Chickens by Easter .... Maybe

[45lk9p459gm-w]

Since these silly gals weren't using it, I took the heat plate out of the brooder in the house. We will move the chicks, they aren't really chicks anymore, out to the coop next weekend at the age of three weeks old. The night time lows will be averaging around 70+ then and that is about what the nighttime lows are in the room where the chicks are staying now.

I will leave them in the 2x2x4 foot enclosure until they get used to the different sounds and then let them use the whole coop.

 

[aart]

We will move the chicks, they aren't really chicks anymore, out to the coop next weekend at the age of three weeks old.

Oh, I think they are still chicks.
Tho I've ever seen an age where the go form chicks to....what.... pullets and cockerels?
So maybe around 4-6 weeks when you can tell the gender?

Anyway, I think you've got a good plan there.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

Just over two weeks ago they could all hide under half of the heat plate ... now half of them can't hid under the whole heat plate without parts of them sticking out.

 

[aart]

Just over two weeks ago they could all hide under half of the heat plate ... now half of them can't hid under the whole heat plate without parts of them sticking out.

Yep, those plates are as bad as the tiny coops for over-citing how many birds they will serve.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yep, those plates are as bad as the tiny coops for over-citing how many birds they will serve.

One of the reasons I am going with a traditional heat lamp for brooding 35-40 chicks over the next 6 weeks or so.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

I have supplemented some chick grit to these chicks (small chickens ) but don't let them serve it them selves. Will the grit that I have given them stay in their gizzard or will it eventually pass? Not sure how much they might need until they actually hit the ground. We still give them the occasional worm or cricket and I'm sure they will find some bugs on their own once inside the coop.

 

[aart]

Will the grit that I have given them stay in their gizzard or will it eventually pass?

It will stay for a good while.
I just toss some out on the run ground once in awhile.
I don't free feed it either anymore, slaughtered a hen once and her gizzard was packed with grit.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Will the grit that I have given them stay in their gizzard or will it eventually pass?

It stays in there until it wears down enough (or they outgrow the size of it) and then they'll poop it out.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

Tomorrow is the acid test for the ladies. I have decided that the 2x2x4 foot box I was going to put them in isn't much bigger than where they are now, so I will skip it and just turn them loose in the coop where they will have plenty of room.

Happened to look in on them earlier today and found the runt had half of her tail feathers missing and bleeding. Got her all fixed up and back into the brooder so all is good. I think that the lack of space is starting to get to them so the "Big House" is where they are all going to wind up tomorrow.

They are all feathered out on the wings, back and breast pretty well to my thinking. The head is about the only place that they have no feathers yet. So they should be ok.

 

[45lk9p459gm-w]

The chicks are having a ball in their new space.