California - Northern

[Chickengirl1304]

question: how long do you keep chicks in the brooder vs. moving them outside?  

my seven are 4 weeks, their bodies are pretty well feathered out but their heads aren't -- but they're getting a bit large/crowded for their brooder, it's almost impossible to keep them from knocking their food over etc.  would love to move them outside, but don't want them to be too cold, and have no electricity down by the coop, so can't keep their EcoGlow with them down there...

As soon as they are fully feathered. Bellies and backs. Start taking away the light gradually, then move them out

 

[Happy Chooks]

question: how long do you keep chicks in the brooder vs. moving them outside?

my seven are 4 weeks, their bodies are pretty well feathered out but their heads aren't -- but they're getting a bit large/crowded for their brooder, it's almost impossible to keep them from knocking their food over etc. would love to move them outside, but don't want them to be too cold, and have no electricity down by the coop, so can't keep their EcoGlow with them down there...

Can't help you there, I brood outdoors in a small coop. They go out a day after they are hatched.

 

[lawatt]

Can't help you there, I brood outdoors in a small coop. They go out a day after they are hatched.

this encourages me! do they have any heat source at all? if not, it might be Moving Day for mine...

 

[chrissyr]

As Promised, the first egg from my Wheaten or Partridge Penedesenca pen:



The egg is 54G, which is bigger than my SG Dorking pullet lays, the pretty white one in the picture.

Beautiful egg! What a wonderful size!

Refrigerating things over night does good stuff with them. Try making Chocolate Chip cookie dough the night before and putting them into the fridge over night.

Enzymes work on the sugars and add that fifth flavor from oriental cooking. Umomi.

Even on baked cakes. A cake lady told me chocolate cake tastes better the 2nd or 3rd day. The flavors deepen.

 

[Lucie Blume]

What lovely looking eggs! I am never used to the beauty of coop laid eggs.

 

[lawatt]

this encourages me! do they have any heat source at all? if not, it might be Moving Day for mine...

they are checking out the new digs -- will see how they fare this evening when it cools off:

 

[Lucie Blume]

Chiquita,

How's your chick doing today?

 

[chiqita]

they are checking out the new digs -- will see how they fare this evening when it cools off:

Make sure they don't huddle so close they smother one another I lost 2 in the garage that way. Maybe put a box with straw th hold warmth?

Chiquita, How's your chick doing today?

She is doing great! She likes her polar bear and mirror. Surprisingly quiet but very alert. She isn't eating yet or drinking but it's very early.

 

[Chickengirl1304]

Haha my pullet that I expect an egg from soon is pacing! I was just watching her for like 15 mins and she kept getting in and out of her box...walking down the bridge and not even getting to the ground before walking right back up to the nest box!

Reminded me of a woman in labor!

Ron says one more week! Poor girl Haha!

 

[lawatt]

Make sure they don't huddle so close they smother one another I lost 2 in the garage that way. Maybe put a box with straw th hold warmth?

they have two nest boxes filled with shavings to choose from -- which they are already hanging out in. there's food & water both up here in the henhouse & down in the run, since i suspect they will take a day or two to venture down into the run... but them seem happy so far!