18 new chicks comin

[chickencrazy21]

I ordered 18 baby chicks from a hatchery here in cali. they will hatch the 25th of this month and come one to two days later in the mail. my question is it it safe to leave them outside in a pen with 6 other chicks. they are about 2 months old. i live in west covina cali so its been warm. and doesnt get too cold at night. whats too cold for chicks? do i need to give them a heat sorce for the day? what about at night do i need to bring them in? can i use a heat pad for heat. like a reptile one? or do i need to bring them in the house under a heat lamp? ive never taken on so many babies at once usually about 6 or so. not 18 at once lol. im excited. these are my current chicks. the pen i will have them in 4 foot by 8 foot and has the very small hardware cloth on it.

 

[3riverschick]

Ah, West Covina, my 'ol stompin' ground! 1967 thru 1970. graduated as a proud Spartan from WCHS in 1969. Lived up on Hillward Ave. I think now it is called S. Hillward Ave.? Ah well, the chicks should be no more than 3 weeks apart in age. Yes, the chicks require heat until they are feathered. About 4-5 weeks old.
Or until their breasts are fully feathered. They should start out at 95 degrees. Then gradually reduce the temperature until it is at about room temp ( 70 degrees) . yeah, I know it is hotter than that in WC right now. But you get the idea. Do keep a thermometer in the brooder with them. And for the heat , in case you get a heat wave, buy the smallest bottle of Bovidr labs Poultry Nutri-Drench at Tractor Supply or your local feed store. http://www.nutridrench.com Poultry instructions: Give each chick one drop only by mouth. Then put 2ml per gallon in their water for the 1st 2-3 weeks. This nutritional supplement doesn't need digesting it mainlines directly into the bloodstream. Great for heat stress r stress of any kind. My solution looks like very weak tea.
You will need 1 sq. ft. per chick in the brooder. What I do is get the grocery to give me a watermelon corral. The ones with the triple thick sides. Don't brood them in the house. sue the garage or something. Lay down a tarp and set the corral on top. Get a bale of the white bale of chips from Tractor Supply. They are hardwood. Not the yellow, they are softwood and stink like turpentine. Put in a raised feeder and waterer. use medicated chick feed by a major brand. Providing chick grit after the 1st 4 days is a good idea. Sprinkle it on their feed for a day or so. Then put it in a separate cup. The idea is for them to recognize the grit as a supplement, not feed itself.
Best,
Karen