when to put chicks in the coop

[Auntie Moose]

With the latest batch I got, I had to pick them up and put them in the coop every night. It took probably a week and a half of frustration before they were going in on their own. They were six weeks old when I got them and the breeder had coops similar to quail houses for all his chicks so I figured that was part of it (not used to going up a ramp into a coop and then perching).

I've had mine since they were 2 days old. I just think I have all followers and no leader!

 

[Christabean]

I assume this comment is for me? I don't think I have a picture of their coop from a close angle. The ramp to my coop doesn't have any rungs, so maybe I will put some on. However, they go up and down during the day, so I'm not sure the ramp is the problem. Once they are in at night, they don't go back down. And as I said, it has been way too hot here during the day to leave them in the coop without access to the outside. I wanted to keep them "cooped up" for a few days, but the first day I found them panting and lying on the floor of the coop, under the roosting bars. That scared me. So my husband and I literally put them on the ramp morning and night to try to show them what they are supposed to do.

Sorry, Auntie, I got your question mixed up with DGrundy's pictures. I wonder if the overheating created a bad association in their little chicken brains? If it's dangerously hot in the coop, I would look into better insulation and/or ventilation because it shouldn't be substantially hotter than the outside. Not sure when the coop gets shade, but I would keep it in shade all day until your summer temps come down, and if you're able to run out an extension cord, a computer-cooling fan can be rigged into even small vent opening. There are some good threads on here on coop-cooling, from frozen water bottles and pans of ice to misting fans. Good luck getting those babies to bed!

 

[Auntie Moose]

Sorry, Auntie, I got your question mixed up with DGrundy's pictures. I wonder if the overheating created a bad association in their little chicken brains? If it's dangerously hot in the coop, I would look into better insulation and/or ventilation because it shouldn't be substantially hotter than the outside. Not sure when the coop gets shade, but I would keep it in shade all day until your summer temps come down, and if you're able to run out an extension cord, a computer-cooling fan can be rigged into even small vent opening. There are some good threads on here on coop-cooling, from frozen water bottles and pans of ice to misting fans. Good luck getting those babies to bed!

Hadn't thought about that, Christa. Maybe they are not associating the coop with a safe place. Over the weekend, my hubs opened the lid to the nesting boxes and stapled mesh over the boxes, so they now have a big, open space where they can get a cross breeze. We also took a patio umbrella and put it over the coop. Eventually we are going to take our patio sail shade and fix it over the coop. Why do they make the roof on a coop a dark color? Don't they know that dark colors absorb heat?! My main concern is them getting to their water during the day and into the coop to roost at night. Are chickens like kids, that they will eventually look for their food to eat when they get hungry enough?

 

[JaysGirl]

I use the same method. The heating pads I use are about $13 for a 12x15. They're by Sunbeam. I got mine at Walmart. They have them other places like drugstores but Walmart was cheapest. There heat settings and no auto off. I have mine on low now. It's got as all heck but they still like to snuggle up to it. I have keets ands chicks ranging in age from one week to one month in my brooder. I need to get those month olds out of there but the younger ones freak out if they can't find them lol.
I keep mine in the house for a couple days for observation then they go outside.

Thanks SunHwaKwon! So with our temps like this (and around 85% humidity) you think I should still provide them with a heat source instead of a cooling source? I tell you I have just been a nervous wreck that I am going to do the wrong thing and harm or kill these sweet girls As you can probably tell, it's my first time! so any advice is appreciated!! What exactly are keets?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Thanks SunHwaKwon! So with our temps like this (and around 85% humidity) you think I should still provide them with a heat source instead of a cooling source? I tell you I have just been a nervous wreck that I am going to do the wrong thing and harm or kill these sweet girls As you can probably tell, it's my first time!

so any advice is appreciated!! What exactly are keets?

I do offer mine a little bit of heat, just in case. My brooder is big enough that it isn't an issue. The brooder coop is 6 x 2.5 and I have two heat pad caves at one short end, water in the middle, and food at the other short end, and halfway between there is a door out to their 6x6 run that shares a gate with the main run. So mine have plenty of room to get away from the heat if they choose, and out in the run it is primarily shaded since it is all the underside of my main coop but it does get some sun rays throughout the day and I will see a few trying to bask here and there. So, basically, I think it depends on your setup and if they have enough opportunity to get away from the heat and even catch a breeze here and there. Despite the temps, they still pile up under and on top of the heating pads at night and occasionally during the day, so I think they find that low heat comforting, just like snuggling up to mama.

Keets are baby guineas. I hatch and sell them

 

[AllynTal]

I am frustrated with my girls. They seem to figure out how to go down under the coop during the day, where it is cooler, but they won't go back up at night. Even if we wait until it is very dark, we will find them huddled in a corner, still outside. They do not follow treats or a light. We have to physically pick them up and put them into the coop. Part of the problem has been since we put them in the coop three days ago, it has been horribly hot and we have not been able to confine them to the coop. This week doesn't look any better, weather wise. Any tips or advise?

If the coop is too hot and sits in direct sun, explore the idea of putting a roof-over on it. It's not expensive to do on something the size of a chicken coop and it'll keep the coop much cooler. Google "roof-over" and you'll find lots of information and instructions.

I thought all heating pads now a days had an auto off function? If yours doesn't, where did you get it?.....

I'm sure there are other manufacturers, but I know Sunbeam makes a few models that have either no auto-shutoff or you can turn the auto-shutoff feature off. Some folks like the ones with digital control because you get six heat settings. The problem with that one is if you lose power, you have to turn it back on. If you happen to be home and know the power went out, that's not a big deal, but if the power goes out -- for even a second -- while you're sleeping or at work, the chicks won't have heat until you get home or wake up and hopefully realize that the power went out.

I use the heating pad with the slider control. It only has three heat settings, but if the power goes out, the heating pad comes back on by itself when power is restored. Also, consider one that has the option for "moist heat." You don't need moist heat, but the pads that feature moist heat are encased in plastic so you don't have to worry about getting the heating element wet, because....you know....chicken poo.

The pads are available at places like Walmart. I got the one in the link for $13.

 

[RonC]

Mine are about 10 weeks old now and fully feathered. It's 95 degrees and they huddle together like they are cold. Silly chicks. I put a tarp over the run and coop to provide shade for them and keep the coop cooler.

 

[Auntie Moose]

Mine are about 10 weeks old now and fully feathered. It's 95 degrees and they huddle together like they are cold. Silly chicks. I put a tarp over the run and coop to provide shade for them and keep the coop cooler.

I propped up our patio umbrella over our coop and it helped to keep the coop cooler. We also have a shade "sail" that we are going to see if we can rig over the coop for better coverage. It's supposed to be a hellish weekend temp wise, so we will be freezing some more water bottles for them to huddle around. Did this today and they thought it was a grand toy!

 

[Lisa Wood]

Yes, my bigger female figured it out right away and the others follow. Today, however, they seemed to have forgotten how to get down the ramp into the area under the coop that is cooler! Found the little buggers panting and in distress. They figured it out after we showed them again. They did great last night.

Mine are seven weeks and have been out since three weeks. They still forget stuff, but the sisters remind them. At first I caught every chick, which is not the best plan, to get them in coop and to bed. Now they do it themselves. It is horrid hot here in SC. 100% dur

ing day, still 93 at 7 pm. They love love love ice water. They wade in it, stand in it. And drink it. When it goes over 80, we pull the ice out. We also run hose cold and spray grass in the shade, and they lay in it, dust bathe in it, and eat grass. Cools them alot. They are also crazy for cold watermelon and a few other cold fruits.
I have tried getting them used to their own brooder, a kiddie pool, and they like it, but not for wading. Just as ome thoughts....
Lisa

 

[AuntNomi]

I always put our chicks straight out in the brooder that is located in one of our coops. It is big and predator safe, and has a heating pad if needed they can get to. This is of course chicks we hatch in the incubator. Our chicks hatched from mama hens, I never mess with, I just let the mama do her thing. It has worked so well and no mess inside to deal with everyday.