Requesting advice on stress-free moving 8-9ish week old chicks out to the coop for the first time

[JustSarahThanks]

Hello fellow chicken enthusiasts!

We've been rather behind schedule on remodeling our backyard shed into a coop so our little flock of four is between 8-9 weeks old now and I think pretty settled in their interim housing (e.g. our entire basement bathroom). Because I'm a huge softie I am really worried about how much of a stressful jolt moving them to their new digs will be and would like to minimize the stress as much as humanly possible (I've even considered bringing a sleeping bag out to the shed so their first night they won't be alone... Like I said, I'm a big softie. And the shed is divided inside so half of it isn't chicken coop, it's storage so I can easily fit camping gear in there and be visible to the birds without being in poop range). This is our first flock so I'd welcome any advice you have!

 

[Folly's place]

They will be confused at first, but should be delighted with bigger digs, and the outdoors. Sooner is good!
Take their feeder and waterer out there, have everything all set up, and then get them in their carrier and move them out. It would be easier at night, but you really don't want them blundering around in the dark, so just do it when convenient.
Have some scratch, or treats, scattered on the litter on the floor, for instant entertainment!
Mary

 

[Ridgerunner]

If they are now in your bathroom they should not be crowded for space. A lot of the time they are so pleased with all the extra room they chirp for joy.


Seriously, I agree with Mary. Just do it. It will not be nearly as stressful for them as you envision. You might be a nervous wreck but they will be fine. I also prefer to do it in daylight.
If they have never been in darkness before they may get upset about that. If it is set up so it gradually gets darker they might not mind at all, but if it goes from bright light to suddenly dark they can get upset. Usually that lasts for five to fifteen minutes, then they settle down. It might be a good time for you to chop up some fruit, grab a bowl of vanilla ice cream, dump the fruit on it and enjoy. By the time you finish they will probably have settled down. Ice cream may help you with the transition. They will be fine with it.

 

[Mrs. K]

They are going to like it so much. Imagine kids taken to the beach for the first time.

If they have been sleeping in a crate, take that and put it in the run during the day, they will return to it at dark by themselves, then put the whole thing in the coop with the door open, letting them choose to explore on their terms.

You may have to do that a time or two. Then just leave the crate in the coop, and ten to one, if you go down late enough, they will be in there inside the coop. Then a day or two later, just remove it from the coop and they will be fine.

They may just huddle together on the floor for several weeks, but unless the temperature is below zero, I would not worry about them, they are not cold.

Many people, with the best of intentions, keep chicks inside and in too small of place too long. They will be much more active, in a week climbing up on things, flying a bit, just healthier, fresh air and exercise.

Mrs K

 

[JustSarahThanks]

Thank you for the advice! It does help me feel better (and yeah, I guess these transitions are worse for us than they are for our birds). The good news is that even though we're a little behind moving them outside, they haven't been confined in a small space in our bathroom, but I think the space inside the shed that's being converted into a coop is something like 2.5x the size of our basement bathroom (or barnthroom as we've been calling it).

Their run isn't complete yet but I did read a thing somewhere suggesting keeping them confined inside the coop initially to help train them to return there for sleep, so pretty much as soon as we have the interior enough up to snuff we'll be moving the birds out there. But it may be a little longer before we grant them access to their run.

Just in case anyone's curious about the barnthroom, here's a couple photos to give an idea (and to give an idea of what a total nightmare cleaning it is going to be once the birds are outside).

 

[Folly's place]

Better you than me!!!
Mary

 

[JustSarahThanks]

Better you than me!!!
Mary

For sure. I've kind of thought about investing in a heavy duty Shop Vac or something of the sort. Or small household-sized pressure washer.

 

[Folly's place]

I brood my chicks in a 100 gal. stock tank in the garage, and they move to their separate coop section at about 2.5 weeks of age, with their heater. That's messy enough!
Mary

 

[Ridgerunner]

(and to give an idea of what a total nightmare cleaning it is going to be once the birds are outside).

You do have kids the right age to learn the fine art of cleaning bathrooms? That's a skill all kids should learn.

 

[Ra_]

My birds go out to the coop after 4 nights in the brooder.
They get a heating pad in their sleeping cage for a few nights.
They are allowed to free range at 3 to 4 weeks of age.
They come home at night and put themselves to bed.