Chick Litter - Yesterday’s News?

[tikibanjo]

Any thoughts on this? Wood shavings/chips were WAY too dusty (we keep our hatchlings in the sunroom for the first 6 weeks).

 

[darkbaysfordays]

A lot of the dust you get flying around from brooding is actually chick fluff. That being said, as long as they aren't little pellets that they would want to eat a lot of, they should be fine. They will probably break apart when wet though.

 

[Folly's place]

Outside much sooner is still way better!
Mary

 

[svh]

Outside much sooner is still way better!
Mary

My ten, 32 DAY old chicks have been out in the main coop for a week today, and have already met the big girls, with very little drama.

Of course they have small escape portals back to their safe area, as per @aart's article on early integration. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

I'm having trouble loading pics, or I'd show some interesting photos.

 

[Folly's place]

Here hatchery chicks go to their separate coop section at 2.5 to 3 weeks of age, with their heat source. Broody raised chicks are out there always. There must be space, and a safe zone with heat for the little ones, but by the time they are feathered out at five weeks of age, they can run with the flock.
Mary

 

[tikibanjo]

Outside much sooner is still way better!
Mary

I would LOVE to get them outside ASAP. We even have a separate coop for them, with an enclosed run beneath. But we don’t want them to die - they were pricier chicks (Blue Buff Colombian Orpingtons, French/American Bresse, Lavender Marans...). Looks like low 80s for highs and upper 50s for evening lows.

 

[Folly's place]

Especially with a brooder plate, they should be fine out there. A heat lamp is trickier in warm weather although with lots of space to move away from it, that would work too.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

That brooder dust will be everywhere in your house, and is very unhealthy for you to inhale all the time. We've done indoors, long ago, and it was awful!
At least move them out by two weeks, or as soon as they are more mobile and over any shipping stress.
Mary

 

[tikibanjo]

That brooder dust will be everywhere in your house, and is very unhealthy for you to inhale all the time. We've done indoors, long ago, and it was awful!
At least move them out by two weeks, or as soon as they are more mobile and over any shipping stress.
Mary

Fortunately, the sunroom seals off from the rest of the house. So no dust inside - except on my wife’s plants!

I bought a brooder (cozy coop) and the chicks will go out today!