Is it ok for my hens to be evicted from the brooder?

[Stajas]

Hi All, my hens are about 8 weeks old. They have most all of their feathers, i see a few down patches here and there under their feathers but not much, and some on their butts. They’ve truly outgrown their brooder in the garage, and weather outside runs between the mid 50’s during the day to low 40’s at night. As winter goes on, it would obviously get colder here in the PNW.
My hubby built them a good sized coop and enclosed run that’s been ready for some occupants since July. Is it safe to move them to the coop and keep them in there before I give them access to the run? They really need the room, I just don’t want them to be too cold and I'm not a fan of using a heat source in the coop.
what do you think?
ive attached pictures of the coop.

 

[Hei 20]

Hi All, my hens are about 8 weeks old. They have most all of their feathers, i see a few down patches here and there under their feathers but not much, and some on their butts. They’ve truly outgrown their brooder in the garage, and weather outside runs between the mid 50’s during the day to low 40’s at night. As winter goes on, it would obviously get colder here in the PNW.
My hubby built them a good sized coop and enclosed run that’s been ready for some occupants since July. Is it safe to move them to the coop and keep them in there before I give them access to the run? They really need the room, I just don’t want them to be too cold and I'm not a fan of using a heat source in the coop.
what do you think?
ive attached pictures of the coop.

I love your coop, your husband did an awesome job. I think it might be to cold for them if they are not completely feathered.

 

[Offshoreorca]

If the are fully feathered, then they are good to go. If you’re unsure, you can always run a power chord to the coop and supply a little heat using a brooder plate or such (I know you don’t like that idea, but just for the transition period). Most chicks are “fully feathered” by 8 weeks!

 

[Stajas]

If the are fully feathered, then they are good to go. If you’re unsure, you can always run a power chord to the coop and supply a little heat using a brooder plate or such (I know you don’t like that idea, but just for the transition period). Most chicks are “fully feathered” by 8 weeks!

Thank you! I still see some fluff on their butts but not much. They’re very close. I just hate that they’re so cramped. I think I’ll go ahead and look into some sort of heat source so they can stretch out. I’ve taken them out there during the day a few times, they’re so much happier there.

 

[Stajas]

I love your coop, your husband did an awesome job. I think it might be to cold for them if they are not completely feathered.

Thanks so much, I just love the coop. It matches our house! I think they are so close to being ready. Just a bit of fluff left. I keep checking and I’m never sure. I did leave the lamp off in the brooder last night. Maybe I worry too much!

 

[RevlisRemmah]

How many do you have? Are they currently using a heat source?

 

[RainbowHen]

If they've been on supplemental heat this whole time they will have feathered out slower. I say kick em out

 

[Aapomp831]

Yes kick them out! Keep them confined to the coop for a few days so they get used to it and see it as home; we didn’t do that the first time and had to gather them every night and put them in the coop. Oops!

 

[Aapomp831]

.... and nice coop. I would totally live there.

 

[Stajas]

How many do you have? Are they currently using a heat source?

I have 4. I’ve stopped the heat source completely yesterday, but had it on only at night for a week or so because I was always SO worried they’d be cold. Lol! During the day they’ve had nothing for a couple of weeks now.