The always asked question "When can I put my chicks in the coop?"

[stnkyferit]

This one though has a bit of a spin...

My girls are 3 weeks old (probably turned 3 weeks old today!) I opted to have them sent to me when I did because our weather pattern would allow them to be able to be outside most of the day when they are 4-5 weeks and I would bring them in the house at night if it was chilly. Well, we are going to have a heat wave this week (90's plus)....

I put a thermometer in the coop (I converted a Rubbermaid Garbage Can Shed thing) to see how warm/cold it would get while its still cool (the daytime high right now will be the night time low during the heat wave).

The coop has a good amount of ventilation and is under a tree and very shaded.....do you think I will be able to let them hang out in the coop during the day (at the very minumum)? They will have MUCH more room to hang out then their brooder right now.....

We're going to go back to the 70's the following week (normal) so I wouldnt keep them out entirely - would go between the brooder and the coop, and back in the brooder at night....

So do you think they would be ok during the day in the coop during the heat wave?

Also, the coop is next to my run in shed/barn for the horse, and I dont want to put a heat lamp in the coop - the possibility of a fire petrifies me....

 

[ChicKat]

IF your chicks are fully feathered, they will probably be OK outdoors... My chicks were 3-weeks on Friday. I have stopped using the eco-glow radiant heater for them. Moved them to the porch (In a rabbit hutch) this morning....and for sure next week they will be in a little coop with attached run. I have to say though here, my concern is more too much heat that too cold.

I think that you probably should move them out once and for all---and not move them out and then back in. I think unless they are very delicate they could take 70-degrees at night once they are fully feathered.

It will be interesting to see what views people weigh in with on this question.

 

[stnkyferit]

Thanks for the response!

They arent fully feathered...they look like this cute chick/gangly half feathered hybrid LOL....

 

[ChicKat]

So do mine.... they are in that awkward stage as I call it. They have down mostly on their heads and some parts of their bodies. Their wings have all their feathers....and tails. ----- Tonight they will probably be spending the night on the porch though.