Baby Chicks In The Winter ?

[chickenlover89]

No, not at all. He said to brooder rear them, ie in a brooder with a heat source, until they're feathered. Start pulling the lamp back around 3 weeks.

Where do you live? "Cold" winters can be pretty subjective

Where are you planning to brood your chicks? If you plan to have them in a house or garage, the time of year really doesn't matter as it's fairly temp controlled. If you have them in a less insulated shed or coop, you'll need to be sure they're dry and not windy.

ok, thanks, i have them in a garage, and our winters are probably never higher than 40 degrees, during the day average of 25-35, and night average of 5-18.

 

[karlamaria]

I would do it in the house and use a heat lamp, put them some where out of the places you live, like a basement or extra bathroom or bedroom. I' just added none eggs to my broody hen, she will be my brooder and keep them warm, by the time the snow flies they will be feathered out and ok.

 

[centrarchid]

They will be able to handle your cold once they are past the down stage and kept out of direct wind. Again kept them dry but make certain they have access to quality food and water once challenged with that cold. Also make certain adequate grit present. They are going to be processing food at a prodigious rate to generate heat. Walking on dry straw / hay will limit heat loss through feet. Watch out for heat lamp in the coop, fire hazard can not be overstated. Do not have the messing around in snow until about half grown to control frost bite risk.

With such birds I would actually encourage the business of them roosting in a nest box made of wood that has access on side. Such would locally trap heat. My be smart to place that box in brooder so they can imprint on it. With only 8 chicks, aim heat lamp into nest box but do it so they do not overheat. Then move chicks with nest box into coop. They should roost in it even in new location. By time they move to roost pole which may be delayed, may certain it is wood as well.

 

[chickenlover89]

They will be able to handle your cold once they are past the down stage and kept out of direct wind. Again kept them dry but make certain they have access to quality food and water once challenged with that cold. Also make certain adequate grit present. They are going to be processing food at a prodigious rate to generate heat. Walking on dry straw / hay will limit heat loss through feet. Watch out for heat lamp in the coop, fire hazard can not be overstated. Do not have the messing around in snow until about half grown to control frost bite risk.

With such birds I would actually encourage the business of them roosting in a nest box made of wood that has access on side. Such would locally trap heat. My be smart to place that box in brooder so they can imprint on it. With only 8 chicks, aim heat lamp into nest box but do it so they do not overheat. Then move chicks with nest box into coop. They should roost in it even in new location. By time they move to roost pole which may be delayed, may certain it is wood as well.

thank you!

 

[Fred's Hens]

We have a "window of brooding opportunity", that is reasonable. Getting chicks in early September means they are feathered out in time for the bitter cold of winter and will do well in the coop. Personally, that's about the latest, for our climate. Then, one must wait until March. Brooding in March means they will be able to go to the coop by the end of April, which is still plenty cool at night up here. Effectively? For us? Chicks from late September through early March is just not possible or practical. YMMV.

 

[chickenlover89]

We have a "window of brooding opportunity", that is reasonable. Getting chicks in early September means they are feathered out in time for the bitter cold of winter and will do well in the coop. Personally, that's about the latest, for our climate. Then, one must wait until March. Brooding in March means they will be able to go to the coop by the end of April, which is still plenty cool at night up here. Effectively? For us? Chicks from late September through early March is just not possible or practical. YMMV.

thank you so much.

 

[chickenlover89]

I wouldn't do it personally, but I've never tried it to be able to say for sure that you would have casualties in an area with cold winters.

I recently bought a Brinsea ecoglow 20 and absolutely love it. It uses significantly less electricity and the chicks seem to like having the place to snuggle. It seems more natural to me. I like it a lot better than the heat lamps. Good luck with your chicks whatever you decide.

where did you get your Brinsea ecoglow 20? and can i see some pics of it and how you use it?

 

[Dahlisgrams]

I got the Ecoglow 20 directly from Brinsea. I used the coupon code "whisper" minus the quotations, in lower case letters, and got 10% off my order. The code may still work as I just placed the order last week. Here is a photo I took just a few minutes ago. They were sleeping until I turned the light on. I am so happy with this purchase and can recommend it without reservation. I have it lower on one side and the shavings covered with paper towels so that I can keep it a bit cleaner. Hope this helps!

 

[karlamaria]

I got the Ecoglow 20 directly from Brinsea. I used the coupon code "whisper" minus the quotations, in lower case letters, and got 10% off my order. The code may still work as I just placed the order last week. Here is a photo I took just a few minutes ago. They were sleeping until I turned the light on.  I am so happy with this purchase and can recommend it without reservation. I have it lower on one side and the shavings covered with paper towels so that I can keep it a bit cleaner. Hope this helps!

that is adorable!

 

[karlamaria]

We have a "window of brooding opportunity", that is reasonable.  Getting chicks in early September means they are feathered out in time for the bitter cold of winter and will do well in the coop.  Personally, that's about the latest, for our climate.  Then, one must wait until March.  Brooding in March means they will be able to go to the coop by the end of April, which is still plenty cool at night up here.  Effectively?  For us?  Chicks from late September through early March is just not possible or practical.  YMMV.

not really possible here either, but I put 12 eggs under my girl last night and know she will do fine with them under her. I did it because it is the end of the season for us and I did not want to brood in the house and try to integrate during the winter months. So mom will do it for me and I'm only keeping 2, the rest when mom weans them will go to a friend .