This is my first attempt at raising chickens and I currently have 28 4-week old partridge rock chicks which I have been brooding in an old stock tank in our garage. They are thriving well and I currently keep the temperature at approxiamatley 75°F. The problem is, they are starting to get a little crowded in the stock tank. I have a clean, insulated, vacant chicken coop all ready for them. Since it is summer, the average day temperature runs from 80°-90° outside and drops to about 60° in the evenings. Could I move my chicks to the coop even though they are only 4 weeks old? Would they still need a heat lamp at night or are they "close enough?" Would I still need a draft shield? Should I leave the windows open on hot days to get air circulating or would the draft bother them? Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Hi Jan...,
By Anonymous on Friday, June 11, 1999 - 10:39 pm:
Based on my own experience with chicks, I would definitely move them to the henhouse! They will love the freedom. Have plenty of clean straw and/or woodchips for them to huddle into at night. Since warm weather, I've been putting mine out as soon as they had their wing feathers. I keep the windows open during the day and closed at night.
Happy chicken raising!