When can I move them to coop?

[Fiddlehead]

Quote:
Ditto. Once they're feathered, they can regulate temperature. Mine were fully feathered at about 5 weeks. Then, I moved them to the coop but kept them inside it for a while, out of drafts but still at outdoor temperatures. They were let out of the coop 2 weeks later, and they know where home is now, go back in each night.

X's 2 here, that is perfecct advice!

 

[Hunter0704]

Like you, I couldn't wait to move my chicks & ducklings from my enclosed porch. When the chicks were two weeks old, and the ducklings 3 weeks old, I moved them to the enclosed coop with a 150 watt heat lamp to keep them warm, plus a 150 watt light bulb that's at the top of the pitched ceiling. Everyone is doing fine and they are feathering out quicker than I thought they would. I live in Missouri and night temps are now in the 40's and so far the temp in the coop hasn't dropped lower than 50 degrees...I have a huge thermometer inside the coop for monitoring. As it gets colder, if they are all huddled under the 150 watt heat lamp when I check on them (4-5 times a day) I will replace it with a 250 watt heat bulb I'll place higher at the top of the pitched ceiling. Was hoping the 150 watt heat bulb and 150 watt light bulb is enough heat, as I don't want them to get over heated. Will keep a close eye on them! My coop is totally enclosed, complete with a vent up high and a window, plus four nesting boxes filled with straw for bedding. We hand removed each one outside to the run when it was much warmer, but they had no idea how to get up the ramp to get back in the coop....soooo, will leave them in the coop until they are fully feathered and a bit older. Love 'em dearly!!!

 

[darin367]

i've come to believe we keep em way to warm..... i recently let a hen hatch n raise some chicks.... at 3 days old they're outside running around at 50 degrees outside during the day.... i realize they can warm up under mom at anytime, but they are happy at 50 degrees for long periods of time at a week old... i really don't think they need to be at 85 degrees at 3 weeks old......to each his own....

 

[flowerhensowner]

most breeds are fully feathed at about 6 weeks they can go outside after that

 

[eggdd]

Quote:
agreed.

 

[Avonlea22]

After 1 week I placed my chicks in the coop with a heat lamp. I just see the coop as a bigger brooder, giving them a little more space to roam about. I peeked in last night after returning home from work at midnight, and watched them for about 10 minutes. They were running around and having a grand ol' time. Then they fell asleep.