When do I put my chicks into their coop?

[Shortstuff]

I know they are too young now. They are only a little over 2 weeks old. But they are growing so fast! Are they going to get too crowded in the brooder? We have a coop, but we still need to fence in and secure an area for them to run around.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

How big is your brooder? If it’s tiny I would move them out when your done working on the run.

 

[Shortstuff]

I think it’s about 2 x 3 feet.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

How many of them are there?

 

[Shortstuff]

How many of them are there?

6

 

[middle TN Nancy]

I put mine in the coop when they were 5 days old. I actually just set the whole brooder in the coop with the door fastened open so it wouldn’t be a big change for them.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I would wait until you got there run down, then move them out if it’s warm outside where you are.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They could use more room.

If you can run heat out to the coop it'd be ideal to finish brooding in the coop itself. If not, you can pull heat at around 3 weeks old if you begin weaning them off right now (raise the heat lamp and/or switch with lower watt bulb). Since PNW is oddly cooler than rest of US right now, you won't have as much issue with heat exhaustion from locking them in right now, provided the coop has ample ventilation.

Don't worry about the run just yet. They can stay in the coop for a few weeks while you finish that up.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I brooded mine in the coop from day 1. They're now 3 weeks old and hang out in the run most of the day. (Ignore the cord. That's from when I had them on heat. I just never got around to taking it out. It's gone now)

 

[gallery2000]

I put mine in the coop when they are about 2 weeks old.