Transitioning to outside - new to this

[Beard4]

We have six chicks, ranging from 4-6 weeks.. 3 of them still have some down feathers on their head and rump.

We have had them inside the entire time unless the temp reached 70+ and we took them outside. We have had the heat lamp off of them both day and night now also for 2 days inside that is.. and they seem to love it outside. But will not go into their coop.
It is going down to 40s at night so not sure if I should put a small light in there and a small heat lamp (I have a 100 w ceramic that doesn’t put off much heat either) there coop is big I think for 6 chickens (4x8) and my husband still needs to place another window or two in it.

Questions:
1. should I put food and water inside coop?
2. Should I put a small heat emitter or light until they get used to their new home? To not stress them..
how did some of you make the transition?

FYI- Last night we tried to leave them out til sunset 65 degrees (it drops fast in Alabama but also rises fast) When we brought them in they huddled in a corner for about 30+ minutes climbing each other for the middle spot )

 

[chickenlittle21]

Do they know how to use the ramp? Yes, put their heat lamp in there.

 

[Beard4]

Do they know how to use the ramp? Yes, put their heat lamp in there.

They do they go up to the top and back down, sometimes even sleep/perch at the top and half way up, but will not go in unless we physically put them in.

 

[chickenlittle21]

Maybe it's too dark in there. Try adding more windows or artificial light.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ramp looks pretty good, have they ever used it? They may need to be trained to use it if they're refusing to.

Food and water should be wherever it makes sense for now. If they're not using coop at all, then don't put the food and water inside only. Don't try to starve or dehydrate them to force them into the coop.

A light may help. There's a window in the coop but don't know if the dying light hits it in such a way at sundown that they can still see inside. They should be warm enough without added heat.

 

[Beard4]

Ramp looks pretty good, have they ever used it? They may need to be trained to use it if they're refusing to.

Food and water should be wherever it makes sense for now. If they're not using coop at all, then don't put the food and water inside only. Don't try to starve or dehydrate them to force them into the coop.

A light may help. There's a window in the coop but don't know if the dying light hits it in such a way at sundown that they can still see inside. They should be warm enough without added heat.

My husband has to add another window or two, but your both right there isn’t much natural light.. when adding artificial light, would you recommend cutting it off at a certain time or leave it on (how many weeks or permanently)? Thank you

 

[rosemarythyme]

My husband has to add another window or two, but your both right there isn’t much natural light.. when adding artificial light, would you recommend cutting it off at a certain time or leave it on (how many weeks or permanently)? Thank you

For the time being, a simple stick-on puck light or something similar should be enough. I'd turn it on just before dusk, let them (hopefully) get in and get settled for the night, then turn it off.

Once new windows are added to increase the natural light inside they can use that light to navigate inside, and should no longer need the artificial one.

 

[NatJ]

About light: make sure you end up with enough light for them to see by, during the daytime hours. Natural or artificial won't matter at present.

After you have the light sorted out, I suggest you put the chicks inside the coop, with food and water, and shut them in. Leave them in for at least a night, a day, and the next night. Then open the door to the run but do not help them out--let them find their own way out.

This will help teach them that the coop is "home" and that they should sleep inside. If they do not go inside at dark that night, put them in again--and either check and put them in every night until they get the point, or keep them shut inside the coop for several more night/day cycles. (Some chickens figure it out faster than others.)

Of course, with that method, you do have to watch that the coop does not get too hot in the daytime. You could deliberately choose to do it when you're expecting a few cloudy days, if that's likely to be a problem.

 

[Beard4]

Update: so my husband put in a small 2nd window and a light.
The first day (completely outside) from sunrise on. They ventured in and right inside the door several times that day. We turned the red heat light on right before dusk, they still huddled at the run exit door hoping I would take them inside as normal.. So I turned my phone light on and called them from the clean out door.. they came up the ramp and settled in right inside the door for the night.

The second day.. They were on the ramp at dusk but did not venture in until my husband turned on the red light.. But they actually perched on the inside coop branches all night..

Third day here we come.. It will be dropping to lower 40's tonight though, so until they make it past this last cold snap, I will be nervous (first time chicken mom)

Temp stayed above 70 last night inside the coop but the humidity this morning was 82.. (started out at 60)
I think this is what we must figure out before winter comes..

Thanks everyone, the extra light for sure helped!