To cold for 2 week old chicks?? Please help

[fdehaven]

My 7 RIR's are 2 weeks old and are starting to fly out of the tote we placed them in. I have a top on it but it just doesn't seem big enough (it's a 45 gal tote) is it to cold to put them putside in the coop if I keep the heat lamp turned on for them? I thought maybe I could direct most of the heat from the heat lamp to one section of the coop that way if they get cold they could all go there. I just don't know what to do. The wife wants them out because she does not want them running around her house. here is the weather for the next 7 days.
any suggestions?

Thanks
Frank DeHaven

 

[RThomas]

I put all 14 of mine out at three weeks old- and that was almost three weeks ago. I used a heat lamp with a 250w bulb and kept it low to the ground. No problems. Just make sure they have adequate heat.

 

[Festa X11]

So long as you have enough heat and it is draught free they should be ok, but in the end the decision is yours and what you are happy with.

 

[ChickenTender63]

If you have a heat lamp and have it about a foot above the floor,
You should be fine. I did it last year at this time, and just did it a couple
Days ago and have never lost a chick.

The important thing is the heat lamp tho. As long as they have a source
Of heat they can get under if they are cold, and away from if they are
Warm, they will do great.

Good luck!

CT

 

[pulletkeeper]

I put my week old girls in the coop but I used straw bales to "section them off" and hold some of the heat. The coop is pretty big so I did not want them "getting lost" from the food, water, heat, etc. Once they started flying out of there at about three/four weeks I just let them have the run of the coop but I still keep the 250W red lamp going for them because the nights have been 32 degrees and the days have only been getting up to 55.

 

[homeschoolmama]

If you have a clamp light just make sure it is well secured to avoid accidents. I used bungee cords around the clamp part and the rafter (low roofed coop) to make sure it wasn't going anywhere.

 

[bugflipper]

I cut the top of the totes and put hardware cloth over the holes. The heat lamp is placed on the wire. They can then be brought in the house if needed. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=23261 This pic can give you an idea. I used a clear tote. I personally wouldn't recommend cutting holes in the side. Chicks don't like wind blowing on them.

 

[felidaet]

You might want to divide off a section of the coop to try to keep it warm for them.

I am assuming when you talk about putting them in the coop that you are not adding them to a coop with older birds. Integrating birds of significent age differences is a problem.