question??

[texasfinest]

If my chicks are 2 weeks old and I've finished my fully enclosed coop can I move them in there as long as I keep the heat lamp in there or is it best to keep them indoors for another 4 weeks? Any help would be great!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It's a personal preference thing but I move them to the coop when they come out of the hatcher as long as the indoor brooder house temperature is above freezing.
Given a reliable heat source, they'll be fine. A broody can raise them in cold temps and all she does is provide a warm spot. I would think, in most areas of Texas they could go out as day olds.

 

[scrambledmess]

It depends on the temp inside your coop, drafts and if they are feathered or not. It is too cold here for me to put unfeathered chicks in my coop even with a heat lamp. It just wouldn't be warm or draftless enough.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree with both. It depends on how you are set up. My brooder is in an unheated coop but I had chicks less than a week old in it last week with outside temperatures in the single digits Fahrenheit. The brooder was wrapped up pretty tightly and the chicks stayed real close to the heat.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hens can and do brood chicks below freezing.



And sometimes walk away from them for a while.


A few heat emitters will work just as well unless it is extremely cold in the building.


Inside the unheated building in November


Outside the unheated building in November.



Healthy chicks aren't that fragile.

 

[texasfinest]

Wow thanks for all the quick responses. As far as my coop goes its pretty draft less except the vented area around the roof but I can close them off...and the tin roof warms it pretty well.but I will still keep a heat source as well.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

DON'T close off any ventilation. Good ventilation is as important as food and water. Nothing (except anaerobic bacteria) can live without air.
A simple border of cardboard or sheet metal like the photo above will keep any possible draft off of baby chicks. Yours aren't baby chicks any more.

 

[texasfinest]

Very true canoe! I didn't mean completely close it off just if the weather turned bad which in my part of Texas is hardly ever under freezing!