Time For The Big Coop?

[REINABUGY]

My girls are 5 weeks this comming Monday. When should I move them to their big coop from the brooder?

 

[Imp]

As soon as they are fully feathered. Should be any time, if not already.

Imp

 

[REINABUGY]

Should I still provide a heat lamp for them once moved to the big coop?

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
This time of year? I say be prepared and at least hang one in there, that way if you need it, you've got it.

 

[Imp]

Yeah, What Trilyn said. You're in a cold area.

Imp

 

[REINABUGY]

It has been int the low 40s in the day and low 30s high 20s at night. I will def have to have a heat lamp for a few more weeks.

 

[BradnKellie]

I put a cheap thermostat in my coop when I put my pullets out in January. I know it dosen't get AS cold here, but in January we do get down to below freezing and I didn't want to take any chances with my 5 week olds. I got the thermostat from Lowe's for about $15.

 

[REINABUGY]

How do you hook up the thermostate to the heat lamp.

 

[The Sheriff]

We moved all of ours out of the house today to make room in the brooder for the batch due to hatch in a couple of days. They are all 4-6 weeks old. They are all in the main coop or breeding pen, secure from the rest of the flock and predators, with food water and heat. I still probably won't get much sleep tonight worrying!

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I moved my last hatch of RIR chicks outside at 51/2 weeks. They were in the house brooder with the brooder lamp turned off. I moved them to the outdoor transitional brooder and provided some heat at one end for another two weeks. Then I moved them to the floor of the coop which has 12" of bedding. They are doing fine and have feathered quite nicely. It's not only the low temps that will stress or even kill them, but also the temperature difference they may encounter when you change their environment.

Marty