When to Move Chicks from Brooder to Coop (Age, Temperature & Feather Guide)
Wondering when chicks can move from the brooder to the coop? Learn the right age, temperature, and signs your chicks are ready to safely transition outdoors.
When Are Chicks Ready for the Coop? A Simple Guide for Backyard Chicken Keepers
If you’re a few weeks in to raising chicks, you might be noticing how fast your chicks are growing and feathering out, how much of a mess they can make, and how whatever space they’re currently in is beginning to smell like a barn. You may be asking yourself, “when can I transition these girls to their outdoor coop?!”
But before you make the big move, it’s important to make sure your chicks are ready. After all, you’ve put a lot of time and effort into caring for your chicks, you want them to get off to a happy and healthy start outside so they can continue thriving and eventually, earn their keep!🥚
In this guide, we will cover all the important factors you should consider before moving chicks to their outdoor coop – including age, temperature, and signs that your chicks are ready. Plus, learn how to prepare your chicks for outdoor life so you can make their transition as smooth as possible.
The Ideal Age to Move Chicks Outdoors
In general, chicks are ready to be moved outdoors around 5 or 6 weeks of age. Some breeds, however, mature faster, while others (heavy breeds) mature more slowly.
Although a week or two may not seem like much to you, a week in chick time can result in substantial development and hardiness changes. If you aren’t sure if your chicks are ready, err on the side of caution. Keep your chicks in the brooder for another week or so, and you’ll end up with happier (and healthier) hens.
When moving chicks to their outdoor coop, some chicken keepers choose to transition them slowly, while others go all in with a full-time move. The method you choose depends on a variety of factors, including weather and temperature patterns, feathering, and whether or not your coop can accommodate a temporary heat source.
Temperature Guidelines for Moving Chicks
As a general rule of thumb, chicks should start out with a brooding temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature should be reduced by about 5 degrees each week until at room temperature. So by 6 weeks of age, chicks should be comfortable at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s important to note that nighttime lows are just as, if not more crucial, than daytime highs when it comes to moving chicks outdoors. If your coop can’t accommodate a temporary heat lamp and there’s a sudden cold snap, your chicks could be in trouble.
Take a look at the weather forecast and wait until you’re in the clear of cold nights. A key benchmark for moving chicks (without a heat source) is overnight temperatures of around 65 degrees.
Watch out for wind, rain and sudden weather swings. And if you want to move your chicks but temperatures are still a little on the chilly side, you can move the heat lamp into the coop with the chicks. Just make sure the lamp is secure – some chicks can get a little rambunctious exploring their new quarters.
Feathering: The Most Important Readiness Sign
A huge milestone in chick development is becoming fully feathered. When chicks hatch, they are covered in soft, fluffy down feathers. This fuzzy covering helps to insulate the chicks, but they won’t be able to regulate their body temperature until they are fully “feathered out”. This is why feathering matters more than age alone when it comes to exposing your chicks to the elements.
Feathering out, or the process of growing mature feathers, happens in stages. Wing primaries and tail feathers appear first, within the first couple weeks. Body feathers grow in next, and your chicks will all of a sudden look like miniature chickens by weeks 4-5. The final stages of development occur between weeks 6-8, with light breeds maturing more quickly than heavier breeds.
The quicker you reduce the brooder heat (keeping within the chicks’ comfort zone), the quicker your chicks will feather out.
Quick Visual Cues to Look for When Assessing Feather Development
- Fully mature wing feathers and tail feathers
- Body feathers covering most of the body
- The last of the downy patches on the head, neck and chest should be disappearing as true feathers are growing in – this marks the final stages of feather development
Signs Your Chicks Are Ready for the Coop
There are several signs you can look for when assessing whether or not your chicks are ready to move to their coop. They should be active, energetic, and growing quickly. They should be fully feathered, or at the final stages of feather development, with the last downy patches growing in with true feathers.
Chicks that are ready for the coop will no longer rely on the heat lamp, although they might still gather nearby when resting. They should be comfortable in slightly cooler temps and used to changes in their environment, like having their heat lamp turned off for a short period of time or spending some time outside on a warm day.
You’ll notice that, in addition to looking like miniature chickens as they become fully feathered, your chicks will also begin to act like chickens. They might be curious and want to explore, they might test their wings and try out roosting. These are all signs that your chicks are most likely ready to take on the adventure to the coop.
How to Transition Chicks to the Coop Safely
Transitioning your chicks to the coop smoothly and safely starts weeks in advance of the actual move. Gradual acclimation can really help your chicks prepare for their life outside. Once the chicks are at least two weeks of age, you can take them outside for short visits on warm, sunny days.
For “field trips” outdoors, make sure you have a secure pen that the chicks can’t escape (and no predators can get in) and place them in a grassy area with access to some soil for grit. They’ll need shade and water as well.
When the chicks are ready, plan their move to the coop during a mild weather window. Keep them enclosed at first, even if you plan on free ranging. This gives them a chance to get oriented with their new abode (and grow a little larger) before you give them the freedom to roam.
This is also a great time to train your chickens to come to your call, especially if you plan on free ranging. Shake a cup or container with some scratch in it and call for the chicks, then throw out some scratch. Once the chicks discover the sound of treats, they will come running when they hear you!
For the first few days (and nights) in the coop, you’ll want to check on your chicks relatively often to make sure they’re adjusting well and they’re not too cold. If you’re worried about overnight, secure the heat lamp in a spot that is out of the way but the chicks can get to if they need it.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
There are a few common mistakes to avoid when moving your chicks from the brooder to the coop:
- Moving too early
- Ignoring nighttime temperatures
- Assuming some feathers (not fully feathered) is enough
- Skipping predator-proofing
- Not checking coop drafts
What to Expect After the Move
After the big move, your chicks should adjust pretty quickly. They might be a bit timid in the space at first, but within a few hours they will likely be curious and happy to explore their new environment.
You might notice changes in behavior as they acclimate, like a more prominent pecking order taking shape, and more “chicken like” behaviors – scratching around the bedding, grooming, wing flapping and exploring roosts.
Chicks will start roosting between 4 and 6 weeks of age. Provide low and high perches, or start out with a beginner’s perch close to the floor and move it up as the birds learn to use it. Provide at least 4 inches of perch space per chick.
Quick Checklist: Are Your Chicks Ready?
- 5-6 weeks old
- Fully feathered (last few downy spots on head, neck and chest grown in or close to grown in)
- Temperatures warm enough (especially nighttime lows – at least 65°F or plan on providing heat)
- Chicks are active and thriving (acting more and more “like chickens”)
- Coop is ready and secure – you may need to upgrade to a larger waterer and feeder once your chicks are in their coop
Trust the Signs, Not Just the Calendar
It’s an exciting time when your chicks are ready to move outdoors to the coop. Exciting, and sometimes a bit nerve-wracking for first time chicken keepers. But don’t make it too complicated – when it comes down to it, feathering and temperature matter most.
Observe your flock and make the move when they’re ready. If your chicks are fully feathered, the nights are warm enough, and they’re active and thriving, you’re likely good to go. Take the transition one step at a time, keep an eye on them those first few days, and enjoy watching them settle into their new home.
