Moving my Babies outside!!

[newchickmomma83]

I'm very excited!! First time baby chick momma, and I have my new coop up and ready to go. My first group of chicks are 7 weeks old and should be moving out into their forever home next day or two!! We live in IL so temps are finally raising! I have 4 more babies that will be joining them in a few weeks! I'm so excited to get them moved outside! They are going to have sooo much more room in the new coop and run!

Any advice or anything special I need to do? Should I shut them inside the coop the first couple nights or is it completely natural for them to go in there and stay at night?

Side note is I have 3 other grown hens but they are in a separate coop and will remain in that coop. I didn't have to do anything special with them when I got them because they were already grown!

Thanks in advance everyone! I love this group!

 

[newchickmomma83]

Here's there new home!! And like I said it's ALMOST ready. We beefed it up to make more solid and we are adding a base and obviously moving it out to the yard

 

[CabritaChicks]

At 4 weeks old- that was a milestone! after the chicks made a 3,000 mile trip at 2 days old- and survived- we celebrated with their temporary coop excursion from their brooder.

I started easing them into the coop, taking things slow. On day one, they were out for about an hour (how quickly you move depends on how bonded they were with you earlier on and the weather- which here can be windy and rainy, but always warm). Day two adventure was about two hours—making sure the coop setup was solid: food, water, and overall safety (and make sure they can find it! I used a different feeding station- and they got confused... and didn't eat).

By day three, they were out for around four hours a day- hubby installed the solar fan system, and wifi camera in the coop so I could keep an eye on them.

They are 5 weeks now (image is at 4 weeks when I first allowed them to roam). I’m hoping to transition them to full-time coop living by 7 weeks, as long as the weather cooperates. But they LOVE it outside- they are like little lawn mowers- ha.

Where I am, we expect some strong overnight storms, so I bring them back inside at night. I know it might seem a little over-cautious, but I really want them to love the coop and feel confident free-ranging. So I still bring them in every night (they actually like it as they go to a kennel and they get kitchen scraps of vegetable and fruit matter in the utility room), and sleep in peace. But 1.5-2 weeks from now- they will sleep outside and live full time.

So to answer your question, I ease them in. Did the same with rescues that were not mine- but these betties are my babes.

 

[newchickmomma83]

At 4 weeks old- that was a milestone! after the chicks made a 3,000 mile trip at 2 days old- and survived- we celebrated with their temporary coop excursion from their brooder.

I started easing them into the coop, taking things slow. On day one, they were out for about an hour (how quickly you move depends on how bonded they were with you earlier on and the weather- which here can be windy and rainy, but always warm). Day two adventure was about two hours—making sure the coop setup was solid: food, water, and overall safety (and make sure they can find it! I used a different feeding station- and they got confused... and didn't eat).

By day three, they were out for around four hours a day- hubby installed the solar fan system, and wifi camera in the coop so I could keep an eye on them.

They are 5 weeks now (image is at 4 weeks when I first allowed them to roam). I’m hoping to transition them to full-time coop living by 7 weeks, as long as the weather cooperates. But they LOVE it outside- they are like little lawn mowers- ha.

Where I am, we expect some strong overnight storms, so I bring them back inside at night. I know it might seem a little over-cautious, but I really want them to love the coop and feel confident free-ranging. So I still bring them in every night (they actually like it as they go to a kennel and they get kitchen scraps of vegetable and fruit matter in the utility room), and sleep in peace. But 1.5-2 weeks from now- they will sleep outside and live full time.

So to answer your question, I ease them in. Did the same with rescues that were not mine- but these betties are my babes.

I really love this!! I'm worried once I put them in the coop and run they might be hard to catch to get back out hahaha. I live in town so I can't let them free roam unfortunately!

 

[CabritaChicks]

I really love this!! I'm worried once I put them in the coop and run they might be hard to catch to get back out hahaha. I live in town so I can't let them free roam unfortunately!

Which one seems like the ringleader? Have you tried just taking her out for a few minutes? do the rest follow? —maybe 10 minutes outside the coop, just with you? You’re probably “mom” in their little chick brains.

My husband was the same way at first—emotionally cautious and so nervous they’d bolt the second he let them out.. and they do get the 'zoomies' (excessively acceleration) but always return in seconds.

But he didn’t want to disappoint me while I was stuck in my hospital bed, so he went with brawn over might. I later caught him actually handling the chicks instead of just trying to coax them. Turns out, he learned what I already knew—these little fluffballs stick to you like glue.

Now he calls himself a 'chicken herder'... haha.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

How many do you have? At seven weeks they’re fully feathered. They will be fine out in the coop even if it’s cold outside. I wouldnt shut them in for days although you can. They will not naturally put themselves to bed without a grown hen to teach them. I always have to put mine to bed for a few nights before they figure it out. But they will probably all be in a clump somewhere in the run much like how they sleep in the brooder so it’s just a matter of putting them in the coop. After a few nights of this they will figure out that the way they got out in the morning is the way to go in at night

 

[CabritaChicks]

I really love this!! I'm worried once I put them in the coop and run they might be hard to catch to get back out hahaha. I live in town so I can't let them free roam unfortunately!

Also- if they love the coop- problem solved Mine just needed a bit more 'mom' time.

 

[Yardmom]

The chicks will need homed to the coop. This can be done by shutting them in a few days or by letting them out and then guiding them back in for a few nights.

 

[newchickmomma83]

How many do you have? At seven weeks they’re fully feathered. They will be fine out in the coop even if it’s cold outside. I wouldnt shut them in for days although you can. They will not naturally put themselves to bed without a grown hen to teach them. I always have to put mine to bed for a few nights before they figure it out. But they will probably all be in a clump somewhere in the run much like how they sleep in the brooder so it’s just a matter of putting them in the coop. After a few nights of this they will figure out that the way they got out in the morning is the way to go in at night

I have 3 that will be going out right now with 4 more that will be out in a couple weeks. I have 3 adult hens but they will not be in the same coop with them. I thought about putting them in the coop for tonight and tomorrow (tomorrow expecting some rain throughout the day) and then turning them loose on Friday. At least then they would have a feel for the coop etc.

 

[newchickmomma83]

The chicks will need homed to the coop. This can be done by shutting them in a few days or by letting them out and then guiding them back in for a few nights.

Thats what I was thinking about doing!! I thought about putting them in this afternoon and keeping them in the coop until Friday, and then turning them out to the whole thing. But I thought I might have to help them in at night until they go use to it! Thank you!