2019 Newbie Chat!

[BelleHartChicks]

We’re all set up and ready for delivery of 8 day old chicks this week! Here's a picture of our initial brooder. It's a dog kennel with my version of a Mama Heating Pad. It will be located in the extra guest room in our basement.

After the first couple weeks we'll move them to a larger set up in the garage - made from the box of a treadmill we recently purchased. I don't have a picture of the whole thing, but here's Predator #1 checking it out for size...

Albus and I have been having daily chats about tiny fluffy chicks NOT being his personal play things...

 

[Cyprus]

Kitty

 

[KikiRules]

About how big will the brooder need to be for 4 chicks? I have an old Guinea pig hutch that is 3 by 2 feet and 2 feet tall. Will that be big enough? I have Saran Wrap and cardboard for the sides to keep the heat in, and have built a Mother hen heater for the brooder. Will this be big enough?
It should be maintaining 70+ when they are 4ish weeks old, so do I need to find a larger place for them, or will they be able to live outside with heat lamps in a coop?
Thanks!

 

[paneubert]

About how big will the brooder need to be for 4 chicks? I have an old Guinean pig hutch that is 2 1/2 by 1 1/2 feet and 2 feet tall. Will that be big enough?
It should be maintaining 70+ when they are 4ish weeks old, so do I need to find a larger place for them, or will they be able to live outside with heat lamps in a coop?

They can go out with a lamp even earlier if you need them to. 2 1/2 by 1 1/2 feet is not going to be large enough for 4 chicks for very long. How big is the coop?

 

[KikiRules]

They can go out with a lamp even earlier if you need them to. 2 1/2 by 1 1/2 feet is not going to be large enough for 4 chicks for very long. How big is the coop?

It’s a full size 10 by 7 coops with a second level that is about half the bottom coop

 

[paneubert]

Do you have the space to have a bigger brooder inside the house or garage? Many people just tape together some cardboard boxes. You can make a really big brooder with only a few large boxes when you cut them apart and tape them together.

I see you edited your post to mention using a Mother hen heater for the brooder. Even more of a reason to just tape cardboard together to make a large brooder. Much less fire risk to the walls since you are using a Mother hen heater.

 

[KikiRules]

Do you have the space to have a bigger brooder inside the house or garage? Many people just tape together some cardboard boxes. You can make a really big brooder with only a few large boxes when you cut them apart and tape them together.

I see you edited your post to mention using a Mother hen heater for the brooder. Even more of a reason to just tape cardboard together to make a large brooder. Much less fire risk to the walls since you are using a Mother hen heater.

Not much. The garage is really cold this time of year, with nights below freezing. I am keeping them in the tiles laundry room. When I get the chicks, nights may be staying at 40-50, however. Is that warm enough with the heater?

 

[Cyprus]

That is warm enough with the heater

 

[Chickengene]

Hi!
I know that somebody made a newbie chat for 2018 and there is one for 2017.
So, here is one for 2019 new members to share their experiences this year
Feel free to follow or join.
If you're new this year, you can do a few things. You can link your introduction from the new member introductions forum and maybe answer a few questions
Why did you get poultry? What breed(s) did you get? Have you had chickens before?
You can add your location to your profile as well to connect with members near you!

Have a great time,
Cyprus

Got chicks because wife wanted to make a pet of some kind of farm animal, and Dr. Oz said men need an egg a day.
Got three used hens quite by accident, with one being pretty friendly. Not pet friendly but friendly. Purchased two silver lace Wyandottes and two gold lace Wyandottes from local farm burea. Two turned out to be cockerels, and Red Sussex instead of Wyandottes. Re-homed the cockerels and the Wyandottes became the "evil twins".
After a lot of studying, I wanted heritage breed and wife wanted petables. So purchased four Buff Brahma pullets, two Buff Orpington pullets, and two Buff Brahma cockerels. Now we are off to the races.
Never had my own chickens before.
East TN

 

[Chickengene]

I so want some Wyandottes! So pretty but I'm told they're a bit flighty & fliers so I have refrained. I am supposed to keep my fowl contained in my own yard but I already have one escape artiste.

They are great foragers, but mine have never left the immediate area. Usually stay in the unfenced yard. Occasionally go into cow pasture beside my place.