if you didn't have a heat source in your coop

[ericsplls]

The first night I put my seven week olds out I didn't put a light on them. I thought I would find them in the corner of the enclosed part of the tractor. Instead I found them out in the open in the wire area of the tractor. They looked like a basketball. It took them a while to all get up and get going. There were 13 chicks in the basketball sized pile. I decided to put the light on them for another week.

 

[LindsayB]

mine are 3 1/2 weeks now and tonight is their first night outside. its been in the mid 80's during the day and the low 70's-upper 60's at night. the coop is totally closed up though so they can't get into the run. There is a window with screen open so I can peek at them all night lol. I also ran a cord out to the coop so they could have their heat lamp. They seem much happier with all the extra room!

 

[BoerneChickens]

Mine turned 4 wks old yesterday and the coop is ready for them to move in tonight. It is in the 70s/80s during the day now, but later this week the low is supposed to be 44 so I am going to run an outdoor extension cord to the coop and hang the light inside for this week so that it doesn't get too chilly for them.

I am wondering if I shoudl restrict them to the hen house part of the coop for a few days or give them access to the whole thing - house and run. It is all secure so they should be safe, but I don't know if keeping the in the house for a few days will help them learn to roost there at night or if they will naturally do that?

 

[brendapa]

My 4 week olds went out last night but with heat. It was 70ish under the light in the coop last night and they were on the outskirts of the light.
It's very warm (for the 1st week of April) here in NE PA so it's relative according to your temps. This weekend, if the weather holds, there wll be no heat lamp....they'll be 5 weeks.

Good luck with the chicks!

Brenda