Backyard Chicken - Weeks 6–8: It’s Coop Time

Weeks 6–8: It’s Coop Time

Between weeks six and eight, your chicks will experience rapid growth and will need twice the floor space they started with. It’s time to start the transition to the coop.
Here are a few tips to make the transition smooth:
Remove the supplemental heat: At 6 weeks old, birds are fully feathered and can tolerate cooler temperatures. Birds can easily tolerate temperatures into the 50’s at this age, and cold-tolerant breeds can tolerate temperatures into the 40’s. Give birds a few days to adjust to the colder temperatures if they have been in a warm space prior to going outside.
Move brooder into the coop: Maintain consistency by carrying the brooder outside and placing it inside the coop. You can also use a portable pet carrier. Set the brooder or carrier in the coop, so chicks can take in their new surroundings.
Release chicks inside the coop: Open the brooder or carrier to allow chicks to explore the coop. Make sure you show the birds where the feed and water are. If you are containing the birds to one part of the coop, then be sure that they have access to feed and water.
Allowing chicks to free range: If you are going to let your birds wander outside of the safety of their coop and run, then they should be supervised until they are acclimated to their surroundings. Remember they are still easy prey for predators.
Keep it clean: Sanitation is still important. Remove manure, wet litter and old feed waste daily. Disinfect feeders and waterers weekly and occasionally clean and sanitize the coop with warm water and an appropriate cleanser.
Keep young birds separate from older birds until they reach the same size. This allows you to monitor the birds closely, prevent fighting and any possible illness from spreading to either group.
One way to help both groups acclimate to each other is to place the two groups in side-by-side runs. Place the groups next to one another for one week to help the birds become familiar with each other. This can also alert you to potential personality clashes that may be difficult to resolve.
Another strategy is to let the new group free-range first and then introduce the existing flock. This places the focus on new surroundings rather than new flock members.
In either case, add additional feeders and waterers to the run to prevent the new birds from being deterred from eating and drinking. During the introduction period, a new pecking order will be established.
Watch the group closely after the introduction. Content birds will continue their routines without changes in personality or feed consumption. Consistency is especially important during transitions, so continue providing free-choice, high-quality, complete feed and fresh water.
Dominique
Dominique
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