My babies spent their first night out in the coop last night

[mshirk]

My chicks have been spending all day in the coop, and I've been bringing them into the garage for the night. Took them off the heat lamp a few night ago. I'm hoping they will have their first night in the coop in 4-5 days (weather has been miserable still...winds, rain, hail).

 

[Raen]

Quote:
Kiwi, I have belonged to a lot of forums over the years and I almost decided to not join a chicken one for this reason..we humans tend to forget they are animlas and that people have raised chickens for centuries without bulbs and places in the house to keep them warm..so much to worry over becuase we are given so much to worry over and nature usually takes care of itself..

See, this is what I'm thinking. I'm new to chickens, so obviously not an expert, but I'm wondering why people are keeping their chicks indoors till 8-9 weeks. Mine are 3.5 weeks right now, and they're almost completely feathered. They're also huge. If they were wild chickens, no way would they all fit under mama hen. And obviously wild birds manage to survive without heat lamps and whatnot.

I'm in Maine, and it's still getting into the 30s at night here, so I haven't taken that plunge. But I'm wondering were this common knowledge that chicks must be warm at all times comes from, when most people don't heat their coops at all for adult birds. I'm not saying it's wrong, I just want to know where the info comes from.

 

[acnava4]

Awwwww, glad it went well! I'm nervous about this already, and I've got a month! LOL!

 

[ninabeast]

I have about four weeks, and I can't even imagine how that will go. The first night we had them, I slept on the couch next to their brooder! And I wasn't alone...

 

[greytmommy]

Quote:
i know whats its like. my daughter ws diagnosed with mild PDD on the spectrum also. so smart. made so much progress over the last year & 2 months.

I got one to. We should start our own chicken lovers specturm support group! lol! My DD is almost 7, and has Asperger's. Diganosised at 4 (could tell when she was about 2.5yo). I also have a brother on the spectrum.

 

[greytmommy]

Ours would be outside this week...but the coop isnt done yet! opps!!

We hope to have them outside in the next week or two. Just depends how much time my hubby can work on the coop this week......

 

[jgervais]

Our coop will be ready this week - its a beautiful rendition of 'The Garden Coop' - but I don't know if I will be able to put them out there for a couple more weeks. 13 chicks are about to outgrow the 42" dog crate converted brooder. They are 3 weeks old today and every time I open the brooder door they are more than eager to get out and stretch their wings. I think they have about 2/3 of their feathers at this point - is 4 weeks old too early to put chicks in the coop in Michigan (ps, it snowed here today, yuck!)