8 RIR are 7 weeks old and 10 Bard Rocks are 6 weeks old. I'll have the skin on the coop by Sunday. I want to move them in ASAP. I removed there 250 Watt heat lamp from the brooder this morning to start getting them acclimated. Morning temps tend to stay above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. These are my first and only chickens so far, so I don't have to worry about bigger birds picking on them. They will be on a dirt floor covered with deep litter. Is it too soon to evict them from the brooder in the garage?
They are small, but that's ok because they're fully feathered. I think they'll be just fine. Don't worry if you see them all cuddle up in a corner at first. That's normal behavior for young chickens (pullets). As they grow, they'll learn to roost. Looks like a great coop you have there! One thing I would do, is block off the nesting boxes until they are around 17 weeks old. Otherwise, they might try and sleep in there, thus pooping in there. It's a bad habit you don't want to start, because then you get poopy eggs. Take care, Sharon
IMO it's time. They are fully feathered and would really like the room to stretch and peck. My only concern is that you just removed the heat lamp? And the drastic change of temp could be an issue. It may be best to offer some slower acclimation to the cold? By taking them out to play in the coop for a few days, bring back in a night with no light in brooder? Wait on the more experienced to respond.
Thanks, I'll put a piece of leftover plywood in front of the nest boxes for a few months. Their brooder is 4x8 now but I can tell they would benefit from having more room out in the coop.
They are fully feathered, so will be able to move to the new coop any time. I would gradually stop the heat lamp, maybe using a smaller wattage regular light bulb such as 100, then 75 or 60, then 40 (if you still have any of those relics.) The first night or too in the coop, hang a smaller watt bulb for a few nights. That way they can get under it if they want to, and you will probably find out that they won't use it much. Within a week, they probably won't need it anymore. When you move them to the coop, it is a good idea to leave them inside for 7 days to know where home is. Then open the pop door and they will venture out gradually, but will come back inside at dusk. (At least that is the way it usually goes, LOL.) You might have to help them get on the roost a time or two.
Unplugged the light day before yesterday. This morning they are roosting in the brooder. It got down to the mid 30s outside. Probably mid 40s in the garage. Looks like they did fine. The coop is almost ready. It just needs doors, a roof, and a cupola. Exterior paint, trim, weather vane, and shingles can wait. I'll probably put them in there today.
