Hi all---My 13 critters are starting Week 3, and the weather has been consistently above 80 degrees. Am I safe moving them from inside the house to the brooder in the coop? It's warm in there, and I'd keep a thermometer in there to make sure they stay above 80 degrees. Or do you think it's too early and that I should wait another week Thanks, Anne Marie
After putting up with all the dust the little critters make, we sometimes can't wait to get them out of the house! What are your night time temperatures like? Are they 75-80 degrees too? If not, could you put a heat lamp out in the coop, even if you have to run an outdoor extension cord to it? If you can create a secure, dry, warm place for them, go ahead and put them outside. I divide my coop into a brooder section, and hang a heat lamp above it to keep the little ones warm enough at night. The first 3 birds were in the house until 9 weeks or so, the next more like 6 weeks. The third group was out by the time they were 4 weeks old. This year....well, the girls are only a week old, we'll see how long they last inside
I've heard that once they get their flight feathers (week 5-8) they are OK for weather above 50 degrees. But 80 degrees! WOW! I would say, wait a bit for them to get some feathers, then kick em out into the warm weather.
Here in MT we can have snow in June! Other times it's in the 80's. Keeps us on our toes, but I think if they have their feathers and a place to hunker down and snow hits they should be ok. The next day most likely would bring 70 degrees..yes, it's that crazy at times! LOL! Consistent 80 degrees sounds like a dream!
wellll....maybe I overstated the 80 degree thing. Temps drop to high 60's/low 70s at night. I'll keep em in the house til week four then gradually adjust them to the outdoor coop. They're cute, but I'm ready for them to go to go to college already! Take care and thanks guys Anne Marie
Quote:Ha Ha!!!! I hear you!!! I have seven in the garage waiting to be transitioned to the coop. They are seven weeks old. They finally have all their feathers, but they're still a lot smaller than the other girls. My last introductions went terrible and I don't want another catastrophe. So I guess I'd better wait another week or so. Sigh. Soon......
Mine are thirteen days old. They ave spent a few hours in the sunshine since five days. They have been in the outside shed with brooder and heat source since day 4 and it's so warm in there have had to barely turn it on. Today is their first full day outside, although they will go back in the shed tonight, and they will be outside in the coop full time in two weeks, as I need my brooder back! They still have no feathers on their chests/bellies, although every time I look at them they are bigger and feathered up even more!
you can always put a heat lamp in the out side brooder and turn it on if you feel it is to cold at night. I put mine out at 4 weeks in MI that was 5 weeks ago and they did fine. depending on how big the brooder is they cuddle and keep warm. And I would think 80 is OK as long as they have shade. Good luck,
My girls are 5 weeks old and they just got their butts booted out into the coop. We started with a rubbermaid container, graduated to a 4 x 4 wooden brooder in the living room, and today, moved into their coop. I am going to leave them inside only for a few days, then open their door and let them explore. I am going to keep an eye on the weather since I don't want them out in a thunderstorm during their first few days outside. I will leave the brooder set up in my living room for a week or so, then down it comes until next year.
My fluff balls are 4 weeks old today. They are going out as soon as I finish their coop. Their heat lamp will go with them and will likely get used for a while longer. My birds were out at 4 weeks last year, however I'm a bit behind on the new birds coop. It still needs things like a roof and sides other than those minor details it is ready ;-).
