So, I've been reading a lot, but I want everyone's personal experiences/opinions on exactly when it is the best time to move the chicks to the coop. I've read 6 weeks is the time. What do you think? I'm trying to picture my chicks in the brooder for the next 5 weeks and I can't imagine that they would fit in there by the end of that time. But then this is my first time so I have no idea how fast they will grow. My little ladies are only 8 days old, but they are doing fantastic. In PA here, we've have a mild spring with temps already in the high 60's to low 70's. I think this helps.
when mine get to big for the brooder i put them in the shed and then when they are 6 to 8 weeks old i then move them to a coop
Mostly what I've heard is to wait until they're fully feathered out. We put ours out at about 6 weeks, they weren't totally feathered out, but we put a heat lamp in a corner (hung with a metal chain, and it doesn't touch anything in the coop). We've had night time temps around freezing, and some cold and warmer days. They hang out under the lamp when it's cold, and have lots more room to run and play than being cooped in the brooder. They seem perfectly fine, and we've even had a bit of snow.
6 weeks is the general guideline but it all depends on your personal circumstances. You can either put them out when they're too big for the brooder if you think they can survive, or you'll need to add brooder space. You just need to make sure they'll be warm outside.
i moved mine to the coop @ 3 wks old. they had outgrown the brooder & were picking each other bloody (happened in one afternoon). my coop is very predator proof & i set up the heat lamps for them. the night lows were 40s & once in the 30s, but the heat lamps kept them cozy. i haven't had any downside to moving them out there. i didn't let them outside for a couple more weeks & then only when i was there to baby sit. they're 6 wks now & all is well. of course they don't need the heat lamp anymore since temps are up & they are feathered now. good luck
We brought our girls out during the day and brought them in at night starting at 4 weeks. It was in the 70s during the day but still getting in the 30s and 40 at night. They were so big in the brooder after seeing them in the big coop but once the light was off they cuddled up and slept so they didn't seem to mind the close quarters. We are in NC so at 6.5 weeks I kicked them out of the house for good because it has been staying in the 50s at night.
Mine moved to the coop with their heat lamp when they were 2 weeks old. We had some awesome weather this past week and the chicks LOVE it outside.
Thanks for all the great feeback, chicken friends! I really appreciate it. I enjoy hearing from all of you. This is a really great flock of people (sorry, couldn't resist that one!).
