When to move out of brooder?

[Amgill0415]

I have 6 chicks that are all 3 weeks old and I was wondering when I could officially move them out of their brooder (which is a 55 gallon aquarium) . I know it's too cold to go out side in their permanent coop, but I have them in a giant dog crate with perches and stuff indoors for "field trips" out of their brooder aquarium. Should I still put them back in the aquarium with mama heating pad at night? Would moving the heating pad to the dog cage be ok now? And do they still want a place to hide and snuggle under, or would just the heating pad for them to lay on if they wanted be enough?

 

[azygous]

Have you watched to see how much they're using the heating pad during the day? I bet at three weeks, it's very little. This is the age where chicks spend most of their time during the day away from their heat source since they have a pretty good feather covering to retain body heat, mostly because consuming calories keeps adding to their heat stores.

Are these chicks your sole flock or are there adult chickens that you'll need to integrate the chicks with? Now wouldn't be too soon to begin acclimatizing them to cooler temps by letting them spend their days outside in their coop and run with their heating pad rigged up to supply heat if they crave it.

 

[SueT]

Around 3 weeks, I start to wean them from their heat source. (mine have all been brooded in the house) By 5 weeks I move them out to coop, providing no heat, but there's a 'huddle box' in case they need it. I have put them out at that age with lows int the 40's and they were fine.

 

[Chickenlover0810]

Around 3 weeks, I start to wean them from their heat source. (mine have all been brooded in the house) By 5 weeks I move them out to coop, providing no heat, but there's a 'huddle box' in case they need it. I have put them out at that age with lows int the 40's and they were fine.

what do you mean a "huddle box"?

 

[Amgill0415]

Have you watched to see how much they're using the heating pad during the day? I bet at three weeks, it's very little. This is the age where chicks spend most of their time during the day away from their heat source since they have a pretty good feather covering to retain body heat, mostly because consuming calories keeps adding to their heat stores.

Are these chicks your sole flock or are there adult chickens that you'll need to integrate the chicks with? Now wouldn't be too soon to begin acclimatizing them to cooler temps by letting them spend their days outside in their coop and run with their heating pad rigged up to supply heat if they crave it.

These are my only birds. And im not sure of they are going to their heating pad for warmth or to hide or if it's just what they are used to. They all sleep under there during nap time and at night, but not touching the pad unless they are laying on top. Right now temps outside are back in the 30s so not really keen and putting them out quite yet. Here's a picture of them all sleeping outside the mouth of the mama's heating pad.

That's from several days ago.

 

[SueT]

what do you mean a "huddle box"?

Oh, looks like they have one! Just give them that container they are already using. With or without the hearing pad.