Two weeks old and trying to fly

[matheny00]

Okay we are in part of a pickle I guess you could say. We have 10 baby chicks they are now a week and a half to two weeks old. They have almost flown out of the brooder. We do have a cover on it with mesh and stuff so normally they can't get out but I mean we just were reaching in to take care of stuff and boom. So here's the question if they have heat and if they have water and if they have everything they need that's in this brooder can I put them in the coop outside? There are no other chicks. We are in so cal and the temp is 55 at the lowest at night and 75 during the day. I can add a heat lamp or heater to keep it warmer at night and let them have the heat plate also.

Second option is bring them in during the night.

If his is a no go any advise would be highly appreciated.

I am having a blast with them.

Here is the coop and still adding on the run. I do have about a days worth of work to secure the coop to make it safe for them.

 

[nuthatched]

You can kick them out with the heat plate. Mine have been out since two weeks [with a heat pad] and my nights are much cooler.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Just the heat plate should be sufficient in those temperatures.

 

[matheny00]

Okay, I'll move them out probably by this weekend. The question I have now is the coop has a concrete slab and we were going to use deep sand for the base in there. However with the baby chicks I know sand is not the best thing right now. Should I just use pine flakes that we've been using.

 

[Ridgerunner]

In those temperatures I'd only use the heat plate. Don't be surprised if they are soon sleeping on top of it instead of under it. Some people can be really surprised at what they do or don't need.

If you are going to use sand I'd use sand. By now they should know what their food is. I don't give guarantees but I'd expect them to peck at it a bit for grit but to not eat enough to cause any harm.

 

[matheny00]

Thank you all for your input

 

[matheny00]

Thank you all for your input

Well we are holding off for about another 1-2 weeks by then there will be steady warmth outside and everything should be finished. I got a setback on a special order board and won't get it till Monday so there is no roof yet. So we upgraded their brooder to a duplex today instead. They think the black tape is going to eat them or something. It is kinda funny watching them debating stepping over it.