Brooding chicks outside in coop

[peepers93]

So I have 5 Salmon Faverolles chicks. They're around a week and a half old. I will be buying 6 more chicks hopefully today or tomorrow (waiting on TSC to get another shipment in). I have them inside currently, and I keep a heat lamp on for them with just a regular light bulb for a little extra heat just in case. (Where they are isn't air conditioned, but it's still cool in there sometimes.) Our outside temps have been 85-90 here lately (it's a cold spell for our area lol) and a couple nights its dropped into the 60s. I really want to get these guys out of the house. I'd like to put them in a brooder out in the coop, but I'm terrified to put a heat lamp out there. We had a heat lamp fire last year in our dog houses (the dogs weren't hurt just for the record!) and so needless to say I'm not exactly comfortable using them now. Any suggestions/advice? I can keep them inside if need be, I'd just rather not deal with the dust again.

 

[centrarchid]

Place a box in brooder that is overturned with bedding in it. Verify chicks using it after dark.

 

[peepers93]

Place a box in brooder that is overturned with bedding in it. Verify chicks using it after dark.

Would that keep them warm enough if the temperature did get down into the 60s?

 

[LadyCluck77]

If you have an electric outlet in or near your coop, I highly recommend a heating plate, such as the Brinsea eco glow or the Premier brand chick plate. There is no fire risk, and it will add enough heat just in case your temps dip low. The chicks snuggle underneath it, it mimics the instinct they have to go under a mother hen. They can be a bit pricey, but cared for, they will last many years brood after brood.

 

[peepers93]

If you have an electric outlet in or near your coop, I highly recommend a heating plate, such as the Brinsea eco glow or the Premier brand chick plate. There is no fire risk, and it will add enough heat just in case your temps dip low. The chicks snuggle underneath it, it mimics the instinct they have to go under a mother hen. They can be a bit pricey, but cared for, they will last many years brood after brood.

I don't have any outlets in the coop, but I can run an extension cord. I'll look into to those, thanks.

 

[GranolaGirl72]

I would second either the plate, or go the less pricey route and use a heating pad over the box. You want a short box so that it almost touches their backs. Great information on here about Mama Heating Pad MHP. We put ours over an upside-down dish drainer that we cut the front off of. No lamps, raised 2 rounds of chicks this way, all survived. Good luck!

 

[lazy gardener]

Ditto above suggestions. You might want to read Blooie's article and thread about heating pad brooding. You can also do a thread search regarding: huddle box and wool hen. Your second group of chicks should do well with the first group. You might want to keep the newbies separate till they are running around and eating well, then put them together. Brooding outside is definitely the way to go. I'd be more concerned about too much heat rather than not enough given your climate tendencies, and the age of the chicks. Chicks that aren't well feathered will also have more difficult with extreme heat IMO. Welcome to BYC, and enjoy!

 

[Birdinhand]

I would second either the plate, or go the less pricey route and use a heating pad over the box. You want a short box so that it almost touches their backs. Great information on here about Mama Heating Pad MHP. We put ours over an upside-down dish drainer that we cut the front off of. No lamps, raised 2 rounds of chicks this way, all survived. Good luck!

the MHP is the way to go, there is no longer a need to use heat lamps, they are overkill, dangerous and not all that healthy for the chicks.

 

[peepers93]

I would second either the plate, or go the less pricey route and use a heating pad over the box. You want a short box so that it almost touches their backs. Great information on here about Mama Heating Pad MHP. We put ours over an upside-down dish drainer that we cut the front off of. No lamps, raised 2 rounds of chicks this way, all survived. Good luck!

That sounds like a good idea! Cheaper is always better too lol. Thank you for the info, I'll definitely look into it.

 

[peepers93]

Ditto above suggestions. You might want to read Blooie's article and thread about heating pad brooding. You can also do a thread search regarding: huddle box and wool hen. Your second group of chicks should do well with the first group. You might want to keep the newbies separate till they are running around and eating well, then put them together. Brooding outside is definitely the way to go. I'd be more concerned about too much heat rather than not enough given your climate tendencies, and the age of the chicks. Chicks that aren't well feathered will also have more difficult with extreme heat IMO. Welcome to BYC, and enjoy!

Thank you! And yes, I'm also worried about the heat. I'm in Alabama, summer is always crazy hot and humid here. My first batch of chicks were raised in one of those big plastic totes indoors, but I was actually thinking about using a wire cage when I put these guys out in the coop so the older chickens can see them, and so they would have more air circulation. Maybe with a smaller box inside it with a heating pad for nighttime?