moving chicks to the coop

Campesina said:

Sorry for your loss Adoravachick. I wish I could clone myself and one of us would sit up all night with the "girls" and a shot gun close by.

Click to expand...

Thanks. The sad thing was, we lost our friendliest birds and our 2 gorgeous white silkies. Even now, all I can do is shake my head. These chicks were our family project and new adventure, so it really was a tough loss.

chicksusie said:

I as well have two chicks that are three weeks old and two that are a little over a week. I was going to move them out to the coop this weekend with the heating lamp. I s this too soon? I live in VT.... I don't mind keeping them in longer but the big box they're in seems like not enough! Also, because we live in a small city and space is an issue,we've had to be very creative! They wont have a yard to run with grass/gravel so we are going to have to buy some. Does anyone know exactly what to get that is best for their digestion etc? I'd appreciate any advice suggestions!

Click to expand...

Seems soon. I am in NY...on a mountain, so our weather is very unpredictable. 70s one day and snowing the next. You may want to give them a chance to feather a little before you put them out. If your heat lamp goes out without you knowing, at least if they have feathers, the babies should still be okay until you visit them in the AM.

chicksusie said:

I as well have two chicks that are three weeks old and two that are a little over a week. I was going to move them out to the coop this weekend with the heating lamp. I s this too soon? I live in VT.... I don't mind keeping them in longer but the big box they're in seems like not enough! Also, because we live in a small city and space is an issue,we've had to be very creative! They wont have a yard to run with grass/gravel so we are going to have to buy some. Does anyone know exactly what to get that is best for their digestion etc? I'd appreciate any advice suggestions!

Click to expand...

I put mine out at 2 weeks old in the spring here in Texas. I think when the young ones are 2 weeks ad have a nice draft free place to go at night they will be just fine. Its a bummer that there's no grass and dirt under their feet. That's the main reason I put mine out so early. If you can find some good green sod at the nursery or plant center I would buy enough to line the bottom of their run from time to time. And if you can get something like an extra large cookie sheet, or something like that, and grow some winter rye grass in them. Let them scratch and graze on that they will be very happy about that. The dirt you grow your grass in or on the sod will have a lot of the gravel they need. You can find chicken grit a t any farm or feed store. TSC has it. Just sprinkle it on their food like salt on your food.

There was a thread recently posted on providing green "grass" for your chickens even if you don't have any. There is some pretty cool information in there. I'm going to try the sprouting system myself. Here's the link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/672466/feeding-sprouts-grass-alternative

TexasLea said:

There was a thread recently posted on providing green "grass" for your chickens even if you don't have any. There is some pretty cool information in there. I'm going to try the sprouting system myself. Here's the link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/672466/feeding-sprouts-grass-alternative

Click to expand...

Yup, just like that. At most bakeries they have these huge baking sheets. If you could get a hold of some of these and grow grass in stages you would have it made.

Guess What?! That's exsactly what I am going to use, bakery trays! I hot glued fabric window screening to it and have seeds soaking now.

TexasLea said:

Guess What?! That's exsactly what I am going to use, bakery trays! I hot glued fabric window screening to it and have seeds soaking now.

Click to expand...

Keep us posted with some pics of your operation.

ButchGood said:

Sevi dust is poison, I wouldn't use it.

Click to expand...

Are you sure? I've seen lots of posts here from people who use it, and even rub their birds with it. This is the first negative I've seen about it, and if thats true, it's important to know. I've been using it for a year, about every three or four weeks I sprinkle a little in their litter and dust bath.

Here is a photo of hardware cloth. It's available in different sizes and gauges, 1/4", 1/2", bigger, and 19 gauge, 23 gauge. (23 is thinner and cheaper).

Gargoyle said:

Are you sure? I've seen lots of posts here from people who use it, and even rub their birds with it. This is the first negative I've seen about it, and if that's true, it's important to know. I've been using it for a year, about every three or four weeks I sprinkle a little in their litter and dust bath.

Click to expand...

It is the least toxic garden chemical you can use. So that's good. But its still toxic.
Read some of these links. http://foodtruthfreedom.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/sevin-dust-is-not-your-garden-friend/
We need to save our pollinators http://chathamchatlist.com/highlights/2008/06/26/sevin-dust-is-highly-toxic-to-honey-bees/
http://www.livingwithbugs.com/sevin.html
and the least disturbing from the government agency U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. I tend to not rely on government information because most of the time there is monetary motives in there statistics. but here you go. http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=19022048