Moving chicks to coop

[Krissygirlusa]

i have 4 week old chicks that are too big for the brooder. I live in south Texas so it’s 50-60 here at night at the coldest and 70-80 during the day. I’ve been putting them outside during the day they love it. We don’t have a garage. We have a coop ready to go out back. I read it’s a bad idea and a fire hazard to put a heat lamp out back in the coop. They’ve got feathers and they’re big chicks. I guess I want to know if it’s ok to go ahead and move them to the coop. Also will they need food and water still at night? I was planning on keeping that in the bottom part but they’ll be penned in the top enclosed part at night. We have 2 1.5 week chicks too that will stay in the brooder. Any advice welcome please!!

 

[imnukensc]

Older ones should be fine outside. They wont need food and water at night, but will need it all day as soon as you can let them have it.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I like to move them all as a group. Moving the others in a couple weeks means reintegration.

How many 4 week olds?
If there are more than 5 you likely could move the younger with them.
They will sleep in a chick pile so share body heat for quite some time yet.

I would keep everyone in the coop for a while....no outside time while they adjust. That means good and water inside for a while.

 

[Krissygirlusa]

I like to move them all as a group. Moving the others in a couple weeks means reintegration.

How many 4 week olds?
If there are more than 5 you likely could move the younger with them.
They will sleep in a chick pile so share body heat for quite some time yet.

I would keep everyone in the coop for a while....no outside time while they adjust. That means good and water inside for a while.

I have 3 four week olds and 2 1.5 week olds. I was thinking of bringing the little ones out during the day to hang out with the big ones. Then at night the little ones come inside to the heat lamp and brooder. Not for too long but the little ones did go outside to play last week and seemed totally fine. We’ve had some warm sunny days.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have 3 four week olds and 2 1.5 week olds. I was thinking of bringing the little ones out during the day to hang out with the big ones. Then at night the little ones come inside to the heat lamp and brooder. Not for too long but the little ones did go outside to play last week and seemed totally fine. We’ve had some warm sunny days.

That sounds like a good plan.