Timing for moving young chickens into the coop for the first time..

[kathlynr8]

Hi,
I am thinking about getting chickens this spring and want to talk to someone about the timing and how raising them works in terms of when they are ready to move into their coop. I have a book with a whole time line etc - but not sure when they are fully feathered enough to keep themselves warm...

So I am thinking I need to start them inside my kitchen(??)and then when can they go into a coop?
And how warm should it be (what time of year for VT) we can have snow in April and sometimes May... So what would the earliest they could be out in their coop - would that be June?? - or could they move in earlier?

Would like to order them in April if possible.. but probably want them in the house for as short a time as possible. So maybe I need to order them later?? We rent and do have a basement - but I'm not sure it would be safe for them... not sure about drafts and possible predators...

Thanks for any advice -Kate

 

[Lauren Kim]

What breed of chicken are you buying? I had BRs, bought them in summer, and they feathered out in about 2 and a half months. You’ll probably need to have them in your house for about 8 weeks until they can live outside.

 

[ben0125]

Depends on the breed but keep them outside for about 6 weeks and keep them in a separate coop with a run so they see but not touch each other. After that, you can try letting them out.

Chicks will also need a heat source, There are some good ideas on BYC LIKE THIS or you can simply just use a heat plate or heat lamp (Start at 95 ° and change the temperature based on how your chicks are acting).

 

[rosemarythyme]

So I am thinking I need to start them inside my kitchen(??)and then when can they go into a coop?
And how warm should it be (what time of year for VT) we can have snow in April and sometimes May... So what would the earliest they could be out in their coop - would that be June?? - or could they move in earlier?

I would recommend AGAINST brooding them in the kitchen, unless you don't ever cook/eat at home. Even just a few chicks will make an incredible amount of dander. I brooded in a side bathroom for 6 weeks, with 3 chicks, and by the end everything in about a 6 foot radius had this nasty film on it.

As far as when they can go out, when they are pretty much feathered in they can go outside. It was probably in the 60s when I evicted mine from the brooder but I have to admit I didn't really plan it out as we were well past danger of frost/snow in my area, and I desperately needed the bathroom they were in because we had to do some emergency renovations.

 

[aart]

I only keep them in the house for week, then they go outside with their heater.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

 

[kathlynr8]

I would recommend AGAINST brooding them in the kitchen, unless you don't ever cook/eat at home. Even just a few chicks will make an incredible amount of dander. I brooded in a side bathroom for 6 weeks, with 3 chicks, and by the end everything in about a 6 foot radius had this nasty film on it.

As far as when they can go out, when they are pretty much feathered in they can go outside. It was probably in the 60s when I evicted mine from the brooder but I have to admit I didn't really plan it out as we were well past danger of frost/snow in my area, and I desperately needed the bathroom they were in because we had to do some emergency renovations.

 

[kathlynr8]

Good to know! Thanks!