- Apr 21, 2009
- 13
- 1
- 22
Hello,
My wife, son and I are raising 6 hens for our first time this year. They are now 8 weeks old and are in a box in my garage. There is a 250 watt heating bulb above them about 3ft above the floor where they stand. The light has been on them 24-7 since 1 day old. The garage is unheated and probable gets below freezing lately.
I need to get them out of the garage because they are getting so big, so fast! I did some searching here and most people say they can go out when they are fully feathered which should be around this time. Since I've never done this, I cant' know for sure if the are fully feathered! I'm assuming they are but don't want to make a mistake.
I'd like to ask you a few questions before I make a mistake and end up killing them all the first night I put them outside.
This is the coop that I have.
They will have a heated bucket (aquarium 25 heater) with 2 nipples on the bottom. Food will also be inside the coop too for them.
Do I need to put the 250 watt heat-light inside there if I move them out of my garage this weekend? It will be in the mid to high 20F in Connecticut right now. I'd rather not use the lamp if they don't need it, I don't want fires but I don't want them to freeze either.
With regard to ventilation, do I need to cover all the vents you see in the picture with plywood and just leave them cracked open a little? Everyone says you need ventilation without drafts. That seems to be a contradictory statement that I have problems applying the coop I have. I know if I had a window open in my house, everyone in teh family would say it was drafty!
The chicken door is on the floor. Should I close that at night so the air doesn't rush in from the floor past them too? I'm not sure how much I need to cover all the holes!
Many thanks for any advice. We are total first timers and have no experience at all. This web site has been our only source of information and it's been fantastic to search.
Many thanks,
Joe
My wife, son and I are raising 6 hens for our first time this year. They are now 8 weeks old and are in a box in my garage. There is a 250 watt heating bulb above them about 3ft above the floor where they stand. The light has been on them 24-7 since 1 day old. The garage is unheated and probable gets below freezing lately.
I need to get them out of the garage because they are getting so big, so fast! I did some searching here and most people say they can go out when they are fully feathered which should be around this time. Since I've never done this, I cant' know for sure if the are fully feathered! I'm assuming they are but don't want to make a mistake.
I'd like to ask you a few questions before I make a mistake and end up killing them all the first night I put them outside.
This is the coop that I have.
They will have a heated bucket (aquarium 25 heater) with 2 nipples on the bottom. Food will also be inside the coop too for them.
Do I need to put the 250 watt heat-light inside there if I move them out of my garage this weekend? It will be in the mid to high 20F in Connecticut right now. I'd rather not use the lamp if they don't need it, I don't want fires but I don't want them to freeze either.
With regard to ventilation, do I need to cover all the vents you see in the picture with plywood and just leave them cracked open a little? Everyone says you need ventilation without drafts. That seems to be a contradictory statement that I have problems applying the coop I have. I know if I had a window open in my house, everyone in teh family would say it was drafty!
The chicken door is on the floor. Should I close that at night so the air doesn't rush in from the floor past them too? I'm not sure how much I need to cover all the holes!
Many thanks for any advice. We are total first timers and have no experience at all. This web site has been our only source of information and it's been fantastic to search.
Many thanks,
Joe
this is just my opinion...
