12 day old chicks are getting really impatient..."flying" and jumping all over their brooder

[undine]

When is a good time to let them live outside? Today my barred rock Dale managed to jumped all the way to the top of their waterer which is was barely almost 5 inches below the brooder bin. =( t

 

[Fred's Hens]

That's great!! It sounds as if those chicks are flourishing, healthy and full of vigor.

Here's the thing. Those little tub type brooders? When the chicks are a day old and so fragile looking, that little brooder made sense, but boy, oh boy, do they outgrow the smaller brooders quickly. At 3 weeks, chicks have now grown and need lots of room to jump, run and play. I'd suggest a transitional brooder. Maybe find a huge cardboard box, the kind watermellon are sold in, or knock together some pieces of plywood or even be creative an use the box of a utility trailer or whatever.

Having large brooders is a godsend. At 5 weeks, they'll be just fine going to an outside coop, but meanwhile you need to keep them somewhat confined in a pen in the barn, a box in the garage, or similar. This is more for their safety than it is their comfort or need to be indoors. We brood chicks in an outbuilding year round. Enjoy them!!!

 

[RonC]

Figure at least about1.5 sq ft per chick in the brooder. More room is always better. You will understand by the time there are 2-3 weeks old.

 

[drumstick diva]

Once chicks are fully feathered they can go out to the coop - I'm sure in hot weather they can go out sooner but be sure to provide lots of water and shade

 

[donrae]

I'm with Fred. Sounds like they need more space, but 12 days is still pretty young to go in the coop. You need a larger brooder.

 

[undine]

I'm with Fred. Sounds like they need more space, but 12 days is still pretty young to go in the coop. You need a larger brooder.

yea it was pretty obvs the bin brooder was getting too small, dang it! fitting 9 chicks in a 50 gal bin.. sigh was so wrong lol

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

At 2 weeks of age I had to move my chicks out of the plastic tote and into their large wired dog crate. Have fun with those chicks!

 

[RonC]

I would guess it depends on how secure your coop/run is and your weather. Mine went out to the coop at just over 4 weeks and the nightime lows were in the low fifties and mid seventies in the day..

 

[whittychick]

At 2 weeks of age I had to move my chicks out of the plastic tote and into their large wired dog crate. Have fun with those chicks!

What do you mean wired dog crate?

 

[whittychick]

This is me too! I have 7 chicks in a 50 gallon tote with a heating lamp and they are flying everywhere and getting too big!!! Bought a smaller coop for outside to be next to the "big girl hen's" coop...think they're ready? They are 3 weeks old