Moving chicks from brooder to coop, but it's HOT outside!

[MissRaychel91]

First off I should tell you that my chicks are now 2 months old and are still in the brooder. I know that's kind of old but we didnt do a good job of planning building the coop/run around our busy schedule.
But any ways we have a small starter coop ready and would like to get them out there,
but it's really hot out during the day. So will they be alright locked up in there? I read I should just keep them in the coop part for a couple weeks and not the run so they can get used to where home is for night time.
I have a very large piece of sheet metal over the whole coop to shade and reflect some of the sun.
And it's there anything else I should know about the transition process?
Thanks!

 

[centrarchid]

Encourage them to roost either as a pile or elevated away from sides of coop. If a predator can directly sniff their feet from below, then either get them roosting up in center of coop or place something flat and stiff to block a prying nose.

First releases I would do in evening just before roosting time to decrease odds they have trouble returning from run to coop.

 

[MissRaychel91]

Also, I don't know if this is good or bad..
I bought a feather duster and hung it in their brooder the day I got them. They have slept under it every single night since 1 day old till now. I tried taking it out a couple weeks ago because they can no longer all 4 of them fit under it. They freaked out so I just gave in and put it back.
Do you think I should just take it out or do you think it may help them know to go sleep inside the coop when night time comes?
Maybe take it out after they have gotten used to where they sleep?
Here's a precious picture of them all trying to fit under it tonight!

 

[BullChick]

Hi!
First, that’s just too cute!!
A lot of us get chicks before we build the coop. It honestly seems like the logical thing to do! It lights a fire under you to actually get it done.
Personally, I’d let them in the coop and the run. Leaving them locked up is geared more towards people that free range.
Typically, the chicks will play in the run, and return to the coop simply because it’s comfortable. That duster will definitely be a good incentive too. Since I am not going to leave you hanging, I will tell you what to do if they don’t go back to the coop at night.
A good number of people have chicks, and even adults, that flat out refuse to go inside at bedtime.
You can put them in manually until they learn.
You can have a light on inside to guide them “home“.
You can tell them that it is time for bed, and put down some feed or treats (don’t forget grit, not oyster shells, if you don’t have pebbles in the soil) leading into the coop.


* In the U.S., “free range” actually means there’s a door they have access to. It does not mean they actually go outside, and it doesn’t mean for a large portion of the day. If they are in the run, they are still free range. That is for knowledge. We all still call “free range” outside of the run.

 

[MissRaychel91]

Thank you! We are building a large barn type building, but it's still in the making (pic below). Half for storage and the other half will be for the chickens. But I will open the door for them to go outside for a little while each day, and I'll supervise them, then herd them back inside. But I'm not sure when it'll be finished. So until then we are stuck with this.

 

[True Patriot]

Go ahead and put them in the coop. They will get used to the idea. You don't need to move the duster. They'll be fine, they may complain at first but stick with it. I got mine to learn to go in at night by putting a night light in the coop. Once it starts getting dark the light will entice them. Give them a week or so to imprint their new home before letting them out to roam. Once they're used to where home is, they should come back in the evening to roost. You can try "herding" them back earlier, it's not as easy as it sounds. Same theory when you finish the big coop. They will need some time to imprint the new home before going out. Best of luck

 

[Melky]

First off I should tell you that my chicks are now 2 months old and are still in the brooder. I know that's kind of old but we didnt do a good job of planning building the coop/run around our busy schedule.
But any ways we have a small starter coop ready and would like to get them out there,
but it's really hot out during the day. So will they be alright locked up in there? I read I should just keep them in the coop part for a couple weeks and not the run so they can get used to where home is for night time.
I have a very large piece of sheet metal over the whole coop to shade and reflect some of the sun.
And it's there anything else I should know about the transition process?
Thanks!

It’s time to go out. Don’t need the duster. They will sleep with each other for warmth and comfort. I put mine out in coop and run first day out at 4-5 weeks. They did fine in heat. I had fresh water out in run all the time with crumble in fountain feeders. I made sure they found it right away when first put in run. I put them in house that night.

Can leave windows open for ventilation if have chic or cloth wire cover. I would close door to run at night. I did not free range outside of coop and run right away, just let them learn the coop and run first. I put crumble on the ramp to help learn the ramp at night and encouraged them to go up at dusk. No problem learning going out and down on own in am once door open to run. They learned to put themselves up at night first week on own. I left my chic coop door to run open during day so they could practice going in and out during day time on own. They loved to explore on own. They will find shade as they need it. Don’t worry will do fine! Good Luck!

 

[Melky]

Thank you! We are building a large barn type building, but it's still in the making (pic below). Half for storage and the other half will be for the chickens. But I will open the door for them to go outside for a little while each day, and I'll supervise them, then herd them back inside. But I'm not sure when it'll be finished. So until then we are stuck with this.
View attachment 1529578 View attachment 1529579 View attachment 1529580

Coop and run looks fine for four new babies. You will find when older that you may need up to 10 square feet of space in run per bird for adequate room especially on bad weather days when do not want to go out. I would also have two roosting bars in coop and one long one across fenced in run at foot of ramp. Good job!