When to let them stay out?

[stitchie]

We have just finished our coop!!!! YAY Now we need to know if it is OK and when it is OK to leave them out all night?
They are between 5 and 6 weeks old. The temperature here at night is in the mid 40's.
Any help???

 

[bobbi-j]

Personally, I wouldn't let them stay out all night. Too many predators where I live - coons, coyotes, fox, owls, opossums, skunks, cats... oh yeah, and mink and weasel. I think that covers it for the night time predators. Chickens are just too vulnerable at night.

 

[Bedste]

amen!


After they are fully feathered ( about 3 weeks old ) they no longer need a heat lamp........ but..... a coon can reach in a grab them and kill them by trying to pull them out through a little fence hole. I would lock them up every single night forever no matter how old they are.....

 

[wishful]

I read that as "when is it ok to leave them in their coop instead of in the house"...was that not what was meant? I'd think that once they're fully feathered, you can move them outside instead of keeping them in a brooder. Could be wrong, or maybe that's not what you were asking.

 

[stitchie]

I read that as "when is it ok to leave them in their coop instead of in the house"...was that not what was meant? I'd think that once they're fully feathered, you can move them outside instead of keeping them in a brooder. Could be wrong, or maybe that's not what you were asking

Thank you wishful.
Yes we have a very nice coop for them, the neighbors are calling it the Poultry Mansion.

I have no worries about predators getting to them we took every precaution we could when building thier coop. I have grown to attached to just let them be free. I am ready for a dust free room. Oh and a nice smelling home again

. I guess what I was asking is if I put them out with the heat lamp is that OK????​

 

[BetterHensandGardens]

Can we see a picture of the poultry mansion?

We're all looking for improvements for our coops!

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
Thank you wishful.
Yes we have a very nice coop for them, the neighbors are calling it the Poultry Mansion.

I have no worries about predators getting to them we took every precaution we could when building thier coop. I have grown to attached to just let them be free. I am ready for a dust free room. Oh and a nice smelling home again

. I guess what I was asking is if I put them out with the heat lamp is that OK????

Sorry - I misunderstood. My chicks are kept in a brooder house or coop from the time they hatch and it didn't occur to me that they might be in your house. They are definitely old enough to be out in the coop all night. I would love to see pictures of your chicken mansion!

 

[bantybev]

IMO 40 degrees at night is still a little for chicks that young if they haven't slowly been aclimated to the cold temps. Might not be a good idea to keep them out, without a heat sorce until nights are a bit warmer. Getting chilled can stress them out to the point that they are more susceptible to illness at that age. Again, just my opinion. I would wait or heat the coop at night to at least 65 or 70 and decrease it everyweek until they are more used to it.

 

[stitchie]

I will still bring them in for a little while. We are suppose to be getting in a storm tonight so I just brought them in. I miss their chirping now during the day when they are out.

I would love to post pics of their mansion, but now I am afraid it will disappoint you all

We have not painted it yet so when that is done I will

 

[Kmf]

Ours have been out in the coop since they were about 3 1/2 weeks old. They got too big for their brooder (since the brooder was made for the 6 I was supposed to get, not the 10 that I ended up getting! lol) Of course, we have the heat lamp on them, but they don't seem to huddle around it very much. Temps have been in the 30s and 40s at night here. It seems to be in the 70's around the outside of the lamp and in the 60's further out. They seem happy with more room, too.