Leaving vents open at night

[Jkchicks19]

The roost bar...how far away from the side wall is it?

I’m not sure..I think the roost is about 12 inch away from wall

 

[TomZilla43]

Very nice coop. As others have said you should be absolutely fine leaving vents and windows open, how many chicks do you have?

 

[Jkchicks19]

Oh, and very smart that you put linoleum under the sand, you will be glad that you did!

Lol my husbands idea!

 

[Jkchicks19]

Very nice coop. As others have said you should be absolutely fine leaving vents and windows open, how many chicks do you have?

I have 6 all together! Well one turned out to be a rooster..will keep him until someone complains. 2 black lorps..1barred rock..1 Brahma and 2 EE.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I have 6 all together! Well one turned out to be a rooster..will keep him until someone complains. 2 black lorps..1barred rock..1 Brahma and 2 EE.

If you have all 6 together you should put all 6 in the coop at the same time. To separate them for a period of time will upset the "pecking order" and they will have to re-integrate later. Are you going to free range them until you get your run finished?

 

[Steven Bussell]

I put my mixed flock outside in the coop when they were only 2 days old.
With a heat plate.
But I did wait until they were 5 weeks old before allowing them outdoor access. They will be 8 weeks old this Monday and are coming out and going to bed on their own.

 

[Jkchicks19]

If you have all 6 together you should put all 6 in the coop at the same time. To separate them for a period of time will upset the "pecking order" and they will have to re-integrate later. Are you going to free range them until you get your run finished?

The 3 younger chicks have always been separate from the other 3. Their brooders were next to each other but they have not met face to face. I free range the older ones in the evening when I’m home....only for an hour or so. I figure when I have the run I’ll introduce the younger chicks through the fence.

 

[Kiki]

The sooner you introduce them the better. The younger they are the better...usually.

 

[Jkchicks19]

The sooner you introduce them the better. The younger they are the better...usually.

How should I go about introducing them? I have a dog crate I was using for older ones when I took them outside..they would free range..then I would get them back in the crate to go back inside to brooder. Should I put younger ones in the crate and put outside so others can see them without hurting them? I read somewhere I should wait until they are closer to older chicks size. I have no idea.

 

[Peppercorngal]

How should I go about introducing them? I have a dog crate I was using for older ones when I took them outside..they would free range..then I would get them back in the crate to go back inside to brooder. Should I put younger ones in the crate and put outside so others can see them without hurting them? I read somewhere I should wait until they are closer to older chicks size. I have no idea.

Most of the time the smaller the chick the flock see less of a threat. I'm not saying that right but you get the idea. Mama hens introduce their chicks to the flock at 2 days old. by 3 weeks to a month old these chicks are ignored by Mama to make their own way and the other chickens are used to them and see them as no threat or competition because they are small. They get a hard peck once in awhile, but usually just fit into the pecking order of the flock just fine. The bigger the chicken the harder it is to integrate. My opinion of course. It has worked for me.