when can I get my chicks out to their coop?

[ameraucana 25]

I just checked the weather and it is going to snow tomorrow do I have to wait till all the snow is gone?
Flagstaff, AZ Weather Forecast

 

[NatJ]

I just checked the weather and it is going to snow tomorrow do I have to wait till all the snow is gone?
Flagstaff, AZ Weather Forecast

I would probably not put them out for the first time when snow is falling and wind is blowing, unless you put them in the coop and shut them in. If you let them be in the run they will not yet know to go into the coop out of the weather, but if they are shut in the coop they can't make stupid choices about it.

If the entire floor of the run is covered with snow, I would either wait for it to melt, or cover it with something (straw, wood shavings, etc.) so they aren't walking directly on large amounts of snow in their first day or two.

Given that forecast, I might try putting them out in the day and bringing them back in at night for a few days to let them adjust a bit gradually, then put them out permanently.

What if we put a heating plate in their coop?

Or you could do this, as long as you make sure they can get away from the heat if they want to.

After a week or so, you can probably take away the heat plate.

 

[ameraucana 25]

Can't put them out in this weather https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/flagstaff/86001/daily-weather-forecast/326854 right? even if I lock them in this coop https://www.omlet.us/eglu-pro-chicken-coop/? I really want to get them out to the coop.

 

[ameraucana 25]

They look a lot like this if not older and more feathers although some have more feathers then others.

 

[NatJ]

Can't put them out in this weather https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/flagstaff/86001/daily-weather-forecast/326854 right? even if I lock them in this coop https://www.omlet.us/eglu-pro-chicken-coop/? I really want to get them out to the coop.

The temperatures look a lot nicer in a few days (Sunday and later).

I would probably do one of two things:
--put the heating plate and the chicks out in the coop now, shut them in so they can't get in the run
--or wait until Sunday when the weather is expected to be warmer, and put them out with or without the heating plate.

 

[ameraucana 25]

Any other ideas

 

[ameraucana 25]

?

 

[Sic]

If you really want to put them outside in the coop then do it. If you think it's too cold at night and they'll need a brooder plate then use it. My incubated chicks are raised in the coop in a brooder box with a brooder plate - that gets removed when they're 3 weeks old. Unless you have tiny fragile bantam chicks, featherless, or just a couple that couldn't keep themselves warm by huddling together, just do what you need to do, they don't need to be in your house, ever.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If they get cold they will huddle together for warmth. As long as they don't get wet and wind is not blowing on them, they should be fine in the enclosed coop. When the weather is nicer you can let them "into the out."

 

[ERAM]

In that case, assuming they are mostly feathered, I think they can probably move outside soon.

I mention "mostly feathered" because some chicks grow their feathers much faster than others. Chicks that grow feathers really slowly would need to be older before they have enough feathers to move out.

You could spend a few days putting them outside in the morning and bringing them back inside at night, or you could just pick a day and put them out and be done with it.

If you look at the weather forecast, sometimes you can pick a time when their first night or two will be a bit warmer than usual, but unless there is a big temperature difference, that probably does more to make the owner feel better than to help the chicks.

In southwest Texas I'm more cautious about hot weather at about 97 degrees or 100 degrees, my baby chicks are 7 weeks old.