can you raise the chicks in your house?

[Kittymomma]

You can, but I wouldn't--Well, I never, ever, ever, never will again! Using pine pellets for bedding is less dusty then shavings, but it's still horrible. It's not so much keeping the brooder clean that is the problem, it's the amount of dust and dander that that many chicks will create. Last time I did it we only had six and my son wanted to brood them in his room so he could handle them a lot so they'd be friendly. It was a good idea for friendly chicks, but a huge dusty mess for everything else. I saw a previous poster said that they did it on wire and that may work better, I've never tried it but at least it would cut down on the dust from the bedding though you'll still have to deal with the dander.

Do you have a garage or other secure outbuilding that you could brood them in instead? If you get them now they'll start laying first thing in the spring so that is a major + in my opinion.

 

[SassyKat6181]

I got my first batch of 12 chicks in mid September, wanting to raise them through the winter and have eggs by spring. I started them in the house, thinking that my 3 yr old son and myself could handle them often and keep a close eye on them. It was great, until they were about 3 weeks old.....I couldn't take the dust any longer! I kept the shavings clean, but once they start scratching around and the feathers started coming in, there was a fine white dust EVERYWHERE. I might get more chicks in the spring, and they will be brooded in the coop. These girls are almost 5 weeks now and I have the brooder lamp in the coop with them. It's about 24" off the ground. They run around the coop and go under the light when they need to warm up.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

i think it depends totally on how clean you expect them to be. There WILL be the dust that everyone has mentioned. It WILL drive you crazy the older they get. If you can tolerate that, it's a great idea! I think that 18 of them at 5 weeks will need at least 5x10 area. I had 7 in a 3x4 for 6 weeks and I considered it crowded by that time. Also, you will need to COVER the coop because they will be jumping by 3 weeks or so. Covering also is mandatory for dealing with the dust.
Go for it, just be aware of the problems!

 

[centrarchid]

I am doing it now raising four dominique chicks indoors. When they are about 6 weeks old they will be moved out side even though it will be middle November. Prior to taking out chicks will be acclimated to a 10-gal Tupper-ware container filled 1/3 with wheat straw and laid on side. Acclimation process takes place in brooder. At night heat lamp turned of and chicks placed in container. Just a couple nights and they will figure out huddling in box warmer. Then, on warm night transfer container with chicks to coop. Make certain adequate food and water to keep their metabolisms going. Also ensure the chicks going to container to roost for first couple nights. Protect from wind and rain. More chicks can help keep everyone warm but increase risk of some being smoothered so be wary of that, especially on cold nights immediately following transfer. Keep them fed when cold, otherwise they are much tougher about low temperatures than most people think.

 

[Baralak]

I have 4 1 week old seramas in a canary cage now..lol.. once they hit about 3 weeks we will move them to a larger cage until they feather out completely. Then they get moved to the outside. Since they are so small I think it is best to leave em inside till 5 or 6 weeks. Plus I'm in Louisiana so it doesn't get toooooo cold, but when it does.. WOW.

 

[GothChick]

I have personally never had problems with the dust or dander. I keep all of my young birds and chicks in large 55 gallon or more glass tanks with screen lids. I had some left from my reptiles. They are a bit more expensive then other brooders but they work great and trap and dust. I currently have 26 2 week old standard chicks in a 75 gallon tank and 25 week old bantam chicks in a 40 gallon tank in my bedroom. LOL! The older birds are kept in a "chicken room" in my basement.

 

[wildeflowers]

I usually brood them in the house for a couple of weeks, then I move them out to the garage. Usually after those first few weeks, the dust and dander get to be too much and I find that it's easier to keep things clean and give them space in another spot.

Of course, the furnace filter thing is a really good idea. I usually use old window screens.

 

[gryeyes]

Yes, there is dust. No, there isn't really smell if you use the deep litter method with pine shavings - just start the chicks on that rubbery shelf line over the pine shavings for the first couple days until they know where to get their food. Then take out the shelf liner. Add more pine shavings as time goes on.

I brood all my chicks in the house, in my only bathroom. Bathrooms are easier to clean than most other rooms. But I just wipe down the dust and toss the washrag into the washer (washer/dryer also in bathroom).

I have 12 little chicks in one brooder right now, about 2-3 days old, and 6 three-week old chicks in another brooder.

 

[Kassaundra]

I am also a first timer and am in the middle of the great dust bowl!!!!

We decided to brood our girls inside and it has been quite the adventure!!!! The dust can't be overstated. If you are a neat freak don't even do it, if you can come to terms w/ it being a few weeks out of your life then go for it. We have loved having them in the house, constant access, seeing then grow and develope has been great, but at 4 wks (22 chicks) we are speeding up our plans for outdoors and plan to have them out by this week w/ a heat lamp of course since they are still a bit young. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything, but will be glad to have my house back. Would also STRONGLY suggest a room you can close off, like a spare bedroom or bathroom. If we do it again in the home it will be the spare bedroom for sure, or much fewer numbers and I am not a neat freak. Really the epxperience is awesome especially for first timers, and nothing is done that a little soap and water won't fix once they are grown enough for the great outdoors.

Oh and also

 

[maggiemooscluckers]

I agree that the experience of having them in the house was great. In my case it wasn't the cold that I worried about but the heat. I kept my 27 chicks in the house in a variety of brooders for 3 weeks. At that point I just had to move them out. The brooder lights messed up my dogs sleep cycle so she kept us up all night and I was consumed with making sure all was well with the chicks so like a new mother I would get up in the night and check the heat level. I sure didn't want to loose any chicks due to my negligence. Also my husband is allergic to the bird dust so keeping them clean was a priority. After awhile it was either my DH or the chicks so I moved them outside. I just had to pay special attention to the idea of keeping them cool outside (temps were still above 100). Now they are 8 weeks old, fully feathered and ready for the world. We do get to freezing here but nothing that my girls can't handle. I do the deep litter method so at night now they are nestling into the pine shavings with each other and keeping nice and comfy in the big girl coop. So now we all get a good nights sleep. You will just have to pay attention to the low temps and act accordingly just like I did for the high temps.
BTW it was my impatience that caused me what ever problems I had. I realize if I had just waited one more month the weather would have been more cooperative but with that said, I love my little chickens and don't regret a little inconvenience for the pleasure they have already given me and now I should be getting eggs by late winter. YAH!