Pullets transitioning to coop

[mandy_erica]

Hi,
I am new to raising chicks. They should be about 6 weeks the first week of April. Our night time lows average from 25 degrees to 35. Is this too cold to transition the chicks to at 6 weeks? If I do transition them out in these temperatures would you use a heat source until it is in the 40’s at night? I have a thermometer out in the coop now to check the temperatures and it stays relatively 1-2 degrees warmer then the outside temp.
Thanks!

 

[sourland]

I would be tempted to provide a heat source in the evenings until I could gauge how they were adjusting to those temperatures.

 

[SueZ 24]

I would probably have a heat source for at least the first little while because it is a change and you don't want them to get stressed with the move and the cold. Also, this is probably obvious, but slowly reduce the added heat before completely taking it away.

 

[mandy_erica]

I would probably have a heat source for at least the first little while because it is a change and you don't want them to get stressed with the move and the cold. Also, this is probably obvious, but slowly reduce the added heat before completely taking it away.

Do you know if you want it to be around 40 degrees with a heat lamp? Or warmer?

 

[Mtnboomer]

If they are fully fledged then they can regulate their own body temps. However in wont hurt to supplement if temps are below freezing. Just make sure they can get away from the heat if they want. If they do move away from it, they don't need it and you can remove it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Glad you joined.

Our night time lows average from 25 degrees to 35.

Personally I worry about extremes more than averages, but I understand that's what you have to plan on. Just be flexible to adjust if you need to.

Is this too cold to transition the chicks to at 6 weeks?

Probably not. I've had chicks younger than that go through nights in the mid 20's Fahrenheit. But what does the coop look like? Mine had really great ventilation up high but great wind protection down low where they were. Also, mine had been raised in my brooder in the coop. It was big enough and well ventilated enough that they had acclimated. I kept one end toasty warm but sometimes the other end might have frost in it.
I put chicks in my brooder in the coop straight out of the incubator or from the post office, whether it is below freezing or in the heat of summer. I find that as long as you keep one location warm enough in the coldest conditions and one location cool enough in the warmest conditions they are very good at managing that themselves. As long as you don't have older chickens out there to cause integration issues you can pretty much move them out there any time. One of the big challenges is the temperature swings. I've seen it go from below freeing to in the 70's within 36 hours. Another potential issue is your heat source. There are a lot of different ways to provide heat, they can all work. The chicks grow fast. Can your heat source handle them when they grow? If you are brooding them in below freezing temperatures how do you keep the water thawed? There can be issues.

If I do transition them out in these temperatures would you use a heat source until it is in the 40’s at night?

No, I'd quit using it when they no longer use it at night. I use a heat lamp and even when they don't need it they tend to sleep in a warm spot anyway. If you use a heat mat or heat plate the heated area is a lot more restricted. You might be surprised at how young they stop using that heat at night.

 

[Adrienne-m]

Hi all! I need a little advice. The girls are 5 weeks old now. They’ve been without a heat lamp for a few days and seem to be content. I’m planning (and needing) to move them to the coop the middle of next week. It should be warm and sunny and good temp at night. My plan was to leave them in the coop for a few days before letting them out to explore (enclosed run). Should I do any more “transitioning”? I thought about putting the brooder in the coop for a couple nights but is that necessary? The coop is really solid and not windy at all. This is a pic of them today. They took their first field trip outdoors as the weather has been crummy lately. They were nervous for about 13 seconds and then had a blast. Thanks for the advice!!

 

[Chickmama672]

I'd say you're good to go!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Should I do any more “transitioning”?

You do not mention where you are or what temperatures you are actually seeing. "It should be warm and sunny and good temp at night." doesn't really tell me anything about your conditions. What are your forecast lows for the next couple of nights?

You probably are good to go but I can't say for sure. I like your plan. That should be enough transitioning. The only question is whether they will return inside the coop to sleep at dark. That's always a question no matter what you do.

 

[Adrienne-m]

You do not mention where you are or what temperatures you are actually seeing. "It should be warm and sunny and good temp at night." doesn't really tell me anything about your conditions. What are your forecast lows for the next couple of nights?

You probably are good to go but I can't say for sure. I like your plan. That should be enough transitioning. The only question is whether they will return inside the coop to sleep at dark. That's always a question no matter what you do.

The forecast is high 60s-high 70s and sunny during the day with 60s at night next week. The coop should stay warm. The basement now is 68-70 degrees and they’re perky as can be. They have started trying to escape every time I move the wire cover on the brooder to change the water and food.