17 degrees this morning. Two week old chicks doing fine.
Drug one of the 3x8 grow out pens into the garage. Large cardboard pieces, a shipping pad or two, nice deep straw inside and the chicks are happy, happy, happy.
After posting this morning, the temperature actually sank to 15F before rising now with the morning sun. No problems. Here they are inside their little hotel.
I won't brood inside, either. I didn't have that small or protected a space for them, but then my climate is a bit warmer than Fred's.... Last time, night temps were 40ish.
We are going to try something similar starting tomorrow.
Thank you.
My chicks won't be a week old until Tuesday.
Do you think I should wait or is it o.k. now?
Some have pasty butt so I can work on that while getting it built.
nice brooder box set up and yeah, I won't be doing this inside again either...once the coop is done, next years little ones will have a part of it all to themselves. Thanks so much to all of you with all of these great ideas!!!
We built a grow out pen like the one in Post 1. Love it. The birds went into it outside at 5 weeks. I did put in a 2nd shelf in the box part so the birds had a choice of sleeping space. And a ramp up to it. When it rains, I have a cheap blue/silver tarp http://tinyurl.com/mm8eumq and those loop bungees with the red ball on the end. ( http://tinyurl.com/mykdejn ) Drape the tarp over the roof and down both sides until about 1 foot from the bottom. I leave the end open and move the feeder back under that tarp. Use the bungees thru the tarp grommets and slip them over long screws I drilled into the sides of the pen/ The Light Sussex youngsters do great! I love the idea and plan to make more.
Best,
Karen in western PA, USA