Introducing Chicks to the Coop and Run

When the chicks are 8 weeks of age, they are now old enough to live outside in the coop and run. It is a very simple transition when introducing the chicks to the coop. There are two ways to do so:
1. We had already built the coop and run when the chicks were only a couple weeks old. So during the eighth week, I let the chicks out for some "play days" for a couple of hours during the afternoon. This will let them adjust to the great out doors smoothly; and its really fun to watch them play around in it too!
2. The other and "easier" way is to just let them out when the time comes and hope for the best. This works fine also, it just depends on how much time you want to spend with them. Be sure to transition them in the afternoon. And check on them often.

You may need to put the chicks in the coop when its dark, since they won't really know where to go for the first night. Have plenty of shavings on the coop floor and in the nesting boxes so they can stay warm-since they may or may not perch at first.
They now use adult feeders, but make sure they are low enough for them to eat out of. You will still need to feed the chicks the starter crumble until 4-5 months. Then you can mix half and half crumble and pellets, until you're out of the crumble, then use only pellets.
Many people have also put the light you used in the chick box to help the chicks stay warmer the first few nights. I didn't do this and they were fine, but they also were all feathered out-no bald spots or fuzz. And the nights in Santa Barbara are very mild.