When do I build a coop?

[fleurdelisky]

Hello All! I am new to the board and new to raising chicks. I have two babies, one silver-laced wyandotte and a black australorp. They were straight runs, so I don't know if I have hens or roos and they are about three weeks old and are getting their wing feathers. I have them in a box with pine shavings and a heat lamp, but they are growing out of it! My husband is planning on building a portable coop outdoors with a plan we found on-line, but I want to know when it is safe to move them? I plan on keeping the heat lamp on in the covered coop, but can they go in a run when it is only 50 degrees in the day? Thanks in advance for the advice and I am sure loving owning these two sweeties.

 

[wynedot55]

at 6wks of age they can go to the coop with no heat at all.unless it gets real cold where you are.once they get 12 to 14 wks old they dont need any heat.

 

[fleurdelisky]

Thanks! I guess I need to build a bigger box for now. I see from pics that some people use kiddie pools. Is this a good idea?

 

[wynedot55]

yes kiddie pools work good.just know that the chicks can an will fly out of the pool.

 

[teachumusic]

We used a kiddie pool the first time and then had to add cardboard all around it to make it higher.

This year we made our own box that is 24" tall. Keeps our kids (2 1/2 and 1 yr old) out of it. Also keeps the chicks in it.

They are so easy to make with scrap wood. On the sides we used really cheap thin (luann) wood.

 

[keljonma]

We used a child's pool for a brooder and put 4' high chicken wire fence around it. None of our birds flew out of the brooder the entire 7 weeks they were in it.