HOW OLD TILL CHICKENS GO IN COOP??

[HunterUSArmy]

Hey I got three three week old BR AND two three week old RIR I put them in the coop to help them deal with cocci well build immunity but I only leave in hour or so then put back in my make shift kiddy pool brooder they seem to do alright in the coop I'm just nervous about leaving them out there how old was yalls first chicks??? Btw they would be only ones in there I'm New to chickens and have no adults yet

 

[cackleberrycam]

Chicks may be put in the coop at six weeks of age. For the first day, do not let them outside of the coop. Rather, keep them in the coop and let them get used to the new environment. Also, put them on the roost every night to train them to go back to their coop to roost every night.
I hope this can help you.

 

[HunterUSArmy]

Awesome when you say don't let them out of the coop do you mean not into the run or out of there house lol mine will stay in coop and run permanently neighbor's dog would have a field day if I didn't

 

[bobbi-j]

Mine start out in the coop.

 

[HunterUSArmy]

Sweet do they have access to the run or do you keep them confined till older?

 

[bobbi-j]

I kept them confined in the 8x8 coop until they were about 3 weeks old. Then they were allowed out in the attached run. If you don't have any other chickens in your coop, you can put them in, leave them locked up for a few days (if there is plenty of room and good ventilation) to acclimate them to the coop being "home". Then you can let them in the run. Or, you can let them have access to the run right away, but they may not know to go in the coop at night. This is not a big deal if it's plenty warm out and your run is predator proof. You do not need to put them on the roost every night. When they're young, they like to sleep huddled together on the floor - at least every batch I've ever had has done that. They eventually figure out to roost on their own.

 

[6of6chicks]

I think it depends on your setup and your weather. I went about it a LOT differently than bobbi-j said and it worked out well for me. I moved my girls to their coop at 2 weeks old and finished brooding them IN their coop. The overnight lows were above 70 degrees and I put the brooder lamp in there with them. The coop is a fortress and they were very safe. I blocked off the nest boxes and put a 'baby' perch in there for them to practice on. I cleaned the coop every few days (replacing litter but keeping some old) and spent a lot of time out there with the coop doors open socializing with them.

I kept them in the coop 24/7 for three weeks straight before I let them out in the run. And when I did it wasn't all at once - just an hour that first day, and then I gradually added more time each day to get them used to it. By the time they had access to the run all day they were so used to the coop being 'home' that I didn't even have to train them to go in there when it got dark - they did it automatically.

I don't think there is a 'right' way to go about it. Do what works best for you.

 

[bobbi-j]

I think it depends on your setup and your weather. I went about it a LOT differently than bobbi-j said and it worked out well for me. I moved my girls to their coop at 2 weeks old and finished brooding them IN their coop. The overnight lows were above 70 degrees and I put the brooder lamp in there with them. The coop is a fortress and they were very safe. I blocked off the nest boxes and put a 'baby' perch in there for them to practice on. I cleaned the coop every few days (replacing litter but keeping some old) and spent a lot of time out there with the coop doors open socializing with them.

I kept them in the coop 24/7 for three weeks straight before I let them out in the run. And when I did it wasn't all at once - just an hour that first day, and then I gradually added more time each day to get them used to it. By the time they had access to the run all day they were so used to the coop being 'home' that I didn't even have to train them to go in there when it got dark - they did it automatically.

I don't think there is a 'right' way to go about it. Do what works best for you.

I totally agree - I was just sharing how I do it. I live in MN, and the coldest night time temp. we had was 32*. Did you notice I had 2 heatlamps in there? I did lose a couple to piling, but out of 50 that wasn't too bad.

 

[cackleberrycam]

Awesome when you say don't let them out of the coop do you mean not into the run or out of there house lol mine will stay in coop and run permanently neighbor's dog would have a field day if I didn't

For the first day you should keep them confined in the coop and on the second day you should let them go into the run. From the second day on out, you may let them freely use the run.
Remember, always watch them closely when you let them outside of the run as they are still very young .