Brooder too small

[RebelChief]

Did the chicks arrive yet? Where are the pictures?

Yes, I started a new thread to document their journey. I will update tomorrow with the one week pics....they are growing SO fast.

 

[PerlyBee]

I'm in south south Texas and the weather goes from 80+ down to 30's at any given time depending on if there's a cold front. There can be rain...so far we've had a few torrential rainfalls...but for the most part our winter seems to be pretty moderate. I am prepared for all occasions.

Hi! Im from Mission !! Im also raising my first chickens! Mines are 16weeks now. I had plan to get 4 then 6 but i had to order 15 to get free shipping, sooo they sent 19!! I kept 7 and gave the rest to my dad. Now we are in it together and planning to share our next order in spring.

 

[RebelChief]

Hi! Im from Mission !! Im also raising my first chickens! Mines are 16weeks now. I had plan to get 4 then 6 but i had to order 15 to get free shipping, sooo they sent 19!! I kept 7 and gave the rest to my dad. Now we are in it together and planning to share our next order in spring.

My husband tried to give away some of mine. I still have all 8. Happy chickening.

 

[ValerieJ]

My husband tried to give away some of mine. I still have all 8. Happy chickening.

Oh no! Smack that boy's hands!!!

 

[RebelChief]

Oh no! Smack that boy's hands!!!

. He would NEVER. LOL

 

[Sheltiepawz]

I raised mine just like yours! Same size tank and same brooder plate. I’m also in a hotter climate. I did monitor the temperature with a digital thermometer with the display in the house. I found I had to turn my heat plate to standing week 3. Mine also loved jumping in top of the plate. Poopy mess! I just took their heater out today. They are 5 weeks old as of yesterday. This is our second batch. The first batch was hatched sept 9 and only needed heat for the first week. September was super hot!!!

 

[RebelChief]

I raised mine just like yours! Same size tank and same brooder plate. I’m also in a hotter climate. I did monitor the temperature with a digital thermometer with the display in the house. I found I had to turn my heat plate to standing week 3. Mine also loved jumping in top of the plate. Poopy mess! I just took their heater out today. They are 5 weeks old as of yesterday. This is our second batch. The first batch was hatched sept 9 and only needed heat for the first week. September was super hot!!!

Yep, the top of my heater plate is gross. Everything gets cleaned up next week. I am thinking of moving them into their coop soon. They are just so active and I hate them being all cooped up in there. It's also hard to get them out of the tank with the wire on top and all that. Today when I was in there...one of them was on top of the water dish. Since it's pretty warm and they have their feather's coming in I think they will be ok in there at night. I'll put the warming plate in there with them.

 

[Sheltiepawz]

Yep, the top of my heater plate is gross. Everything gets cleaned up next week. I am thinking of moving them into their coop soon. They are just so active and I hate them being all cooped up in there. It's also hard to get them out of the tank with the wire on top and all that. Today when I was in there...one of them was on top of the water dish. Since it's pretty warm and they have their feather's coming in I think they will be ok in there at night. I'll put the warming plate in there with them.

We used screens from our windows that we are not using right now. Easy on and off! I just starting integrating mine today! They will go out all day starting tomorrow. Come in to brooder at night. They would be out in coop for night if not for older chicks. Our temperature drops tomorrow night to 30s also which makes it necessary to bring them in.

My 12 week olds now were out full time at 5 weeks.

 

[RebelChief]

We used screens from our windows that we are not using right now. Easy on and off! I just starting integrating mine today! They will go out all day starting tomorrow. Come in to brooder at night. They would be out in coop for night if not for older chicks. Our temperature drops tomorrow night to 30s also which makes it necessary to bring them in.

My 12 week olds now were out full time at 5 weeks.

I have some left over hardware cloth that I've bent over the edges to keep them in there.
Since I only have these 8 I think I will brood them in the coop for the rest of their time and let them have outside time in the when it's nice.

 

[ValerieJ]

Yep, the top of my heater plate is gross. Everything gets cleaned up next week. I am thinking of moving them into their coop soon. They are just so active and I hate them being all cooped up in there. It's also hard to get them out of the tank with the wire on top and all that. Today when I was in there...one of them was on top of the water dish. Since it's pretty warm and they have their feather's coming in I think they will be ok in there at night. I'll put the warming plate in there with them.

In Texas weather I think they will do just fine outside.