7th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2016 Hatch-A-Long

[Pensmaster]

I have 2 red sex-link that are very friendly so i'm good with not spoiling these stinky little guys. I drove out and turned my high beams on AND used my Dewalt 12 v flashlight to make sure i didn't miss any boogie men lol. But i do think i have mice or a rat, digging under the concrete around my coop, coming in and helping itself to whatever it can find to eat. Gonna have to deal with that tomorrow.

Just got back from checking on mine. Yep they were under the light that had gone out due to timer and not under plate. They weren't cold yet so left lights on in barn with their lid/blanket a little ajar hopefully now they will go to the plate. I may have the light too far from plate. Flashlight is back on charger. What I don't want to see is two eyes shining back at me. I think skunks also like to dig under things. At least that is what I see around here.

 

[chattery41]

Oh no. I smelled a skunk a couple nights ago that was REAL close. Gonna have to check things out tomorrow in the light. Well gotta be up at 0530 so i'm gonna say goodnight. GOOD NIGHT !

 

[ronott1]

Just got back from checking on mine. Yep they were under the light that had gone out due to timer and not under plate. They weren't cold yet so left lights on in barn with their lid/blanket a little ajar hopefully now they will go to the plate. I may have the light too far from plate. Flashlight is back on charger. What I don't want to see is two eyes shining back at me. I think skunks also like to dig under things. At least that is what I see around here.

Mine are under two brooder plates--a brinsea and a Premier1. They are figuring out the auto chick water fountain too!

Doing well but when the light goes out I will have to make sure they go under the brooder plate.

 

[Peep_Show]

How about putting a nightlight out there?

 

[ronott1]

How about putting a nightlight out there?

I like them to sleep--If they get under the brooder they will be fine and I only have to check on them for a day or so since it is a new place. They love it out there though! Such happy chirping.

Usually even in the winter they stop using the brooder plate by the second or third week. They seem more cold hardy when raised under the brooder plates then under a light. It is very similar to being raised by a broody.

What will happen is I will go out in the morning to check on them and they will all be on top of it! There is no heat on top.

Silly Chickens!

 

[Pensmaster]

Oh no. I smelled a skunk a couple nights ago that was REAL close. Gonna have to check things out tomorrow in the light.  Well gotta be up at 0530 so i'm gonna say goodnight. GOOD NIGHT !

Night

 

[Pensmaster]

Mine are under two brooder plates--a brinsea and a Premier1. They are figuring out the auto chick water fountain too!

Doing well but when the light goes out I will have to make sure they go under the brooder plate.

I turned my light back on and moved the plate to them. Try again tomorrow to see if they can get the hang of it

 

[Pensmaster]

How about putting a nightlight out there?

Night light is a great idea thanks. I'll try it tomorrow. Mean time I've turned light back on with plate moved closer.

 

[Cynthia12]

I've just started turning the heat lamp off in this brooder inside, now have a pipped egg from my Bubba's eggs. Only 4 in this batch. I will need to think about putting these outside, at least two of them. Uggums is getting big..and so is the SG. They could go out into the nursery, not sure about the little silikies though...although..they do think of Uggums as mama. They snuggle up under her when I turn this light off. I just may try putting them out..watch how they do during the day. If they act like they aren't happy, like just standing straight under the light, just peeping away, then I will have to bring them back in. Not as cold as that really cold spell we had.
I am like ron, I like them to become cold hardy, like I am doing with the marans and OE's I just hatched before this hatch a long. I have them outside with a light, but, I leave the tarp open part way so it won't heat up real warm in there. They are doing well. If they keep doing well, not sleeping near the light..I'll just turn it off, and let them cuddle up together, there are six, and they are fully feathered.

 

[Pensmaster]

I've just started turning the heat lamp off in this brooder inside, now  have a pipped egg from my Bubba's eggs. Only 4 in this batch.  I will need to think about putting these outside, at least two of them.  Uggums is getting big..and so is the SG.  They could go out into the nursery, not sure about the little silikies though...although..they do think of Uggums as mama. They snuggle up under her when I turn this light off.  I just may try putting them out..watch how they do during the day.  If they act like they aren't happy, like just standing straight under the light, just peeping away, then I will have to bring them back in.  Not as cold as that really cold spell we had. 
 I am like ron, I like them to become cold hardy, like I am doing with the marans and OE's I just hatched before this hatch a long.  I have them outside with a light, but, I leave the tarp open part way so it won't heat up real warm in there.   They are doing well. If they keep doing well, not sleeping near the light..I'll just turn it off, and let them cuddle up together, there are six, and they are fully feathered. 

I'm glad it's not as cold also. I like to leave light off at night. I think I turned it off to quickly and they did not know which way to go to get to the plate. The night light on another timer might give them the opportunity to get to the plate in time. I had been turning light off in their box while they were in the house but leaving the room light on till they got under plate then turned room light off. They'll get used to it soon. None of them were cold last I checked. That's three times to the barn tonight.