Brooding day olds outside? Please help asap.

[Texaschickie85]

Edit: i live in texas and day time temps will be 100 all month and night time will be 75-80

Need help from hatching or brooding pros! I’ll try to keep this short but bear with me.

Yesterday my friend and I ordered 50 chicks (many more than ive wvee cared for before) from a hatchery. In the shipping info it says “you will receive your shipping date within 10 business days” so I was thinking it would be a bit before they told us the shipping date and at least a few weeks til shipping. This evening they emailed me the shipping date and it’s tomorrow!!!! I was wondering if anyone has kept brand new chicks outside for brooding? I have an extra coop that would be perfect but I usually brood them in my shed, which would be too hot right now. Will they be okay outside? Day time temp should be perfect and I was going to put a light very high above them for night time. I thought I had more time for reswarching this but now I have til tomorrow morning!! Any advice appreciated!!

 

[Unexpected chicken lover]

The temp sounds good if it doesn't get any hotter. Is your coop really predator proof? That would be my main concern brooding them outside

 

[Pork Pie]

Where I live, the night time temps are around 70F all year. I find that chicks only need a heat source for no more than 7 nights (none during the day) and I begin to reduce the duration the heat source is turned on after day 3.

Your plan seems fine to me. The best way to know if your chicks are to cool or warm is to observe them. If they huddle together and chirp, they are too cold. Spread out as far away from the heat source as possible, beaks gaping and they are too warm.

Good luck

 

[Texaschickie85]

The temp sounds good if it doesn't get any hotter. Is your coop really predator proof? That would be my main concern brooding them outside

The whole thing is made of chicken wire and wood, and the bottom two feet are wrapped in that square 1/2 inch wire cloth. I’ve never lost a chick to a predator out of if since I added the wire cloth at the bottom. So I think so?

 

[Texaschickie85]

Where I live, the night time temps are around 70F all year. I find that chicks only need a heat source for no more than 7 nights (none during the day) and I begin to reduce the duration the heat source is turned on after day 3.

Your plan seems fine to me. The best way to know if your chicks are to cool or warm is to observe them. If they huddle together and chirp, they are too cold. Spread out as far away from the heat source as possible, beaks gaping and they are too warm.

Good luck

Thank you. If it was too warm is there anything I can do besides bring them inside? If the were hatched my a hen outside in this heat what would happen? Also I have two broody hens, should I put them in with the chicks?

 

[Unexpected chicken lover]

If you keep them in the enclosed "coop" portion it sounds safe...is there goid ventilation? With temps that high I would be worried about them getting too hot in a couple weeks but chicks always prove to me that they're stronger and more adaptable than meets the eye.
I've never brooded outside, I'm just overly cautious so I understand you wanting advice. I agree where u normally brood would be way to hot so the coop may be your only option

 

[Pork Pie]

Thank you. If it was too warm is there anything I can do besides bring them inside? If the were hatched my a hen outside in this heat what would happen? Also I have two broody hens, should I put them in with the chicks?

Removing the heat source will likely suffice but I've never had to deal with that issue , so I can't advise further.

Keep the broody hens away from the chicks. It would not end well.

 

[Unexpected chicken lover]

Thank you. If it was too warm is there anything I can do besides bring them inside? If the were hatched my a hen outside in this heat what would happen? Also I have two broody hens, should I put them in with the chicks?

It depends on how long they have been broody and their personalities or dispositions whether they would adopt them. I've never dealt with a broody but I've read it can be good or bad...that's a lot of chicks for those moms though. You're right about them being hatched outside...didn't think of that. I suppose just provide fresh cool water as often as possible

 

[Texaschickie85]

Thank y’all so much. My broody hens are both bantam Cochins so they’re tiny and probably wouldn’t be of much help anyways. I’ll let you guys know how it goes.

 

[Unexpected chicken lover]

Best of wishes!!

Oh, and pictures plz!