Brooding chicks outside?

[callen0912]

I remember reading an article (I think was here actually) about raising chicks outside, even in the middle of winter. I'm considering getting chicks again, and I think they should be fine for me to raise outside right now, high's during the day is mid 80's and generally low's are mid to high 60's, sometimes even low 70's where I live right now. The chicks I'm considering are a little more than a week old, probably closer to two weeks by the time I get them. For those of you who have raised chicks outside, any pointers or tips? Thanks!

 

[azygous]

I think you probably ran across the discussion on "Mama-heating pad for the brooder" thread on this forum. I was one of several who have brooded outside using the heating pad system.

Nothing could be easier. Just choose a quiet corner of your run, fence it off from the adult chickens and rig up your heating pad cave. I suggest you go read that thread from start to present. Those of us who have brooded outside have chronicled our experiences on that thread. I've done it with two batches of chicks since spring. It was getting down in the 30s at night with the first chicks and 50s during the day, and they did great. Blooie, the OP, brooded hers outside when the temps were well below freezing, and her chicks thrived, too.

I just made sure there were no drafts, and it was dry. The baby chicks had their heating pad cave to warm up in and they were zipping in and out and running all over their pen despite it being pretty cold.

As the chicks turned three weeks old, I opened portals from the chick pen into the rest of the run and they began the process of integration. It went so well, I was able to move them into the coop by age four or five weeks, and they were going in on their own within a few days.

The best thing of all was that all the mess was outdoors in the pen where it belonged! You've made the right choice, and I'm certain you won't regret it.

 

[marmca]

Yes, You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors

Irs the true title, I just finished reading it.
this and The adventures of Scout chick that froze his feet off.

 

[Blooie]

I'm delighted that you are interested in brooding chicks outdoors. You certainly won't regret it - I know I don't! I wrote the article, Yes, You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors. I think you'll find that it will answer some of your questions. I also started the thread, Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder which azygous mentioned.. (New computer here with Windows 10, and for some reason it will not let me post links).

azygous also gave you every bit of advice I would have given you. We all use a Sunbeam X-press Heat heating pad that has a function to allow you to turn off the "automatic shut-off" feature. Information on that is on the first couple of pages in the Mama Heating Pad thread. A new member of the Broody Brigade posted a link to a different heating pad, also by Sunbeam, which doesn't have the auto shut off feature at all, and will also turn itself back on in the event of a power outage. That's on the last page. You can also buy the Sunbeam Xpress Heat heating pad at Walmart in a smaller size - still effective, still with the same ability to bypass the auto shut off feature.

Your babies will still need some heat during the cooler evenings. A heating pad cave gives them that, plus they love to lay on top and soak in the warmth! You can fine tune the heating pad much better than a heat lamp as well.

So dive in, join us over on the Mama Heating Pad thread! The only requirement is that you must pay your dues for the Broody Brigade in the form of photos of your set up and, of course, your chicks.

marmca, thanks for chiming in! I hope you enjoyed reading the article about raising chicks outdoors and Scout's story! He was one in a million!