Moving chicks to coop

[Ziggy1973]

My 15 chicks will be five weeks old in a few days and I'm preparing to move them to their coop. Is there a "best" way to do this? I'm afraid of doing it in a way that will freak them out. Or are they going to get stressed and panicky about it no matter what? Thanks for any helpful hints and advice!

 

[5littleeggs]

I usually take my chicks outside (supervised) to explore few times while they are still living in the brooder. Usually they LOVE it and are very happy to be moved permanently outside when the time comes.

 

[Ziggy1973]

That sounds like a good idea! Do you use a pet carrier to take them out, or what?

 

[5littleeggs]

We usually set up a pet play gate (that we use for our bunny) in the grass and sit inside with the chicks.

 

[viennaproto]

I agree with @5littleeggs! I usually bring them outside in a smaller container and let them free range for about 20-30 minutes but if you are concerned about predators or getting them into the coop after free range, I would suggest buying a large outdoor playpen and let them stay outside and explore the grass for a while. They will love to be outside trust me!

 

[rosemarythyme]

They may get upset once you actually move them out, but it's like a kid moving away to college - let them cry a little, then they'll get over it and discover that their new digs are a lot more fun than their previous one.

 

[Jeni Park]

Hello! My silkie chicks are coming up on 4 weeks and are still in their brooder. They’re still not fully feathered, but I’m wondering if it’ll be ok to transition them into the coop at this stage.

Some context:

We live in Alabama and it’s been very warm (highs in the 90 degree range and lows in the 75). The coop itself is well-insulated, though I intend to leave their heating plate (Brinsea ecoglow) in the coop just in case.

I have 16 chicks and based on their sleeping behavior (for the past week, they’ve been sleeping huddled together away from the heating plate) it seems like they conduct enough warmth together to be comfortable.

The coop is dark, so I plan to keep a light on for them during the day.

Although I may let them explore the run for supervised bits of time, I plan to keep them locked up in the coop for at least a couple weeks.

Aside from the stresses of introducing a chick to a new environment, it seems like maintaining a certain temperature is the biggest factor for transitioning chicks to the coop. Is this correct? If so, do y’all think it’ll be ok to make the move at four weeks?

If y’all have any advice or know of another forum I can check out, I’d greatly appreciate it!

I’ve attached a recent photo of one of my silkies for reference.

 

[mishbloom]

My chicks are a bit bigger--11/12 weeks old when I get them--and I'm not quite sure how to manage their transition into our home and coop. My SIL is gifting the chickens AND all the stuff to go with them (coop, feed, etc), and so they will be coming here and then moving out back to their coop.

Currently they're in a little pen. Should we keep them in the pen for a bit for them to get used to us? Or can I move them right out back into the coop?

I've never had chickens before so I'm learning on the fly! Thanks.

 

[Jeni Park]

What an awesome gift! I think it’s great you’re being so considerate about their move. It has to be pretty stressful for them to be in a new environment with new humans! But considering their age and the fact that they’ve been in a coop, I don’t see a big issue in moving them into the coop now (will probably be more comfortable than a pen and give them a sense of security), especially if you’re using the one they’ve already grown accustomed to.

Being around them, giving them treats, talking to them, etc. will certainly help in getting them to trust you. Good luck!