moving 3 wk old chicks from brooder to coop??

[diggergal]

My dh and I are planning to move our 17 three week old chicks to their new abode this weekend. The chicks are currently in our insulated garage w/ 250 watt heat lamp over their 3' x 4' brooder. I have been moving the heat lamp up every week since week one. They are making so much DUST. They really seem to need more room to run and spread their wings. They are all healthy and no overly aggressive behavior.
Our coop is a 8' x 20' insulated shed w/ventilation. The coop area is an 8' x 8' area. I plan to hang one or two heat lamps in the coop area. We live in Illinois and it has been unseasonably cool and wet. I do not want to move them if you experienced BYC's think this is too soon. They will be dry and draft free but if they are not under the lamps it will definately be cooler than the brooder. Thanking you in advance for your advice.

PS need to change my signature to "finally a new chicken momma April 10th, 2011-17 assorted breeds-BO, RIR, BA, Welsummers,Cuckoo Marans, Speckled Sussex, White Leghorn-(hopefully pullets)"

 

[Ridgerunner]

At three weeks they probably should have supplemental heat for another week or so. I strongly suspect they would come back to the heat when they need to warm up. You may be taking a bit of a chance, but in my opinion, not much of a chance.

Is there any way you could maybe set the brooder up in the coop? Leave them locked in it for a day or two, then let them out and either open the door on the brooder if you have a door or just remove the brooder and leave the light for a week or so. They should learn to go back to that heat when they need to.

I put my brooder in the coop from Day 1 and around 4-1/2 to 5 weeks age, take the brooder and supplemental heat out. This system works great for me.

 

[diggergal]

Thank you Ridgerunner for your response. It would be pretty cumbersome to move the brooder to the coop. It is a shipping crate for a piece of heavy equipment. It is made from wood with heavy skids attached. It made a great brooder but I just thought my chickeys may need more room. I did plan to put two 250 watt heat lamps in coop area. I may reconsider the move for a few more days if the weather continues to stay unseasonably cool. I definately do not want to but the chickeys at risk.