More chicks?

[cackalacky]

Hi all.

I've been reading this site for a long time! I'm glad to finally have a reason to post. I am the proud mom of 4 young chicks. They are 3-4 weeks old now and have completed their move to their new chicken tractor. It has a run area of 4' x 12' and a coop area 4' x 6'. I had wanted to add 2 more chicks that are hatching today but I am not sure I have the space and am concerned about mixing the ages. Obviously, the wee ones will be inside for a few weeks. The older 4 are in the tractor with a heat lamp at night, it's been in the 80's during the day. So here are the burning questions..

Do I have room for 6 standard size hens in the above tractor?
Are chicks 3-4 weeks apart in age difficult to mix?

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[I didn't do it]

yes you could have 6 hens in there but i would keep the new chicks inside for 4 weeks.

 

[cackalacky]

Thanks!

I am getting 3 6-week-old chicks this weekend, so I am hoping that they can go right in the coop with a heat lamp at night. Having chicks in the dining room was charming but I am -too- ready to have a dust-free house again!!

Another question, how hot is too hot at night? My 250 watt bulb is keeping the coop about 90 degrees early in the evening when I put them up, getting down to 72-73 by the early morning as the night cools off. I feel as if I am baking the poor dears in the early evening. They all seem happy as larks, but I worry. It's what I do. I even have a t-shirt.

So, should I lower the wattage of the bulb? Should I plug one or more vent holes later in the evening? Throw a tarp over it to add a dead air space? Here is a photograph of our new coop/tractor.

Thanks again for helping me!

-cackalacky