Age to move chicks into their coop?

My chicks will be 3 weeks old on Wednesday and they have only needed a 60 watt bulb in the box I'm brooding them in for the last week and a half. It is quite warm here. They are starting to fly more and more and really scratching up their litter and jumping on top of the quart feeders and waterers. I cannot find a bigger box, as the one I've got is quite large already. I switched them to a gallon fount today. I was wondering when I should put them out into their coop. They wouldn't have access to their run until they are 6 weeks old. If I hung up some lights in their coop are they old enough to go out? Thanks in advance. Photo below was taken 3 days ago, and they've feathered lots more since.

Plenty big enough if it is varment proof.

Larkie

What is the light for, keeping the varmints away? They are absolutely adorable, too cute!!

They are so cute. What kind are they and how many do you have ?

As long as they have adequate shelter to get in out of the sun and rain this time of year............., yep, I'd put them out if it's secure. I remember having some in a box in the house last winter..............drove me nuts. I was soooooooo glad when they could finally go outside.

I put mine in the tractor, if it was warm enough.

Peggy, I have 16- 5 Dominiques (my favorites), 5 buff orpingtons, 3 silver laced wyandottes and 3 golden laced wyandottes. Mine I didn't mind having in the house at all, they were not nearly as loud as others I've had.

I put the light up as they don't seem to like the dark very much since they've always had a 60 watt bulb.

I put them out in their large coop today. They're having a blast, digging in the pine shavings and finding out now they have lots of room to spread their wings! :) Though, I'm so worried about them and going out and checking on them every 15 minutes. (talk about an old mother hen LOL)

Also, what age do I need to start them on oyster shell? 20 weeks or sooner? Thanks


This message was edited Aug 7, 2006 9:12 PM

Looks like the chick in the front has funny "hair".

I thought oyster shell was for egg laying hens only.

I have three questions. How would you and when would you start the oyster shell? And how old do my chicks have to be to be moved from a brooder to a coop? Last question, what does the temperature have to be in the brooder?



This message was edited Aug 14, 2006 11:23 PM

Well it should be fine, since it's August, and MI isn't the Arctic Circle or anything. I bet they'd love to be outdoors right now! They need to stay warm at night, of course.

2 of my hens have babies right now, and their chicks have been running around outdoors since birth.

Basically, I wait for mine to have some adultish feathers, and wait for the weather to be consistantly warm. Since it is August, that makes it easier! Once the girls are in the coop, I do not provide a light. The girls adjust fine. I think it must be nice for them to get into the natural rhythm of the day/night cycle. They put themselves to bed in their coop every night! LOL!

As long as it isn't drafty, they should be fine.

AS for the oyster shell, you should find out if your feed has extra calcium for them. Layer feed sometime does. I have oyster shells in the yard for them to peck at. Mine don't really eat it up the way I imagined they would, but it is available. They will know if they need it, I figure.

On Grand Cayman Island, there are wild chickens everywhere. So I imagine that they are a little tougher/more saavy than we give them credit for :)