Keeping chicks warm at night

[charlyschicks]

Hi! I'm new to BYC and have only had chickens for a year. I hatched some of my own Americauna eggs in my classroom about a month ago. They have been living in my bathroom, like their parents did for the first five weeks and to keep them safe from my flock of 11--10 hens and one rooster--I put them in an extra large dog crate in the coop today so they can get acquainted. My question is to prevent a fire can I just cover the crate with a blanket at night until they adjust to the temps? It is in the high 70's and low 80's during the day and low 60's at night here in SW Missouri. I have a thick layer of straw on the bottom of the crate. Thank you for your help!

 

[charlyschicks]

Update--I have EE's not Ameraucana...thanks to fellow chicken lovers on this site I now know this! I went ahead and covered my chicks with a blanket--praying they will be okay! Can't risk a fire in the barn... If anyone has any other ideas I would love to hear them!!!

 

[Blooie]

I don't do anything for mine by about 4 weeks old, and they do just fine. The first nights they pile up in a puddle of feathers and beaks to stay warm and for security. I never use a heat lamp. Not ever. I'm just like you - I don't trust them, I don't like the risk of fire, and I believe they keep chicks from experiencing the natural day/night cycles that they'll have to get used to when they do go out. Chicks under a heat lamp just never get enough sleep. Even if one poor little fella dozes off, it's only until another more wide awake chick stomps on him on the way to the feeder or water.

I brood my chicks outside, in a pen within the run. The Bigs and older chicks can see them and they can see and learn from the older birds. By 4-5 weeks they are out of the brooder pen and fully integrated with the entire flock. All I use is a heating pad draped over a metal frame, a towel, and some straw. When the sun goes down they settle in for the night and sleep all night long, raring to go in the morning. They thrive. Oh, and our temps when these babies were outside in the run? A balmy 17 to 23 degrees. It snowed one night when the second batch of chicks was only a few days old. In fact, it snowed sideways with wind gusts of 60 mph. We even lost power out there and didn't realize it until we woke up to the sound of power coming back on. No problems. This system is now being used by a whole lot of people who are having the same results. Here's the thread, if you'd like to see some of the videos.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update

Anyway, I digress. By now and with the comparatively warm nighttime temps you have in your area, your chicks should be absolutely fine be in the crate without that blanket. A blanket works for providing warmth by trapping body heat, and if it's nowhere near their bodies it's not really doing anything except holding in moisture from their breathing, their droppings, and their water and blocking drafts, which they shouldn't have blowing on them anyway. You should be perfectly safe just letting them learn their new surroundings from the safety of their crate until you are comfortable integrating them. These little critters are a lot tougher than we give them credit for, as is evidenced by watching a broody take her little flock out in 20 degree temps and letting them explore. They just dash under her if they get spooked or for a quick warmup, then they're out running all over the place again.

 

[charlyschicks]

Your post was most helpful!!! I love the pics too! I feel so much better about leaving them out for their first night! I have another batch in the incubator and will try your heating pad method for them from day one. It will be even warmer then. Thank you again for the great info and taking the time to help me!! I will look for your pistol in the future!

 

[Blooie]

You are so very welcome! I do apologize for getting a little long winded, but I am so enthusiastic about this method and the success everyone is having with it that I tend to get overexcited!

 

[charlyschicks]

I enjoyed the information! I found out how to follow your post--Hope that's not weird! Lol!!

 

[Blooie]

I enjoyed the information! I found out how to follow your post--Hope that's not weird! Lol!!

Not a bit weird - the more the merrier!

 

[LLBarnes]

Hi! I'm new to BYC and have only had chickens for a year. I hatched some of my own Americauna eggs in my classroom about a month ago. They have been living in my bathroom, like their parents did for the first five weeks and to keep them safe from my flock of 11--10 hens and one rooster--I put them in an extra large dog crate in the coop today so they can get acquainted. My question is to prevent a fire can I just cover the crate with a blanket at night until they adjust to the temps? It is in the high 70's and low 80's during the day and low 60's at night here in SW Missouri. I have a thick layer of straw on the bottom of the crate. Thank you for your help!