Moving chicks to coop FAST

[animalyodelers]

Remember to not close the coop up too much. You do need ventilation to get the moisture from pooping and breathing out of that coop. A warm chicken is a dry chicken.

Thanks! I am mostly worried that the holes are in the bottom part of the coop instead of the top. Am I right to think I should close up the bottom holes and leave top holes open?

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Pictures would be helpful. Others might see something that needs to be done. Any hole that is big enough for a rodent to get in needs to at least have hardware cloth over it.

 

[animalyodelers]

We have a pair of hawks that have a nest in neighbor's tree, for 2 days there was a owl in the cedar tree 20 feet from the coop. I have a foot of 1x.5" wire attached to bottom of run buried to prevent digging in and fenced panels on top of run, with a 8x12 heavy duty silver tarp on top (keeps run dry and shades in the summer, and comes down side for wind break).

We are going to be putting fencing and tarps on top of our run this week- the digging in is going to have to wait until spring. But we have a 70 lb dog outside who scares off any other animal who wanders in during the day. We're going to lock them in the coop at night for now.

I'll post pics when I get home

 

[animalyodelers]

I moved our chicks out to the coop about the same age. I kept it closed up for a couple of weeks to make sure they realized that it was safe and "home". I had a ceramic heat lamp for a few days but they didn't seem interested and just huddled up together. I opened the pop door and moved all the food and water outside after a couple of weeks. The first night I had to wrangle a couple of the 20 chicks back into the coop at sundown but has never been a problem since! You need air flow/ventilation for sure just not drafts in the roosting area so I have not been to worried about weatherproofing everything. Best of luck and enjoy!

Thanks, sounds like we definitely should be ok to put them out!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Thanks! I am mostly worried that the holes are in the bottom part of the coop instead of the top. Am I right to think I should close up the bottom holes and leave top holes open?

In general, yes, but photos would help.

 

[animalyodelers]

Here are my photos- obviously I am still working on part of it. I had planned to finish it the day we got them, but since they were inside that day we worked on other stuff. The windows and door that don't have hardware cloth will have plywood on the bottom and at least a few inches of hardware cloth on top for venthilation.

My concern id mainly the little spaces in the orange wall, and the one side with the big window and smaller hole below. They all have hardware cloth, but I'm thinking I need to cover up all the smaller holes and at least most of that window, to avoid drafts.

Let me know what you all think, thanks for all your help!

 

[animalyodelers]

Got the other big window boarded up. Still have to add the hardware cloth above the plywood.

But the chicks have been out all day with no problems!! When they got cold they huddled together in the coop, then went back out a little later. They'll probably sleep inside one more night just because the coop isn't secure yet.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Yes those holes at the bottom need to be covered. For the window and door you can make a frame, put hardware cloth on it and then make a drop down winter cover leaving a 6"x window width for ventilation. Can do the same thing for door.
Here is what I did. Summer they have a picture screen window, and a screened window on the door. We have the roofing where rain won't come in the windows. Also included a picture so you can see how we did the tarp on the run.

 

[animalyodelers]

Yes those holes at the bottom need to be covered. For the window and door you can make a frame, put hardware cloth on it and then make a drop down winter cover leaving a 6"x window width for ventilation. Can do the same thing for door.
Here is what I did. Summer they have a picture screen window, and a screened window on the door. We have the roofing where rain won't come in the windows. Also included a picture so you can see how we did the tarp on the run.View attachment 1568295 View attachment 1568295
View attachment 1568291 View attachment 1568292 View attachment 1568293 View attachment 1568295

Thank you so much! I love that idea. I'll definitely be doing that on at least one of the windows and the door right now, and eventually the other window. The 4th one will be a nesting box with hardware cloth above for venthilation- so for now I'm leaving it boarded up below.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Glad that helps you out. I'm fairly new too. Took in 3 hens in April or May. Then added 2 chicks Father's Day. Passing on the help advice given to me.