Arizona Chickens

[AZTiff]

Inside for 2-3 weeks, then on porch. Too much heat is as bad as not enough. We keep our house fairly warm, so I do not give supplemental heat to the ones inside (this time of year). And obviously not to the ones outside.

I have them in my mb walk-in closet because there is no a/c vent in there. The thermometer was a perfect 90 all day but just now when I went to check on them it was like 85 and they are all huddled together. Now I'm a little worried.

They are 2 weeks old.

 

[City farm]

Well I should NEVER take my 6 year old to look at chicks.  These came from a hatchery in New Mexico and they were a bit of an impulse buy.  The pic is just the box from the store.  The girls are resting/eating/pooping in my master bedroom closet (no animal or child interference) in an freshly cleaned rubbermaid tub covered with a screen.  They happily ate out of my hand! 

They've already pooped everywhere.  How often do you change the "bedding"?

Introducing: Lucy (Rhode Island Red), Ethel (Yellow Leghorn), Sarah & Sally (Black Sex Links), Shelly (Rhode Island Red) and Yolkie (California Gray)

We use a hay that is eatable. Now that they are older they look for the wheat
flower to eat. When they were little 1-2 weeks old we would make the straw
from the hay that had a flower--stand up.. It was so cute to watch them get
interested in something.. We could not let them run free in the yard till it was safe.
So our chicks entertained us..

We changed the hay every three days.. I went to the store & bought some metal
chicken or hamster wire, made a run that we could move around.. We also pinned
the wire in the ground with gardening staples.. They are large enough to steak into
the groung.. They love scratching in the grass and trying to fly around the chicken
run.. We never leave them out their by themselves.. Our border collie, Sammy,
has a job & is having a blast..
Enjoy

 

[City farm]

I have them in my mb walk-in closet because there is no a/c vent in there.  The thermometer was a perfect 90 all day but just now when I went to check on them it was like 85 and they are all huddled together.  Now I'm a little worried.  

They are 2 weeks old.

the temperature at two weeks needs to be at least 95 degrees.
Don't take a chance.. Even if you need to put a warm desk light
in there with them.. Since it is 10 pm right now.. Or go to the Walgreens
and get one of those heat pads.. Put it under a towel.. They will feel the
& get right on top of it.. You could even put a towel over the top
of the box to hold in the heat.
Keep it warm:/

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: NO! At two weeks 85 degrees is the correct temperature. Week one (0-7 days) is 95 degrees. Week two (8-14 days) is 90 degrees. Week three (15-21 days) is 85 degrees. If the birds are two weeks old (14+ days) 85 is correct.

Personally, I go more by how the birds are acting rather than the exact measured temperature. Unless they are too hot, chicks will snuggle together to sleep. Cold chicks peep miserably. If they are quiet and simply snuggling, they are fine. If they are peeping as if miserable, they need additional heat, but given that the measured heat is 85 and that they are at least two weeks old, covering the top of their cage with a towel is probably sufficient. At this time of year it is far easier to bake chicks than to freeze them.

 

[AZTiff]

NO! At two weeks 85 degrees is the correct temperature. Week one (0-7 days) is 95 degrees. Week two (8-14 days) is 90 degrees. Week three (15-21 days) is 85 degrees. If the birds are two weeks old (14+ days) 85 is correct.

Personally, I go more by how the birds are acting rather than the exact measured temperature. Unless they are too hot, chicks will snuggle together to sleep. Cold chicks peep miserably. If they are quiet and simply snuggling, they are fine. If they are peeping as if miserable, they need additional heat, but given that the measured heat is 85 and that they are at least two weeks old, covering the top of their cage with a towel is probably sufficient. At this time of year it is far easier to bake chicks than to freeze them.

They all did beautifully over night...slept in their food bowl together. I only got up 3x to check on them, lol. The closet stayed a consistent 85 and they seemed to be very comfortable.

Just loving them.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: SUPER

A food bowl makes a great "nest" in the eyes of chicklets....I've had little ones decide that it was a great idea, too!

 

[Arizonachicken]

Anyone have any experience with salmon faverolles? I've been thinking about adding some to my flock. Eggs would be great, I always have a broody willing to Incubate for me!

 

[City farm]

NO!  At two weeks 85 degrees is the correct temperature.  Week one (0-7 days) is 95 degrees. Week two (8-14 days) is 90 degrees.  Week three (15-21 days) is 85 degrees.  If the birds are two weeks old (14+ days) 85 is correct.

Personally, I go more by how the birds are acting rather than the exact measured temperature.  Unless they are too hot, chicks will snuggle together to sleep.  Cold chicks peep miserably.  If they are quiet and simply snuggling, they are fine.  If they are peeping as if miserable, they need additional heat, but given that the measured heat is 85 and that they are at least two weeks old, covering the top of their cage with a towel is probably sufficient.  At this time of year it is far easier to bake chicks than to freeze them.

Yes you are more educated than us.. I read from a web site it was 110 the first week
then minus 5 degrees each week.. I agree with listening to the chickens!
That really is best.. Thank you for your correction.

 

[itsredcandy]

Yippy, I love firsts. Today marks the first day I've gotten 9 for 9. 9 Laying Hens / 9 Eggs one of which is a double yolker. I have one hen that lays them regularly, not daily, but a few a week.

 

[Litolbear]

My wife and I purchased chicks from the Ace hardware store in Gilbert on Gilbert rd and Chandler heights