I have four redstart chicks that will be 4 weeks old this thursday. Their coop should be arriving on Tuesday and assembled by Wednesday. Should I still put their light on in the coop? I have also read that they should be locked in the coop for a week so that they become acquainted with their new enclosure. Is this a necessary step? For the run I intend on keeping it covered until they're big enough to be on their own. They're too small to be left uncovered!
If the temperature is not dropping below about 75 degrees at night they probably won't need the heat lamp. Some recommend locking the little ones in the coop to familiarize them with "home". If you are willing for a few nights to put them in their coop at dark you don't have to lock them in. Mine caught on in about 2 days but others have taken up to about a week to catch on. As for covering the run depending on the breeds you may have to put a roof on it to keep them in as they get older. Not a bad idea anyways just for security.