Moving my 6 week old chicks to their new coop...advice please!

[Cluckfun]

So we live in SC and it is hot as blazes this week and looks like next week will be the same 100+ days ! So I am wondering will these babies be okay? Of course their coop and run are in a pretty well shaded area, it gets sun first thing in the morning but then begins to shift about mid-morning. I just don't want them to move to their new place and then get heat exhaustion.

I forgot to mention I am brand new to owning chickens!

 

[sourland]

If their coop/pen area is well shaded, they should be fine. Provide fresh chilled water refreshed several times a day and keep an eye on them. Intervene if they appear severely heat stressed.

 

[Cluckfun]

Thank you! The only thing is I work too far away during the day to run home and refresh their water...but I could put a frozen bottle of water in their water bucket.

 

[sourland]

Do you work week ends? If not it might be a good idea to wait until the week end to start the transition. Ice blocks in the water works.

 

[Cluckfun]

No I don't work weekends...we planned to transition them this weekend...I may even take off a day next week just to hang out with them and observe.

 

[sourland]

Sounds like a good plan. Good luck - I think that all will go well.

 

[Mrs. K]

Ventilation is key in heat and cold weather.

 

[Cluckfun]

Thank you! Yes, we do have our coop well ventilated with a vent, exhaust fan and window with a screen (which I am also covering with hardware cloth), and of course they will be able to come out to their enclosed run area.

 

[dancemomx4]

We are in Southern Cal. and are also in the triple digits right now. We have 5 week old chicks that we have been introducing to their coop and run for the past week. We started by putting them out for just a couple of hours during the day and had one of us out with them the whole time, we increased the amount of time they were out all week and now they are out ALL day and then come in to sleep in the brooder. I am also new to chickens so I am not sure this is a proper way to do it, but it is working for us. We went out and bought a mister to put on in the early part of the day when they don't have as much shade and they love it! We also put frozen water bottles in their water to help keep them cool. My chicks seem to be very happy and we have not had any issues with the heat as of yet. Good luck with your babies!

 

[Cluckfun]

Thank you very much! I like the idea of a mister...I think I'll get one! Good luck to you as well!