I don't know what to do...

[Seaecho]

Duh, Kate and I were apparently typing at the same time!

 

[calichicken]

I live in South Fl. Do you think it still being around 70-65° out would be too cold. Just wondering because, I dont relly want to change my coop a lot. Unless totally needed.

What are your night time temps?

 

[SierraChickens]

Around 65

 

[Kate E]

I live in South Fl. Do you think it still being around 70-65° out would be too cold. Just wondering because, I dont relly want to change my coop a lot. Unless totally needed.

I'd recommend investing in a large wire dog crate whether you use it for integration purposes or not. In the year I have been keeping chickens I have had to use my crate for a variety of reasons to keep various chickens separated from the rest of the flock... bumble foot treatment, scaly leg mite treatments, a bloody nail/ toe, etc. It is well worth $50-$100 investment and would keep you from having to make modifications to your coop.

 

[Kate E]

Around 65

I would think at 65 degrees it should be plenty warm for the birds. Especially since they have a good amount of body heat in a group of 4. I forgot to mention that at night when the older birds went to roost I moved the dog cage with the pullets into a nearby shed in my yard so they could sleep. I woke up early the next two mornings to move the birds back into the run with the older birds. I felt better about them being sheltered overnight even with the warm summer temps. I think at 65 degrees though you should be fine to leave them in the run in the cage overnight if you don't have a nearby shed or garage to tuck them in to.

 

[SierraChickens]

Is this a good size???

 

[calichicken]

I'd recommend investing in a large wire dog crate whether you use it for integration purposes or not. In the year I have been keeping chickens I have had to use my crate for a variety of reasons to keep various chickens separated from the rest of the flock... bumble foot treatment, scaly leg mite treatments, a bloody nail/ toe, etc. It is well worth $50-$100 investment and would keep you from having to make modifications to your coop.

Agreed! I have 2 and they have come in handy quite a bit! This would allow them to still be in the coop covered and protected at night...you would want to create that even if you kept them in the run area....so separating in the coop would probably be easier?

 

[Kate E]

Is this a good size???

That is the exact cage I use. I have the plastic tray that you slide in and out of the bottom. I line the tray with hay so cleanup in my garage and shed is much easier.

 

[SierraChickens]

They are in there with now because I am cleaning out their brooder...
I also got a bigger one but is is folded up. So hard to tell exact size. It is definitely bigger than other one
see my goat came over...

 

[lazy gardener]

I live in South Fl. Do you think it still being around 70-65° out would be too cold. Just wondering because, I dont relly want to change my coop a lot. Unless totally needed.

As long as you have adequate coop/run size (recommendation is for 4 s.f./bird in coop and 10 s.f./bird in run):

Keeping young birds out of the coop and not integrating until they are full sized is "old school". Many of us back yard flock keepers have found that integration goes much easier when the newbies are young: between the age of 4 - 10 weeks, while they still have their "peep". Young birds are not considered to be a threat to the social structure, the way older pullets are. So, aside from the cursory "out of my way, punk!" peck, the youngsters are left alone.

Your temperatures are wonderful for integrating youngsters. I'd divide the coop or run, and put the youngsters on one side for the day, for a few days. (be sure to give them shade, shelter, feed and water on their side, of course.) Make sure it's predator proof, make sure they can't squirt through the fencing, and put a bit of scratch or other feed along the fence line, so they share the treats, while not being able to harass each other. You can then remove the divider, and after a day of "ok" interaction, put them in the coop for the night.