Integrating chicks before 12 weeks

[Linnre]

One other thought, if you will be enlarging the chicken space: IMHO your coop could do with way more ventilation. Perhaps cutting some large windows and covering with hardware cloth. Yes, might take away the cute appearance, but I'm also in TX and there is no end in sight to this inferno we're in right now Enjoy your trip!

Thank you, this is a good point and I have wondered the same. We won’t be enlarging - we just can’t. The only time they are in the coop is for sleeping and laying eggs. But is that what you mean - it needs more ventilation for those times? One good thing - the coop is under trees and in the shade. I’m not sure how much that affects the inside of the coop.

I took some better pictures today of each side the first picture is taken from the outside.

 

[3KillerBs]

The only time they are in the coop is for sleeping and laying eggs. But is that what you mean - it needs more ventilation for those times?

Night is when they need ventilation the most -- shut up inside with the ammonia from their poop and the moisture from their breath.

 

[Linnre]

Night is when they need ventilation the most -- shut up inside with the ammonia from their poop and the moisture from their breath.

Thank you! Seeing these pics do you still think they need more?

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you! Seeing these pics do you still think they need more?

That's more than it looked like from outside.

Is the temperature inside the coop the same as it is outside the coop on a sunny afternoon?

The guidelines are just guidelines, the temperatures/humidities are the true test.

 

[Linnre]

Thinking of ventilation at night, I think they need a fan. Is there something you could recommend for my size coop? I’d like solar run but with battery operated at night. I started googling and remembered I should ask here first! (I have googled many times actually over the weeks and just don’t see what I think I need).

 

[3KillerBs]

Thinking of ventilation at night, I think they need a fan. Is there something you could recommend for my size coop? I’d like solar run but with battery operated at night. I started googling and remembered I should ask here first! (I have googled many times actually over the weeks and just don’t see what I think I need).

I'm not a fan of fans.

You should use something that's rated for use in a barn because a normal fan is a fire hazard due to the dust from the bedding and the feather dander.

@aart has a safer setup for a regular box fan: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/window-fan-mount.75608/

 

[Linnre]

I'm not a fan of fans.

You should use something that's rated for use in a barn because a normal fan is a fire hazard due to the dust from the bedding and the feather dander.

@aart has a safer setup for a regular box fan: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/window-fan-mount.75608/

Thanks for this. A lot to think about.

 

[Linnre]

I'm not a fan of fans.

You should use something that's rated for use in a barn because a normal fan is a fire hazard due to the dust from the bedding and the feather dander.

@aart has a safer setup for a regular box fan: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/window-fan-mount.75608/

Is a solar with battery fan a fire hazard?

 

[3KillerBs]

Is a solar with battery fan a fire hazard?

I don't know.