transition to coop

[Blooie]

Yeah, I was a glutton for punishment! I didn't know anything about chickens so I got a few each of the "cute ones".

 

[bruceha2000]

I did want to move them at 5 weeks...but it s still cold in june here. Some BYC peeps suggested until the June - gloom was gone. Now it' warm, they are big, and ready for a new adventure.

Next time! Be aware that chicks don't even need supplemental heat once they are fully feathered which is usually around 4 weeks. They can handle pretty much any temperatures at that point.

How far up in the mountains do you live that you claim it is cold in June? Surely no colder than here and my girls went out to the coop with their Mama Heating Pad cave at 1 week the very beginning of May both this year and last. The lows average 40°F, highs 60°F. They had access to the indoor run (*) from the first day. Takes no time to figure out how to get back to the brooder area where their cave, food and water are or to explore further every day.

Pictures from last year, chicks 4 weeks old. As you can see in the last picture, Trouble is still far from fully feathered.


* coop is a converted stall in an old barn, run is the alley, the brooder area is ~18"x48" in the corner of the coop.

 

[bruceha2000]

Note also that by then they had figured out the 2 alpacas have an always open door around the corner.

 

[lazy gardener]

My chicks are also brooded outside with MHP (except this year, I'm blessed with a good broody). they wean themselves off heat at 4 - 5 weeks of age, with night time temps going down to 30's at that time.

 

[ChickenRelatedUserName]

Don't fall into the trap of analysis paralysis. You can research even the most simple of questions on a site like this until your eyes bleed. Here is my simple, one step plan to help you streamline this process.

1) Put them outside.

 

[ronott1]

Don't fall into the trap of analysis paralysis. You can research even the most simple of questions on a site like this until your eyes bleed. Here is my simple, one step plan to help you streamline this process.

1) Put them outside.

X2!

Put them in the coop at night, lock it up to keep them safe. Let them out in the morning.

You will need to move them into the coop at night usually--for about a week.

They may not pick up roosting for a while though

 

[bruceha2000]

They may not pick up roosting for a while though

True but at 8 weeks they are about 3-4 weeks older than they would do it on their own if they had been in the coop all along. They might find those roosts pretty fast.

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

[QUOTE="
How far up in the mountains do you live that you claim it is cold in June? Surely no colder than here and my girls went out to the coop with their Mama Heating Pad cave at 1 week the very beginning of May.[/QUOTE]

thanks so much for your input. i dont live up a mountain...(i dont do snow). i live near the beach, under cloud cover in june in so cal. the advice came from someone here who lost their birds. and since they arent really my birds, they belong to my 9 year old...i d rather baby some chicks than crush my kids heart, lol. well, the birds are fully feathered...and the 4th is over. so, out they go to tomorrow! and wouldnt you know, i was worried about the cold-and now its 114 degrees!!!! the coop is in a nice cold shady place! and tomorrow it will be cooler. blueberry ice cakes are ready to go!!! i am excited! i ve only got a cheap beginners coop (yours is very nice!) but i cant wait for them to party in the run!

again, thanks for all of the support and guidance. i ll try to post a pic of the coop area...
happy weekend!

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

True but at 8 weeks they are about 3-4 weeks older than they would do it on their own if they had been in the coop all along. They might find those roosts pretty fast.

they ve been roosting in the kennel/brooder for a long time.

 

[bruceha2000]

i dont live up a mountain...(i dont do snow). i live near the beach

OK, so it is never too cold to have chicks outside for you. I would worry more about the heat. My poor birds were in the shade panting and standing with their wings out when it was mid 90's this week.

Older sister lives in Huntington Beach, we grew up in Downey. I bailed on So. Cal when I graduated college in '79. It was about 115° three days the week I left to drive to Vermont.