How soon is too soon to be cooped?

[DoubleBoop]

I have eight 2 week old brown sex link hens and they are simply getting too big for the container I have them in. They're having a hard time getting comfortable to sleep in there and they get super happy when I let them loose in the coop for a bit. I live close to Austin, Texas, and the weather is one of my main concerns. They are all at least 8 inches tall now and very healthy and active. All of them can fly fairly well and are growing by the hour. They know to bunch together when they sleep. Would 2 weeks, all of them weighing at least 1.5lbs, be too soon to coop them? Any advice other than get a bigger container?


My coop is very secure from everything but snakes that could fit through chicken wire. It is fairly protected against predators digging under it by chicken wire a few inches deep into the ground, and the chicks have a ramp they can go up to get to the nesting boxes. I think my biggest worry is weather. The lowest temperature for the next week is 47 degrees at night.

 

[Julie SC]

HA! I have the same question-but mine are Silkie chicks-5 weeks old. Lows here 52.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Can't you move their heat source out to the coop? If it's warm enough during the day they can be out in the coop, than back to the brooder at night if necessary. They do need more room at 2 weeks of age.

 

[debid]

Can you move their heat source to the coop? Is the coop empty and predator proofed? If so, go ahead and get them out of your house and into theirs. I actually start my chicks out in a brooding coop in spring and highly recommend this.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

HA! I have the same question-but mine are Silkie chicks-5 weeks old. Lows here 52.

If your chicks are mostly feathered and acclimated to lower temperatures than they can be out there. Again you can put them out during the day and provide some extra heat at night for a few weeks.

 

[Julie SC]

Thanks! I have had them out during the day-but our highs are in the upper seventies/low eighties. I have been putting them in the garage at night with a hot pad under a portion of their 52" round pen. I appreciate the advice!

 

[orrpeople]

And just one more small piece of advice (from experience ):
Chicken wire is very easy for predators to get into... raccoons, skunks, or anything that might be of concern in your area. Hardware cloth is much more secure (I also have had success with welded wire).
Beat of luck!

 

[DoubleBoop]

I happen to have a bunch of scrap welded wire I was given for free. I'll add that as a second layer onto the chicken wire. I'll also have a live animal trap near the coop. I never used a heat source with my chicks and they've been just fine. It's about 70 degrees in my bedroom, where I keep them and they are all snuggled up and happily asleep right now. As far as feathers go, they're mostly wings right now. still pretty fluffy. What else should I do to secure the coop?

 

[DoubleBoop]

Also, the high was in the low 70s today and they were happy as can be running and flying around in the coop for a couple hours today

 

[venymae]

I happen to have a bunch of scrap welded wire I was given for free. I'll add that as a second layer onto the chicken wire. I'll also have a live animal trap near the coop. I never used a heat source with my chicks and they've been just fine. It's about 70 degrees in my bedroom, where I keep them and they are all snuggled up and happily asleep right now. As far as feathers go, they're mostly wings right now. still pretty fluffy. What else should I do to secure the coop?

Make sure nothing can easily dig under the wire, make sure you have proper ventilation.