Transition from brooder to coop 5.5wks old chicks

[genesis1981]

I have three 5 wk olds that are quickly outgrowing their brooder and chasing each other around like crazy ie very bored. 2 Australorp and 1 Barred Rock. I'm in Maryland and nights outside are looking like they'll be in the low to high 50s with days in the high 60s all the way into the 80s going forward. Their coop is waiting for them but I have what may be a few silly concerns as this is my first time transitioning chicks.

I keep reading that you can put chicks out around 6 weeks or much earlier no problem as long as its warm enough for them. But I also have been told that they should stay in the coop and not be allowed in the run for anywhere from a couple days to a couple weeks. That sounds rather miserable for the chicks as our coop only has a couple of vent windows-so they would be largely in the dark all day! I got them a heat pad for out there for the nights just in case it got too cool. But I do not have a heat light or any other light source for them for during the days. My chicks seem to get uneasy in the dark so I'm worried they will not respond well to being in a coop that's dark through the daytime as they are used to being in their brooder in a bright sun room til sundown, going to bed naturally around then.

Some folks say that they let their young chicks in the run immediately- some say don't do that ever, just start them in the coop for a while.
I'd love to hear some advice about my area's temps vs ages of my chicks.
Also it looks like it will be storming a lot (it is spring after all) and I don't want them to get overly stressed with new sounds etc...but I mean, am I babying these babies too much?

My natural inclination is to put them right out into the run and coop right away so they can enjoy the warm days (the run is totally covered) and then I can just put them in the coop at night with their warmer til they get used to doing it on their own with the automatic door we have for them. I don't want to overthink it so if just putting them out and getting them used to things is ok, I'll go for it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

We do these things all sorts of different ways. As soon as someone says you have to do something a certain way someone else will pop up and say that they do it differently. Your chickens are not mechanical bots programmed to react only one way, they are living animals with all the complexities and opportunities that brings.

I don't know what your coop looks like but my first step would be to cut a window in it. That could be openings under the overhang covered with hardware cloth to keep predators out. If the openings are big enough that might be enough plus that can give you good ventilation. That could be an opening you cover with a sheet of Plexiglas. That could be a real window you can get at a habitat recycle store or maybe on Craigslist if you are in the US. If you are not in the US you may ave something similar to Craigslist. You don't say where you are so I don't know your climate. Some people will tell you any window has to be on the south side for people north of the equator. My window is on the north side away from the sun and works great. You and they need to be able to see in there. Some people like them brightly lit, I prefer them to be soothingly darker, but still be able to see in there. They will need enough light to go to bed when it starts getting dark outside.

Some people lock them in the coop only for a while, usually a week is recommended. The idea is that they learn it is home and may return there at night once they have access to the run. That works for a lot of people but is remarkably unsuccessful for me when I move 5-week-olds to my grow-out coop even when I leave them locked in the coop section only for over a week. I think that is because it is elevated, I don't have any problems moving them to a ground level coop, but it could be for some other reason. Whether I lock them up for a while or just give them access to the coop and run immediately I still have to go out there at dark and put them in the coop. One time I only had to do that once, with one batch it was three weeks before they all went in at night. Usually it is about a week but each group is different.

I've had 5-1/2-week-olds go through nights in the mid 20's Fahrenheit with no supplemental heat. Yours would probably be fine out there now, but get a window in first. I would suggest locking them in the coop section only for a few days. Not because it might get them to go to sleep in there but because the coop section should provide better protection from weather. I consider it a prudent step, you said you expect storms.

If your chickens have never been in the dark they may get upset at first. They usually get over it in 15 minutes or less. You can try putting them in the dark now to get them used to it. They will probably complain some but it will not injure them. They will get over it. They do not need supplemental heat while they are still in your house.

Are you overthinking it? We all do, especially at the start. Nothing wrong with that and it is better than under thinking it.

 

[genesis1981]

We do these things all sorts of different ways. As soon as someone says you have to do something a certain way someone else will pop up and say that they do it differently. Your chickens are not mechanical bots programmed to react only one way, they are living animals with all the complexities and opportunities that brings.

I don't know what your coop looks like but my first step would be to cut a window in it. That could be openings under the overhang covered with hardware cloth to keep predators out. If the openings are big enough that might be enough plus that can give you good ventilation. That could be an opening you cover with a sheet of Plexiglas. That could be a real window you can get at a habitat recycle store or maybe on Craigslist if you are in the US. If you are not in the US you may ave something similar to Craigslist. You don't say where you are so I don't know your climate. Some people will tell you any window has to be on the south side for people north of the equator. My window is on the north side away from the sun and works great. You and they need to be able to see in there. Some people like them brightly lit, I prefer them to be soothingly darker, but still be able to see in there. They will need enough light to go to bed when it starts getting dark outside.

Some people lock them in the coop only for a while, usually a week is recommended. The idea is that they learn it is home and may return there at night once they have access to the run. That works for a lot of people but is remarkably unsuccessful for me when I move 5-week-olds to my grow-out coop even when I leave them locked in the coop section only for over a week. I think that is because it is elevated, I don't have any problems moving them to a ground level coop, but it could be for some other reason. Whether I lock them up for a while or just give them access to the coop and run immediately I still have to go out there at dark and put them in the coop. One time I only had to do that once, with one batch it was three weeks before they all went in at night. Usually it is about a week but each group is different.

I've had 5-1/2-week-olds go through nights in the mid 20's Fahrenheit with no supplemental heat. Yours would probably be fine out there now, but get a window in first. I would suggest locking them in the coop section only for a few days. Not because it might get them to go to sleep in there but because the coop section should provide better protection from weather. I consider it a prudent step, you said you expect storms.

If your chickens have never been in the dark they may get upset at first. They usually get over it in 15 minutes or less. You can try putting them in the dark now to get them used to it. They will probably complain some but it will not injure them. They will get over it. They do not need supplemental heat while they are still in your house.

Are you overthinking it? We all do, especially at the start. Nothing wrong with that and it is better than under thinking it.

 

[genesis1981]

Thanks for all this info! I thought I mentioned I am in Maryland but I think your advice makes sense no matter what. I do have 4 small hardware cloth vent windows in the coop but even after looking at hundreds of coop pics it didn't occur to me they all have larger windows for light. DUH. We will add one this week before we bring the chicks out.

My coop is also elevated like yours. I will try it with them in there for a few days and then see how they do, if I need to drag them into the coop at night so be it. They love huddling up in their brooder and going to bed at the same time/sunset every night so I am hoping they are chickens that get into routine very quickly. Thank you! Sometimes you just need someone to hit you over the head!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I agree a window or two is a very good addition before you put the chicks in the coop - it's better that you fix that now instead of waiting for issues where the chickens don't want to go in at night due to the darkness.

Your temps are very good for chicks that age to go out, so there's no need for any supplemental heat and if you still have them on heat, I would shut it off so they're ready for the transition outside.

As far as whether or not they should have run access, that's up to you... if you let them access the run you will probably need to herd them and put them inside at night, until they learn to do it themselves. I actually did things backwards and raised the chicks out in the run, so had to train them to the coop after kicking them out of the brooder (but as I have hens they learned pretty quickly by copying the hens).

 

[lutherpug]

Just one other quick thought-

You might disable your automatic door for the first few weeks they're in the coop if it's on a timer. I love my automatic door but I did lose a pullet to it in her first few weeks in the coop. I don't think by any stretch that this is a common occurrence, I view it as more of a freak accident but better safe than sorry. Once they figure out where they're supposed to be and roosting consistently it should be fine.

 

[genesis1981]

I agree a window or two is a very good addition before you put the chicks in the coop - it's better that you fix that now instead of waiting for issues where the chickens don't want to go in at night due to the darkness.

Your temps are very good for chicks that age to go out, so there's no need for any supplemental heat and if you still have them on heat, I would shut it off so they're ready for the transition outside.

As far as whether or not they should have run access, that's up to you... if you let them access the run you will probably need to herd them and put them inside at night, until they learn to do it themselves. I actually did things backwards and raised the chicks out in the run, so had to train them to the coop after kicking them out of the brooder (but as I have hens they learned pretty quickly by copying the hens).

This is all very helpful. I definitely needed some reassurance about the temperatures! My husband is installing two plexiglass windows today. Thank you!

 

[genesis1981]

Just one other quick thought-

You might disable your automatic door for the first few weeks they're in the coop if it's on a timer. I love my automatic door but I did lose a pullet to it in her first few weeks in the coop. I don't think by any stretch that this is a common occurrence, I view it as more of a freak accident but better safe than sorry. Once they figure out where they're supposed to be and roosting consistently it should be fine.

I was honestly thinking I was too nervous to rely on it until I was seeing them do it consistently on their own. This seals the deal!!