I have 17 chicks in the brooder. They are all between 5-6 weeks old and fully feathered. Some are substantially bigger than others. For example, my FBCM roo is at least twice as big as my Polish pullets. They're in the same type of metal trough type of brooder that Tractor Supply houses the chicks in during Chick Days.
Anyway, I'm torn because they can't stay in the brooder anymore, but I'm worried that some of them are small to move in with the adults in the coop. I say they can't stay in the brooder anymore because they are running out of physical space to move around AND because they're making such a mess in there that it is unhealthy. I fill the waterer (standard 1 gallon poultry) twice a day and fill up their food twice a day as well. They either spill the waterer or get so much poop and shavings in it that it is foul within an hour or two of it being changed. It's causing the inside of the brooder to be completely gross. I cleaned out the brooder so that it was spotless on Sunday night. This morning it was completely gross and smelly again.
Can I move these guys outside? The weather here has been 70-80 during the day and 60's at night. The chicks have not been under a heat source for over a week. I can't imagine keeping them inside much longer.
I just don't want the adults to harm them, of course!
Edited to add a pic from this morning!
Anyway, I'm torn because they can't stay in the brooder anymore, but I'm worried that some of them are small to move in with the adults in the coop. I say they can't stay in the brooder anymore because they are running out of physical space to move around AND because they're making such a mess in there that it is unhealthy. I fill the waterer (standard 1 gallon poultry) twice a day and fill up their food twice a day as well. They either spill the waterer or get so much poop and shavings in it that it is foul within an hour or two of it being changed. It's causing the inside of the brooder to be completely gross. I cleaned out the brooder so that it was spotless on Sunday night. This morning it was completely gross and smelly again.
Can I move these guys outside? The weather here has been 70-80 during the day and 60's at night. The chicks have not been under a heat source for over a week. I can't imagine keeping them inside much longer.
I just don't want the adults to harm them, of course!
Edited to add a pic from this morning!
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