Should I bring my brooder and chicks inside?

[NatJ]

Okay, thank you. I don't mind waiting until they get older. I am in no rush. I can wait until they are 4 weeks old. In the meantime I can work on fencing off their area, adding another gate and maybe getting a chicken shed instead.

If you like taking chicks outside, starting sooner is just as good as starting later, and might even be better.

If you do not like carrying chicks back and forth, you can gradually reduce the heat in their current brooder until they are living at or below the outdoor temperature, then carry them to the outdoor coop and leave them there.

And it's also fine to take them outside one day but skip another day, based on when you just feel like doing it.

 

[MamaBsFunkyFlock]

Hello ya'll!

I have my brooder in the garage with my 2 week old chicks. I have a heat lamp and a small heater I used in my office going at the moment. We are to have temps hi/low 50s/40s over the next week. I am wondering if I should bring them in the house. I am not confident my lamp will keep them warm enough... but maybe. Right now it is in the 50's and the last time I check the temp in the brooder was mid to high 80's. I am going to go check again. I just want to make sure they are warm. TX weather this time of year is very bipolar. Cold front comes in and chills us out and the next week we are back up in the 80s. Good times!

Thanks!

Hi Missy,
I hope you’re chicks are doing well today. I’m in California, not the sunny warm part, and I worried about my chicks last fall and winter too so I brought them in. Ugh it was awful. It smelled so strong and the chirping would wake me and if I didn’t hear them chirp it would wake me too lol. Now I’ve got a few chicks out in the shed in a brooder, last night was night two with similar temps to what you’re having and I am nervous too. Keep me posted on how your chicks are doing and we’ll get through this together!

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

Hi Missy,
I hope you’re chicks are doing well today. I’m in California, not the sunny warm part, and I worried about my chicks last fall and winter too so I brought them in. Ugh it was awful. It smelled so strong and the chirping would wake me and if I didn’t hear them chirp it would wake me too lol. Now I’ve got a few chicks out in the shed in a brooder, last night was night two with similar temps to what you’re having and I am nervous too. Keep me posted on how your chicks are doing and we’ll get through this together!

Good morning MamaB!
Thank you for the support. I really appreciate it. They did well last night. I kept the lamp on and my little heater on low. It was in the 80's in their brooder this morning. I am actually thinking about bringing them in and putting them in my office. Not because of the temps but I want to be able to sit on the floor with them. I want them to get used to me and I am not sure how to do that. So, I was going to give this a try. I really don't want to attempt this in the garage because ...well my husbands junk is everywhere and they can easily ...potentially get lost in the mess. I am also attempting to find a good coop. Man, they are expensive. I had no idea. We will see what today brings.

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

If you like taking chicks outside, starting sooner is just as good as starting later, and might even be better.

If you do not like carrying chicks back and forth, you can gradually reduce the heat in their current brooder until they are living at or below the outdoor temperature, then carry them to the outdoor coop and leave them there.

And it's also fine to take them outside one day but skip another day, based on when you just feel like doing it.

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

Okay, thank you. Maybe I will take them out there this weekend, first I need to block off an area for them from the other 2.
Thank you for all your help. I appreciate it.

 

[NatJ]

I am actually thinking about bringing them in and putting them in my office. Not because of the temps but I want to be able to sit on the floor with them. I want them to get used to me and I am not sure how to do that.

I would do it outside instead. You have mentioned outdoor temperatures in the 70s, which I expect would be comfortable for both you and them (on the days it is that warm).

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

I would do it outside instead. You have mentioned outdoor temperatures in the 70s, which I expect would be comfortable for both you and them (on the days it is that warm).

Yes, I just check our forecast. It will not reach 70 until Sunday. Friday high is 60 Saturday 67. Next week it will be middle 70's for a few days, then back in the 60's.

 

[NatJ]

Yes, I just check our forecast. It will not reach 70 until Sunday. Friday high is 60 Saturday 67. Next week it will be middle 70's for a few days, then back in the 60's.

The chicks might be fine with 60s now, and should certainly be fine with 60s by next week.

(I mean for trips outside, when they are not acclimated at all. To actually move them outside to live would still require some acclimation.)

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

The chicks might be fine with 60s now, and should certainly be fine with 60s by next week.

(I mean for trips outside, when they are not acclimated at all. To actually move them outside to live would still require some acclimation.)

Okay, I will give it a shot this weekend.

 

[MamaBsFunkyFlock]

Good morning MamaB!
Thank you for the support. I really appreciate it. They did well last night. I kept the lamp on and my little heater on low. It was in the 80's in their brooder this morning. I am actually thinking about bringing them in and putting them in my office. Not because of the temps but I want to be able to sit on the floor with them. I want them to get used to me and I am not sure how to do that. So, I was going to give this a try. I really don't want to attempt this in the garage because ...well my husbands junk is everywhere and they can easily ...potentially get lost in the mess. I am also attempting to find a good coop. Man, they are expensive. I had no idea. We will see what today brings.

If bringing the chicks in will help you bond with them more I say go for it. The chicks I raised indoors are super friendly towards humans and get along great with my cats even.
Coop prices are crazy but with the cost of materials so high it’s almost the same price to build your own depending on how fancy you get. Look for sales or kits on clearance. Send me pics when you get your setup : )