Anyone help tell me how old my chicks look

Date sort Score sort
jonathandupree

jonathandupree

Hatching
Oct 24, 2015
3
0
7
I am new to chicken world. I have 5 Rhode Island reds. The feed store wasn't sure how old they were. I got them two weeks ago and they didn't have feathers. Now growing feathers and crown fast. I'm trying to determine if they still need light 24/7.
400
[/IMG]
 
Welcome to BYC
smile.png


They will need supplemental heat until they are fully feathered, meaning they have feathers over their entire body, neck and head. At that point they can regulate their own body temperature. As they get older and more feathered, they will need less heat, so you can raise the heat lamp, and make sure they can move away from it.

Are they in that tub full time? Because that is probably inadequate space for them already, and as they get bigger (which happens VERY quickly!) they will need even more space.

Check out the Learning Center for lots of great information on what your chicks will need

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
 
Last edited:
In a brooder that small, you run a very likely risk of overheating them, which could kill them. Chicks should have 1 sq. foot/bird, minimum. They should be able to get away from the heat to the point that the far end of their brooder is at least as low as room temp. If you see them panting, they are overheated.
 
Your chicks appear to be around three weeks old, maybe a few days less.

You need to get them into a bigger brooder asap. Try to understand the heat needs of baby chicks. They need one spot to warm up and a LOT of room to then get away from the heat or it can kill them, just like standing in front of a camp fire long after you've warmed up will result in burning you.

It does not matter in the least what temperature the rest of the brooder is. It can be 90F under the heat source and 50 degrees or even 15 degrees in the rest of their space. The two most important things are a heat source and then space to get away from it.
 
no they arent in the rubbermaid box i put them there to take photos. they actually have a nice coop on wheels in my shed now under a red light. thanks for the tips.
 
Here is their set up now. Thanks for all the help! Sorry for the red glare on my camera from the red light. They have plenty of room, are off the ground, and I rolled the coop inside my storage shed




 
If they've only got their little wing feathers starting then I'd say about 2-3 weeks as they look similar to my 2week olds? Did the have any feathers when you got them or just fluffy downy feathers? If only the fluffy ones then they were probably just a few days old at that stage.
 

Similar threads

Bigbluefrog
    • Like
Is it just me or are these chicks big for 2 weeks?
Replies
5
Views
696
Bigbluefrog
Bigbluefrog
F
6 Week old Barred Rocks -Sexing
Replies
3
Views
772
NatJ
NatJ
Chicken_Little_AGray
    • Like
Is chick diarrhea normal?
Replies
4
Views
1K
rosemarythyme
rosemarythyme
Bella the Chicken Lover
    • Like
    • Love
How Do I Introduce My Chicks With My Older Flock?
Replies
7
Views
961
Bella the Chicken Lover
Bella the Chicken Lover
Darfingar
Can anyone help identify pullet or cockerel?
Replies
9
Views
813
Party_Chicken
Party_Chicken

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom