Bringing Baby Chicks to the Coop: Spring Transition Tips

Spring is here, and if you’re raising chicks, you’re probably wondering when it’s safe to move them from their cozy brooder to the big coop. This time of year is ideal for the transition, but it still takes some planning to make sure your young flock stays healthy and safe.

When Are Chicks Ready for the Coop?

Chicks are typically ready to head to the coop once they’re fully feathered – usually around 6 to l8 weeks old. Their feathers help the regulate body temperature, which is essential ass spring nights can still be chilly. We like to bring the chicks in groups from their brooder to a smaller coop to get them acclimated to going outside. We were given one from a family member who was moving and had no use for it anymore. It has worked perfect for them. The only thing we needed to add, was a ladder and a couple missing screws.

Temperature Check

Even though the days are warmer, make sure overnight temperatures are consistently above 50°F (10°C). If it’s still dipping below that, consider using a heat source in the coop or waiting a bit longer. Where we live, it is still getting down to around 40°F (4°C) at night so they must return to their brooders each night while we attempt to finish converting an old shed into a yard and coop.

Introducing Chicks to the Flock

If you already have adult chickens, don’t just toss the chicks in and hope for the best. Chickens are territorial and the term “pecking order” was coined for a reason. Instead, try the following steps:

See but don’t touch: Put chicks in a small dog crate or another small pen inside the coop so everyone can see each other without contact for a few days. This will allow the adult chickens and chicks to meet each other while still keeping the little ones safe. Right now, we don’t have adult chickens, but we do have two different groups of chicks that we purchased 3 or 4 weeks apart so we place their box near the other small coop as they do not share a brooder, but they will share coops when they go outside.
Supervised visits: Let them mingle under supervision before leaving them together full-time. This can be quite the undertaking depending on how big the existing flock is and how many chicks you are introducing.
Space matters: Make sure there’s plenty of room to avoid squabbles – crowding causes stress. We prefer allowing our chickens to free range during the day, but for the introduction period, we use the yard that is attached to each coop. We have the most success this way.

Coop Prep Checklist

Draft-free and well-ventilated. Ventilation is important to maintain healthy air quality (allows ammonia to escape easily) as well as regulating temperature and humidity.
Clean bedding, preferably pine shavings. Pine shavings are a popular choice for their absorbency, odor control, ease of composting, insulation, and affordability.
Chick-safe feeder and waterer setup. I recommend a lifted waterer system where you can. This will help prevent debris from ending up in their water.
No gaps or areas where chicks could get stuck or escape. We also have to do a bit of extra security as we live in an area with predatory animals such as owls, hawks and barn cats.

Nighttime Tips:

Baby chicks aren’t always quick to head into the coop at dusk. You may need to guide them in for the first few nights until they get the hang of it. Use a low light or soft voice to coax them in gently. Before long, they will willingly head to the coop and do well with schedules.

The Joy of Growing Up

Watching your chicks explore the coop and start to scratch, peck, and perch like grown hens is do rewarding. We still love to sit and watch them and see their personalities come to surface. With a bit of patience and prep, spring is the perfect time to let your babies spread their wings.