Fabulous and inspiring article! I love the concept of not terrifying the chicks with hands coming down from above.
One thing that might help for things like this (both for articles and comments) is for people to mention their average last frost date. That helps everyone put things in perspective, when talking about outdoor conditions and activities.
I have my very first batch of 32 chicks coming from Cackle Hatchery at the beginning of April (25 CX, 7 Dark Brahmas). My average last frost date in the northern Shenandoah Valley is April 22. With both a heat blanket brooder and a 250w heat lamp, I was going to raise them in the barn, inside a doubled cardboard "Chick Corral" (just a strip of cardboard). I'm going to experiment with it this weekend, but I might run an extension cord out to the coop, and see if I can maintain a stable temperature in there. If I can, the chicks will have a warm brooder that is open on one side, where they can venture out and see the world outside the coop (but still behind hardware cloth). They will also naturally explore the coop as they get bigger and the days get warmer. When they are really comfortable in the coop, I'll hook up the door, so they can go out.
In the meantime, the mess the chicks make will just be the start of the DLM in the coop.
One thing that might help for things like this (both for articles and comments) is for people to mention their average last frost date. That helps everyone put things in perspective, when talking about outdoor conditions and activities.
I have my very first batch of 32 chicks coming from Cackle Hatchery at the beginning of April (25 CX, 7 Dark Brahmas). My average last frost date in the northern Shenandoah Valley is April 22. With both a heat blanket brooder and a 250w heat lamp, I was going to raise them in the barn, inside a doubled cardboard "Chick Corral" (just a strip of cardboard). I'm going to experiment with it this weekend, but I might run an extension cord out to the coop, and see if I can maintain a stable temperature in there. If I can, the chicks will have a warm brooder that is open on one side, where they can venture out and see the world outside the coop (but still behind hardware cloth). They will also naturally explore the coop as they get bigger and the days get warmer. When they are really comfortable in the coop, I'll hook up the door, so they can go out.
In the meantime, the mess the chicks make will just be the start of the DLM in the coop.