brooder to chicken house ???

[cjdeere]

Hi Steve, Yea, I think we 're within a few days of each other. I'm in kind of a bind with my chicken house because of all the rain we've been getting I can't get out and work on it I've got the 4x4 posts in the ground and the floor joists started and then the rains came and I mean came The goats have helped me so much I had to put a hot fence around my work area, they really like to help at least they think they are helping Looks like I'll be able to go, go, go tomorrow

 

[Steve]

Rainin here too CJ

good luck

 

[mannersmadesimple]

I have similar questions about the timing of chicks to brooder! I have 5 week old Buffs- some still pretty fuzzy and some feathered out well. I have opted to go with the 95 degrees on day olds- and decrease 5 degrees every week- but until when?? We are in central Fl and the coop gets around 60 overnight, and wonderfully warm during the days.
So- whats everyones thought, are they ready to venture out yet? And is that overnight temp going to require a heat lamp?

 

[silkiechicken]

As long as you acclimate them to the cooler temps, no problem, put them out. Just keep en eye on them. I pull the light from my chicks at about 6 weeks old and it is never in the 60's at night up here.... even in dead of summer.

 

[mannersmadesimple]

Thanks for the info! They are doing quite well, and I do not want to 'shock" them with the change. By the way, I have all pullets and plan to bring in a bantam rooster- should I intro everyone on the same day and move everybody in the coop together? Or- chicks first, and rooster later?

 

[silkiechicken]

How old is the rooster? If he is a mature adults, wait for the pullets to be of breeding age 5 mo or so... else damage may occur...

 

[mannersmadesimple]

No damage wanted here! I will try for a younger rooster, and hopefully everyone will get along!

 

[miniwarrior]

So, my chicks are 7 weeks old but it still occasionally gets in the 40s outside. They are all out in their new home- and thank goodness- they were flying all over the living room for a day or two! Can I leave them out there without a heat lamp? They seem like they have a good "coat" (?) of feathers, but some of their heads and tummies are still not quite covered.

Thanks for any advice! It's good to have a forum like this- my friends without chickens don't quite understand my talking about them all the time!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Sorry silkie, I posted basically the same question in my own thread, because I didn't see this one right off.

 

[twigg]

So, my chicks are 7 weeks old but it still occasionally gets in the 40s outside.

Once they are fully feathered they don't mind colder temps. At seven weeks they shouldn't really be needing additional heat. Let's face it, Mom couldn't heat a seven week old brood, and temps can drop into the 40s during the *natural* breeding seasons.​