When to change homes for chicks

[Valormitch]

Hi all,

So I have 3 chicks a little less than 2 weeks old now. I have kept them in a tote plastic bin but they are growing quickly and starting to explore with their wings. I live in Chicago land so the weather is about 70-80 in the lady's and 50-60 at night.

1) Do I need to move them to a bigger container? 2) If so, any recommendations? 3) when can they move outside into the coop full time?

Thank you for the help!

 

[All4Eggz]

A bigger container would be ideal, but this one is okay for now.

At around 4 or 5weeks you can move them outside full time.

 

[azygous]

There is no law that says chicks need to be brooded indoors in a tub. They can be brooded right in a coop and have the run of the entire space as long as there are no adult chickens to pick on them and they have a heat source at night. At 75-80F, chicks need no extra heat during the day.

Many of us with adult flocks brood our chicks in direct proximity to the big chickens in our runs and in our coops. Some of us integrate our chicks at the same age yours are now, and they are mingling safely with the flock. We use a safety pen with chick openings for them to duck into if they feel picked on.

So go ahead and move your chickens outside now. Your temps are warm enough that no acclimatizing is necessary.

 

[Valormitch]

There is no law that says chicks need to be brooded indoors in a tub. They can be brooded right in a coop and have the run of the entire space as long as there are no adult chickens to pick on them and they have a heat source at night. At 75-80F, chicks need no extra heat during the day.

Many of us with adult flocks brood our chicks in direct proximity to the big chickens in our runs and in our coops. Some of us integrate our chicks at the same age yours are now, and they are mingling safely with the flock. We use a safety pen with chick openings for them to duck into if they feel picked on.

So go ahead and move your chickens outside now. Your temps are warm enough that no acclimatizing is necessary.

Thank you so much, these are my first chickens so they will have the coop to themselves. How long until the chicks will be able to jump out of the current container?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

At those temps, I'd already be getting ready to move them to the grow out pen in my barn (three full weeks - just in time to replace them with the new batch from the incubator). It has an attached outside run, with the goal of full integration with the adult flock by 7 weeks - but assuming that option doesn't work for you, then next biggest easy to clean container in the house is the bathtub.

WORKS GREAT!

Particularly for ducks, messy, messy creatures that they are.

You can also build a mobile outside pen with PVC and some plastic netting on the cheap. Not predator proof, so keep it somewhere that is, but great for keeping them contained, exposing them to the native soils, and letting them see/be seen by the adult flock to smooth integration.

 

[azygous]

At two weeks, they will be able to start using their wings for lift. This enables them to jump tall buildings like Superman.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

At two weeks, they will be able to start using their wings for lift. This enables them to jump tall buildings like Superman.

Seemingly by first launching themselves off the top of the food tray or the waterer...