Alright... So I am thinking I will not be able to get my new chicks tomorrow.. I am SO dissapointed
and the reason is I have nowhere safe at this time to brood. Right now I have two 11 week old pullets in the coop, and they go in the run and/or free range throughout the day. I have a cat who I have to lock in my bedroom whenever the chickens are out until they get a little bigger. Usually I brood the chicks in my bedroom, but have NO clue how to create a 'cat proof' brooder, if that's even possible. I need my bedroom to be held for locking up the cat when my older girls are outside. I don't have any other rooms I can do this in, mostly because I live with a house full of people who do NOT understand the words "DON'T LET CAT OUTSIDE".
I keep going back and forth trying to find a place to brood these chicks where they will be away from my troublesome cat, but at the same time I am worried about them being in the garage or something for the sake of socialization. I wanted them to be where they heard voices and footsteps and got used to smell and sounds of people. Basically, my room needs to stay open for my cat at the moment, so can't brood in there.. I think I may have to wait until I get my new coop before I get these chicks, which brings me to my NEXT question:
I've been avoiding brooding outdoors for the sake of a heat light and fire (big fear of mine). For those of you who brood outdoors or hang a light in your coop, how do you do so? Do you have any problems with fire? Also, if you have any suggestions on where I might be able to brood my chicks that would be great. So far my options are:
Garage
Outside but don't have coop until later on a bit
Maybe I am being dramatic, but I am feeling purty flustered. Juggling animals is hard and the other day I was almost to the point of throwing my hands in the air and calling it QUITS. ::sighs::
I keep going back and forth trying to find a place to brood these chicks where they will be away from my troublesome cat, but at the same time I am worried about them being in the garage or something for the sake of socialization. I wanted them to be where they heard voices and footsteps and got used to smell and sounds of people. Basically, my room needs to stay open for my cat at the moment, so can't brood in there.. I think I may have to wait until I get my new coop before I get these chicks, which brings me to my NEXT question:
I've been avoiding brooding outdoors for the sake of a heat light and fire (big fear of mine). For those of you who brood outdoors or hang a light in your coop, how do you do so? Do you have any problems with fire? Also, if you have any suggestions on where I might be able to brood my chicks that would be great. So far my options are:
Garage
Outside but don't have coop until later on a bit
Maybe I am being dramatic, but I am feeling purty flustered. Juggling animals is hard and the other day I was almost to the point of throwing my hands in the air and calling it QUITS. ::sighs::