When to take out of brooder.

[RDchicken99]

Hello! I have one month old chicks that are outgrowing the brooder and need to be moved to the chicken house! It’s enclosed, but even with heat lamps it will be colder than they’re used to. When is it safe to move them to the coop without them catching a chill? And my lowest upcoming temps are lower fourties at night. Thank you!

 

[3KillerBs]

Are they fully-feathered?

Once they're fully-feathered you can wean them off the heat and put them outside.

 

[RDchicken99]

Sorry, I’m new to chickens, when you say fully feathered do you mean all their adult feathers? Because if that’s the case, they aren’t! They are at the weird looking teen phase when they have SOME of their adult feathers.

 

[the_peanut_coop]

Ah. Yes. Wait two more weeks. They should be fully feathered by then. It is safe to move them out then.

 

[sdm111]

I take mine out at about 5 days old on average
Fully feathered is quite unnecessary
If its chilly put a heat light in the cage.

 

[chickentrains]

can you share some photos? they don't look like adult feathers, just feathers.

 

[Agnesmash]

I’m new to chickens as well, but from what I’ve read a chick is considered FULLY feathered at 8 weeks or so. My babies are 3 1/2 weeks right now and will outgrow the brooder box soon. We built another box twice the size and plan to put them in the coop outside (obviously) in about a week or 2. We have a heat lamp suspended on a chain above the box and a radiant heater as well inside the brooder box. Night temps are still in the 30’s....brrrrr! A day prior to moving the chicks I will play around with the heaters to dial in an appropriate temperature somewhere near 60 - 65.

 

[3KillerBs]

Sorry, I’m new to chickens, when you say fully feathered do you mean all their adult feathers? Because if that’s the case, they aren’t! They are at the weird looking teen phase when they have SOME of their adult feathers.

Not necessarily adult colors -- they'll have several juvenile molts. All feathers instead of down.

Can you put a heat lamp into the coop so that they have a warm place to go in and out of?

You don't need to heat the entire coop -- just one part.

 

[Agnesmash]

Omg I just read the “scrambling for an egg” joke! Crying!!!

 

[the_peanut_coop]

I take mine out at about 5 days old on average
Fully feathered is quite unnecessary
If its chilly put a heat light in the cage

Is it so hot where you live? My chicks would die at 5 days the first night.