Newbie with a silly question

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jstp

jstp

In the Brooder
Apr 30, 2015
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I plan to get 6 chicks from local feed store. I suspect they are 3-4 weeks old but I'm not sure yet. If I have a coop with electricity, can I introduce them directly to the coop or do they need a brooder? I live in NH so not terribly wam yet. Thanks in advance.
 
Generally they can go out to the coop (with a heat lamp) when they are fully feathered out . If you had them in the coop now with a heat lamp they would be freezing if they moved away from the lamp - because the coop itself would be cold.

In the brooder they are usually in someone's bathroom with a heat lamp and the temperature is pretty stable.
 
I am new to raising chickens, myself, so I definitely don't claim to be an expert but I think that it would be hard to keep them warm without a brooder. Blooie posted a very interesting heating pad "Mamma hen" idea under "Raising Baby Chicks">"Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder". Since the chicks would be the only chickens in the coop I would think that if you had a device like that in the coop that they would be just fine as long as they are keeping warm enough. I'd just make sure that the coop is safe for the little chicks...ie. no place they can get themselves stuck.
 
drumstick diva said:
Generally they can go out to the coop (with a heat lamp) when they are fully feathered out . If you had them in the coop now with a heat lamp they would be freezing if they moved away from the lamp - because the coop itself would be cold.

In the brooder they are usually in someone's bathroom with a heat lamp and the temperature is pretty stable.
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My mamma hen laid eggs in sub-zero weather and we just let her do the work to keep the chicks warm (we do not have electricity in our coop so we didn't have much of a choice). The chicks would venture out with mamma and scratch all around the yard in freezing weather and cuddle up under her when they got too cool. We didn't lose one chick, to my surprise.
 
jstp said:
I plan to get 6 chicks from local feed store. I suspect they are 3-4 weeks old but I'm not sure yet. If I have a coop with electricity, can I introduce them directly to the coop or do they need a brooder? I live in NH so not terribly wam yet. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

The coop with a heat lamp would work. Watch them closely so none of the chicks get chilled before they learn where the warmth is. I would think that at 3-4 weeks they wouldn't need a brooder. You might consider making a barrier around the light so the chicks have to stay near it, but be able to get away from the heat if they are too warm. Best of luck.
 
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I'm glad you joined our "flock!"
 
Next silly question. I have about 1/2 ac fenced in. Trying to find the best place for my coop. Only have one small area near shade but would be near fence. Should I worry more about predators if I place the coop close to the fence. They will have an enclosed run. Thanks for helping!
 

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