when to coop when not to coop. now a q about holding XP

[zade11]

Hi again! having only had my chicks for a week on a spur of the moment idea i was wondering how soon i should think about buying a coop and where would be a good place to look for said chicken home. Any and all help would be quite appreciated!

 

[midget_farms]

When to coop depends on a lot of factors - mostly though it is temperature, age of chicks & if you have an existing flock. If you don't have any adult birds now you can move them to the coop much earlier. In fact you can build or buy a coop & set it up as the brooder now.

As far as resources there are many. There are a number of pre-built coops available - check the site vendors here or do a google search.

I built my first one by hand. I will very soon be building a second only this one will be a store bought 8x10 shed. The main consideration for me is ease of cleaning and protection for the birds.

 

[green eggs and spam]

i think it depends alot on what you have them in now and the weather.
i don't think its too early to get it as soon as the weather is nice enough to start putting them out for a couple warm hours each day.

my chicks from last year i kept in the house in a big wooden run for 3 months- around 8 weeks i started putting them outside in a small wired area on nice days until my coop was built and the weather was very warm (i got my chicks at the beginning of april last year)
this year i got another batch but way earlier (early febuary) so alot of it will depend on when they're fully feathered and the weather is permitting. i did refinish my coop to have a small heated portion inside for when they can be moved into it. but i think it will be a little while yet before it is warm enough for them outside.

i will say that the best thing about keeping them inside longer is probably getting to watch them more closely and learn their personalities and get them as friendly and used to being held as possible

the best coop i have ever seen was at my local plant nursery, but the local farm store has good basic ones available.
i built mine and i would build it differently when i do it again (learning curve lol)

 

[gritsar]

With my first round of chicks, we thought we had plenty of time to start worrying about building a coop and they ended up living on my screened porch for five and a half months while one thing after another kept us from completing the coop.
This time around, my chicks will start out in the coop.

 

[zade11]

i appreciate all this input. but i noticed you talked about them being used to being held. How much should i hold them? is it good to play with them?