Questions about brooding outside

[BkyrdFarmer]

Thanks! Chicks are nearly 6 weeks. I would have posted more but we have remodeling going on and I have not had much time for internet. Getting ready to let them free range here in a few days. Ill post up pictures once the dust settles from all the construction. After building a 4x4' coop it really needs to be a 4x6' at least in my opinion. Even if you have less birds. My thinking is that you need that much space to get everything inside and situated in the right spots with the right room constraints for all the furnishings. In the future I might push one of the walls out anotuer couple feet. Also I wouldnt know if my coop works because I cant get my pullets to go back inside the coop, proper. They absolutely love the run/dayroom. They sleep in one corner of it, I tried getting them back inside the coop but they dont want to be in there? Its clean, and cool, and ventilated certainly a little warmer at night and has spots forbthem to roost on. They just still prefer the floor, I figure at some point their instincts should fire to seek higher ground. May after I start free ranging them and they have time outside things will change? Brooding outside was nerve racking but they were done with the heat by 4 weeks. I kept it in their for them but they stopped using it. I took it out this week as the night tempsnare in the mid to high 60s. They dont use it and they dont need it. They much prefered to cuddle together than seek heat. I was worried they just forgot where it was at first but NO they just prefered to snuggle to keep warm. Im a little worried theynwont go back in the coop but they are safe in the dsy room just the same my concern was it was getting to cold and drafting at night fror them but they love it, they sleep in run because they love their run. I was thinking when I start giving them treats to give them to them in the coop to maybe associate it with good things? Not sure, Im really winging it here LOL

 

[rosemarythyme]

Also I wouldnt know if my coop works because I cant get my pullets to go back inside the coop, proper. They absolutely love the run/dayroom. They sleep in one corner of it, I tried getting them back inside the coop but they dont want to be in there?

I'd put them in regardless if they want it. It's fine if they sleep on the floor for now (or you can put them on the roost if you prefer) but I'd want them inside. Assuming those windows open up ventilation shouldn't be too bad in there (though you can add more ventilation high up under the roof on the wall facing into the run), and the floor space is certainly sufficient at this age.

 

[BkyrdFarmer]

I'd put them in regardless if they want it. It's fine if they sleep on the floor for now (or you can put them on the roost if you prefer) but I'd want them inside. Assuming those windows open up ventilation shouldn't be too bad in there (though you can add more ventilation high up under the roof on the wall facing into the run), and the floor space is certainly sufficient at this age.

Yeah the run isnt really a run its just a day room. There is no earth and its as secure as the coop proper. The tops are vented both coop and run. Plus a solad fan in the coop running with a battery backup. They are just as safe on the floor in the run as they are in the coop on the floor, nothing can get to them but parasites on the floor. I designed it to never have to close the pop door. The whole thing is the coop really. Coop getts them in out of the cold when it gets that way but the run is not really a run, per say. I dont really have one of those. However, this morning I went out there and all the Pullets were in the coop exploring it for the first time I have seen. I think because the coop was their brooder they just didnt want to be cooped up in it any longer. I think they are well on there way to using those roosts. They were jump up on em so they know they are there.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yeah the run isnt really a run its just a day room. There is no earth and its as secure as the coop proper. The tops are vented both coop and run. Plus a solad fan in the coop running with a battery backup. They are just as safe on the floor in the run as they are in the coop on the floor, nothing can get to them but parasites on the floor. I designed it to never have to close the pop door. The whole thing is the coop really. Coop getts them in out of the cold when it gets that way but the run is not really a run, per say. I dont really have one of those. However, this morning I went out there and all the Pullets were in the coop exploring it for the first time I have seen. I think because the coop was their brooder they just didnt want to be cooped up in it any longer. I think they are well on there way to using those roosts. They were jump up on em so they know they are there.

Sounds like you're comfortable with them sleeping in either location then, so since security isn't an issue it's up to you if you want them to decide or if you want to try and override it for any reason.

 

[Chickenshannanigans]

I opened up the rest of the coop to them yesterday. They were pretty cautious and didn't venture out the pop door stoop much further than 2 or 3 steps. I'm fine with them being cautious and safe. There are about 8 steps down a set if stairs I built. I have a ramp but I didn't like it. If they seem to need it I'll break it out for them but they seem to navigate pretty well within the confined of about 3' high. They are flying all over the place. I did see one of the hens jump about 2' to a swing I have hanging in the run and jump back to the pop door stoop.

I'll be sure to make sure they find their way back to the heat. Also I'm closing the pop door in the evening before it starts to cool or get dark until they are off heat. It helps me make sure no one is left out in the cold. I'll open the pop door up during the warm part of the day. That's my plan. I think it's fine. My 'run' isn't really a regular run. It's as secure as the rest of the coop. It's more like a minature chicken cathedral. Top and bottom are vented so it stays surprisingly cool inside. Hardware cloth top and bottom.

This has nothing to do with your questions but I love the color and style of your coop! It’s so cute!!! It’s like a little Victorian chicken house

 

[BkyrdFarmer]

This has nothing to do with your questions but I love the color and style of your coop! It’s so cute!!! It’s like a little Victorian chicken house

Thanks so much, yes I wanted to build something charming for a half dozen or so birds. I spent the last two years building it and now my 7 babies are just about 9 weeks old and getting very chickeney. I put up a couple roosts in their dayroom/run and pushed their food bucket into the spot on the floor to get them to seek higher ground. They slepted cramped around that food bucket for like 4 or 5 nights before relenting and seeking those roosts. The coop is still open and there are higher better roosts in the coop so we are getting warmer. Ill start taking the roosts down in the dayroom to try and get them sleep in the coop. The coop floor was their brooder and I just dont think they want to be back inside there brooder yet? I figure once they start laying and seeking those boxes they will start sleeping in the coop. I think they like being able to see out the walls through the polycarb. Thye love their chicken situation and so do I. 6 pullets and really great rooster.

 

[Chickenshannanigans]

Thanks so much, yes I wanted to build something charming for a half dozen or so birds. I spent the last two years building it and now my 7 babies are just about 9 weeks old and getting very chickeney. I put up a couple roosts in their dayroom/run and pushed their food bucket into the spot on the floor to get them to seek higher ground. They slepted cramped around that food bucket for like 4 or 5 nights before relenting and seeking those roosts. The coop is still open and there are higher better roosts in the coop so we are getting warmer. Ill start taking the roosts down in the dayroom to try and get them sleep in the coop. The coop floor was their brooder and I just dont think they want to be back inside there brooder yet? I figure once they start laying and seeking those boxes they will start sleeping in the coop. I think they like being able to see out the walls through the polycarb. Thye love their chicken situation and so do I. 6 pullets and really great rooster.

That’s awesome!