Raising the Galaxies

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 14th.
SOMEHOW I ENDED UP A DAY BEHIND.

430am the coop temp is 35. I turn the lights on and everyone comes out stretches their wings (this is my favorite)
They all zoom around and flap and flutter and fly from here to there... it literally is like they've been cramped up all night and they FINALLY can stretch lol. Outside temp is 32 degrees with a prediction of possible snow coming. Since the Galaxies are bigger, I am not worried abt the snow.

Snow never came, a few flurries but no snow! The Galaxies are spending the day hanging out in the coop. Coop is abt 40 degrees. Outside temp is 38 degrees.

I put the netting over their run today and opened the Galaxies door to the outside. A few ventured out but not many walked past that piece of plywood (that I need to pick up lol) outside temp is 38 degrees. Coop temp was 45 degrees.

Night check on the Galaxies coop temp is 43 degrees outside temp is 38 degrees. Everyone is tucked in and ready for sleep.

They are using their heat boards still sometimes throughout the day and then all night long. It's what I expect. I do wonder though if they will wean theirselves off?? or do I wait till they are too big to fit under them?? Or do I start turning it off during the day around wk 4??
Low tonight will be 26 degrees.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They are using their heat boards still sometimes throughout the day and then all night long. It's what I expect. I do wonder though if they will wean theirselves off?? or do I wait till they are too big to fit under them?? Or do I start turning it off during the day around wk 4??
Low tonight will be 26 degrees.

With your temperatures right now I'd expect them to still be relying on their heat source until maybe 5, 6 weeks. You should be seeing them using it less and less though, but they still take some comfort from being near it, so to wean them off when the time comes you could turn it off and then leave it in with them a few extra days, or you can simply remove it at that time (they'll get over it).

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

With your temperatures right now I'd expect them to still be relying on their heat source until maybe 5, 6 weeks. You should be seeing them using it less and less though, but they still take some comfort from being near it, so to wean them off when the time comes you could turn it off and then leave it in with them a few extra days, or you can simply remove it at that time (they'll get over it).

Thank you for the tips!!!

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

I thought I'd post some pics of their coop and run...

I leave their coop like the first picture most days.

I made that door with the intention of brooding inside the coop. So i could allow more natural light and ventilation into the coop than what came from the ventilation above.

I had to add some wood onto the bottom of the door when we moved the Galaxies from their brooder box to the coop floor. It was not something I considered bc I thought they'd last longer in the brooder box.

The wood will eventually come off.

I just netted their run yesterday, but we need to add more "lifting boards" (we need to add more boards to raise the net up)

Their run is fenced with hardwire cloth with electric running along the outside bottom.

alas...this is the Chicken Chalet.
The Galaxies will grow to enjoy their 620sq foot run...eventually lol

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 15th. Morning check on the Galaxies revealed the same as every other morning for the last wk. Galaxies see the light, Galaxies get all excited and run all over the place .

The coop temp this morning is 30 degrees. I think this is the lowest the coop has been since I've gotten the Galaxies. Light frost on the ground outside and you can see your breath inside and outside of the coop.

Galaxies are acting just like every other morning as far as I can tell.

Lights are on and their door is open to their screen door.


Checked on Galaxies. They are all happily moving around and eating. Coop temp is 52. Outside temp is 41. Sun is shining and it's a beautiful day.

Outside temp is 48 degrees and the Galaxies are venturing outdoors, supervised. Coop temp is 55 degrees. They played abt 45 min, running back and forth.


Went out and hung some bells up as boredom busters. The Galaxies seem timid around them as they do with anything new.
Coop temp is reading 60 degrees, outside temp is 52 degrees.

Let the Galaxies run around outside for another 45 min or so. Kids held some of them but, I don't chase them down, but I just sit with them, and let them do their chicken thing. I am hoping one day they will enjoy my company but I do not wanna force that on them. I am happy bringing their food and sitting with them.

Everything I've read abt their personality tells me when they get used to me and get a bit older they will enjoy attention.

Washed the heat cave cover, and laid out new bedding for them.

They've gone through their first 50lb bag of food. It took abt 2.5 wks. Grant it they waste some of it too....

Night check, all is well. Everyone looks well fed and are slowly tucking theirselves in for the night. Coop temp is 50 degrees. Outside temp is 47 degrees. Low tonight will be 35 degrees.

The Galaxies are handling the temp swings like champs. We have some colder days coming up this wkend that I am not looking forward to, but I do believe the Galaxies will be fine.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

I love this! You can't ever know what will happen till you try it. Most definately the successes are awesome but the learning experience gained from losses are also a win! I look forward to seeing how it goes! (I'm originally from Central Illinois so I have idea the cold you're talking about!)

Please stay and follow along, any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks for the kind words!

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 16th. 430am morning check. Galaxies are all accounted for. Coop temp is 45. Outside temp is 42 degrees. The Galaxies have their light on and they are running around wild and crazy, and I love it!

Went out to check on the Galaxies, all are well. Decided tomorrow imma let them start running on normal daylight hours. I'll open their coop like I do my bigs before work and close it up at sundown. The Galaxies will not be able to leave their coop before 330pm as i have to work...but they will get some sunlight!

Coop temp is 63, outside temp is 58. Let the Galaxies run around outside for abt 45min. They sure are venturing futher and further away from the coop. The seemed to enjoy their time even though it's a bit breezy out. Rain started to fall, so I scooted them back into the coop..

Heat boards were off for 2 hrs today just to cool off. Galaxies seemed unphased by the lack of heat as they are all over their coop. Went out to turn them back on and sat with them in the coop for abt 40 min or so.

Coop temp dropped to 55 with the rain. Outside temp is 51 with more rain on the way.

Galaxies are stuck in their coop for the rest of the day.

Night check coop temp is 55 degrees. Outside temp is 51 degrees. Low tonight is 33 degrees. All the Galaxies are tucked in but not under the boards, but happy. They always start like this and by morning they all seem to have made their way under the boards.

Goodnight little ones!

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 17th.
Morning check happened at 230am. I had to be at work at 3am. All is well. Coop temp is 55 degrees, outside temp is 52 degrees. It would appear more rain is coming perhaps. I left their door open so they can get natural light when the sun comes up.

It's chilly today, temp is 36 degrees outside. Coop temp is 42. Lunch check proves that the Galaxies can handle these temps...which is what I figured. When I went back to check on them most (all but 3) were out from under the boards...playing and running around. I think one even pecked at the bells I hung the other day

After work check, coop is 47 degrees outside temp is 44 degrees. I decided to let the Galaxies run amuck outside. They were hilarious . Finding worms too big to eat and chasing each other. I must have watched them do it for abt 30 min or so

They are all high energy!! I love it it tells me they are all happy and healthy. Eating well, drinking lots and being little chicks!!

I let the Galaxies in the run again around 630. Just giving them a little more time to explore! They love it so much and I love watching them!!!

Temp outside is 44 degrees. Feels like 33 degrees with the wind blowing. The Galaxies don't seem to mind the slight breeze, nor the tempature. I think they are feathering pretty well, and definetly seem fairly acclimated.

Night check on the Galaxies. Same as always, tucked in and ready for bed!!!

Coop tempature is 42 degrees. Outside temp is 40 degrees. Low tonight will be 27.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 18th.
HAPPY 3WKS GALAXIES
(Ummm note to anyone reading this...I messed up on thier age somehow..tbh I am still unsure if I got it right The chicks came into Rural King on Thursday or Friday, Feb 23th or 24th. I am doing thier wks on Friday. Which would put them at 3wks yesterday (which I also always do here on Saturday ) so 3Wks not 4 ...)



I had to be at work at 230. Hubby will unlock the Galaxies for me and check on them. Outside temp is 27 degrees.

Hubby filled the Galaxies waters that I cleaned out last night, and opened their door to the screen door. He said everyone is up and active, doing just fine. Outside temp 27 degrees still. I forgot to ask him to grab the coop temp when he went out.

Lunch check!! It is windy out and 29 degrees, but sunny too lol
Coop temp is 40 degrees.

After work check. Let the Galaxies out of their coop. Coop temp is 41 degrees, outside temp is 31 with a real feel of 20 degrees. I don't have wind blocks on this run but the Galaxies aren't minding at all.

I am watching to see how much their feathers are blowing, but they are hardly moving. I am sure the ground is cold on their feet, but they do know where to go get warm, and I know a momma hen would have her babies out today. We played maybe 15 min or so and back in I shooed them. It is a little chilly

Even when shooed inside the coop, only some ran for the heat boards..the others ate, drank, and ran around the coop pretty darn merrily.

I am encouraged by their height against the 5 gallon bucket and their ability to peck EVERYTHING . I am gonna try to transition them to a nipple waterer.

Went back out to check on the Galaxies. It is COLD. Coop temp is 35 degrees. Outside temp is 29 degrees. They were out eating and drinking when I left them.

One last check before bed time. Coop is still 35 degrees, but the temp outside has dropped to 28 degrees. Some of the Galaxies have their feathers fluffed up, but they are also standing ON the heat boards instead under them . I just figure they are warm enough. No one is saying otherwise.

Night time check. The Galaxies are all out of their cave, but I have a feeling they will be tucked in soon enough. Coop temp is 31 degrees. Outside temp is 26 degrees with a low of 22 tonight. One more cold night tomorrow then we will consistently be in the 50s and 60s with lows in the 40s at night.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

March 19th.
I checked the Galaxies before leaving for work at 130am. They are all tucked under their heat cave. They poked their heads out when they saw the light, but I quickly shut it off. I couldn't catch the coop temp, but outside temp is 26 degrees. My husband will put their water out and open the sliding door at 630am.

Husband went out and opened the door. He said the coop temp is 30 degrees. Outside temp is 22 degrees. He text to tell me they were all up moving around eating and drinking!


Took a half a day at work and came home early. Galaxy check! Coop temp is 39, outside temp is 28, feels like 21. I opened the screen door to let them out into the run. My pup river met the Galaxies through the fence. They didn't phase him, and he didn't phase them...

Let the Galaxies run outside. They enjoyed it. Coop temp is 49 degrees outside temp is 36, real feel 30 degrees. I showed them the nipple waterer. I do believe they are strong enough to do it, but I'll show it to them a few more times before making it their only water source.

Let the Galaxies out of the coop again for a short time. Coop temp is still 49 degrees outside temp is 39 degrees with a real feel of 35. The Galaxies just love being outdoors!!! I love watching them run around!!! They are looking naked in some spots, but their feathers are coming in pretty decently I think. I am anxious to see their changes in the upcoming weeks!!! I love watching them grow!

Night check. Coop temp is 41 degrees outside temp is 35 degrees. Low tonight is supposed to be 25. Coop is all shut for the night. Galaxies are getting theirselves tucked in.