken Coop Ventilation - Go Out There And Cut More Holes In Your Coop!
Click to expand...

Great information i had never heard of a mother hen heating pad. I’ll have to check that out.

Yes we have gotten straight run chicks before and 3 ended up being roosters. I am hoping that we didn’t end up with any roosters this time. I will def post when they get bigger. I had heard if they waddle it’s an indication but i have not noticed any so far. But they are only 8 days old now.
 

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