Seattle is still cold, can I put my 8 week-olds out in their coop?

[mcjessen]

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I know what you mean, the first night we turned the light out on them they went nuts! Now it just takes them a few minutes to calm down and go to bed. We used one of those ceramic heat emitters that people use for reptile cages and it worked out well and allowed them to get used to normal light/dark hours. We did have a small light on in the bathroom since the days here are pretty dark, but they've been in complete darkness at night since they were a few weeks old.

LOL! I'm sure they'll get used to it. There was only one protest peep when I shut the coop light off last night. DH forgot & turned off the garage light and I didn't know until I got up this a.m. It's going to be a big day when they move. I must have looked out the back window a dozen times while they were in the run yesterday, just to make sure they were ok. The cats were VERY interested. LOL!

 

[hsdiaz]

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I'm so sorry to hear that! Where in WA are you?

 

[hsdiaz]

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That's funny, one of our cats is actually afraid of them! They flapped their wings at him and he ran away as fast as he could. Our other could care less about them, pokes his nose against the brooder then just lays down on a chair we have next to it. We introduced them when they were a month old or so, and I'm glad they haven't taken too much interest, haha.

 

[mshirk]

I put mine out at 5 weeks, even in the cold and hail we had. They were quite fluffy by 5 weeks though, and I had weaned the off the heat lamp, and been putting them outside for increasing amounts during the daytime to get them acclimated.

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

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I'm so sorry to hear that! Where in WA are you?

About an hour northeast of you. In the woods. On a hill. Trees on a hill, especially in a frequent convergent zone draw loads of water. I long to live where I formerly did; another micro climate where it was sunny and warm at my house and raining one block up the hill.

Frequently.

 

[mcjessen]

Our cats were introduced from day one. I've got a 2 yr old and a 9 mo old. The 2 yr old was the most interested yesterday. She's my "birder" as she can jump straight up about 4 ft off the ground. It's awesome. The baby (not much of a birder but probably a good mouser) watched for a while and then left to do her thing. She actually slept on top of the 2nd brooder for a couple weeks. LOL! She did get into the garage when we had the girls out but just laid down and watched - before I grabbed her and put her back in the house.

I can't wait for the girls to be big enough to scare the cats. I've got the Australorp and two Buff Orps.

 

[Hinotori]

I have to keep mine in a covered run. We have to many hawks and eagles here. They run and hide in the coop when a large bird shape or airplane goes over. My GSD does not like tthe hawks, she watches them and barks. The chickens can use her a a jungle gym and she's happy.

 

[silkiechicken]

I must add one qualifier to tossing chicks outside... you have to wean them from fake light and the temps. I can take heat/light away at 6 weeks, even on things like silkies, because they have been outside since day one, have the opportunity to go in to a run by week 3, so have learned to go inside for shelter, and have figured out sunset = go inside where fake light is, which is dimmed over time to a low glow, before I turn it off and take it out.

 

[mcjessen]

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Thanks for the advice. That's good to know. How did you dim your fake light?

 

[silkiechicken]

I just have the 100W bulbs on a dimmer switch from Home depot.