Moving chicks to coop

[Poodlemum]

Well tonight is the night. The chicks were out in the coop all day and were seeming quite comfy. Eating and drinking well, scratching and pecking, and walking under and around their heat plate so they know where it is. It is supposed to get down to around 40 tonight, but hoping the coop will be a little higher since it warmed up to 75 in there today. I sure hope I don't kill the little darlings and that they'll be all happy and chirpy in the morning.

That first night is always hard! I get so much anxiety, worried mama hen here lol

 

[allameraucana]

Well tonight is the night. The chicks were out in the coop all day and were seeming quite comfy. Eating and drinking well, scratching and pecking, and walking under and around their heat plate so they know where it is. It is supposed to get down to around 40 tonight, but hoping the coop will be a little higher since it warmed up to 75 in there today. I sure hope I don't kill the little darlings and that they'll be all happy and chirpy in the morning.

How are they this AM??

 

[Lor]

How did things go?

 

[SamCO]

Great! Temp got down to 38. They’re all out eating and drinking and exploring. They all seem happy as can be!

 

[Lor]

Great! Temp got down to 38. They’re all out eating and drinking and exploring. They all seem happy as can be!

Good to hear!

 

[redmike2018]

I'm ready to put 9 4-week-old chicks (mostly feathered not much down left) to the coop with a heat lamp at night. They have been spent last week about 6-7 hours a day in the coop with no heat, just food, water, perches and sand boxes. You are right it's a haul getting everything down to the coop. Additionally, I let them have about an hour in the grass in late afternoon.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm ready to put 9 4-week-old chicks (mostly feathered not much down left) to the coop with a heat lamp at night. They have been spent last week about 6-7 hours a day in the coop with no heat, just food, water, perches and sand boxes. You are right it's a haul getting everything down to the coop. Additionally, I let them have about an hour in the grass in late afternoon.

In South Carolina they shouldn't need heat anymore unless they're a very slow-feathered breed and you're seeing night lows down into the 40's.

 

[SamCO]

Mine have been in the coop without it issue. It’s been down to just over 30 in the coop and they’ve been fine. Still have the brooder plate in there, and I think they may be using it some at night, and are still sleeping on the ground. They are starting to explore the roosts during the day (and love playing in the sand) so I’ll be curious to see how long it takes for them to use them for sleep.