Chicks carrying on putting them in coop overnight for the first time

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Blooie said:
All of the information about brooding chicks this way can be found at this link, including how Mama Heating Pad and the "cave" go together. There are videos, lots of photographs, and a lot of give-and-take with people who have jumped on the positives of raising them like this and made modifications to fit their situations.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update  

You won't be sorry, I promise!  Well, there are two drawbacks though.  You need a slightly larger brooder to accommodate the additional space Mama Heating Pad takes up, and two - well, the chicks grow so well and so fast that one day you look at them and realize you don't have any babies anymore, and you just have to get more and do it all over again!  :clap
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Awesome tutorial! My brooder was a large dog crate. I love the idea of the press and seal around the bottom to keep shavings on!! I used cardboard and it ended up a mess anyways!
 
@Blooie - Great advice -yet again. I'm putting my first batch of 6 chicks out into the coop today... but I'm just afraid to let them go. I was going to do it yesterday, but I 'chickened out' and couldn't part with them... my little darlings. I have fears, and so many 'what ifs' that it kept me up all night -tossing & turning & worrying about today. What if something breaks in & they get eaten? What if they're scared by noises in the night? What if they get hurt and need me? BUT... I "Fort Knoxed" the coop as best I could possibly do, and everything' ready for them... so I know it's time. They're 8+ weeks old & they need to go outside - and it needs to be this morning. I'm home all day, so they'll get to play in the run under my watchful eye... and then I'll put them in for "nighty-nights" at dusk... and they'll be closed in safe & sound for the night... at which point - a glass of wine for Momma... and tough love - for the rest of the night!!! Thank you for the wise words Blooie - yet again! Quite honestly, I saw your name & comments come up on this post I was searching... and breathed a HUGE sigh of relief, as I knew you'd have the right approach. Thanks for the bolstering words! I can do this!!! :fl[/QUOTE]
 
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FiddleChics said:
@Blooie - Great advice -yet again. I'm putting my first batch of 6 chicks out into the coop today... but I'm just afraid to let them go. I was going to do it yesterday, but I 'chickened out' and couldn't part with them... my little darlings. I have fears, and so many 'what ifs' that it kept me up all night -tossing & turning & worrying about today. What if something breaks in & they get eaten? What if they're scared by noises in the night? What if they get hurt and need me? BUT... I "Fort Knoxed" the coop as best I could possibly do, and everything' ready for them... so I know it's time. They're 8+ weeks old & they need to go outside - and it needs to be this morning. I'm home all day, so they'll get to play in the run under my watchful eye... and then I'll put them in for "nighty-nights" at dusk... and they'll be closed in safe & sound for the night... at which point - a glass of wine for Momma... and tough love - for the rest of the night!!! Thank you for the wise words Blooie - yet again! Quite honestly, I saw your name & comments come up on this post I was searching... and breathed a HUGE sigh of relief, as I knew you'd have the right approach. Thanks for the bolstering words! I can do this!!! :fl
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[/QUOTE]
You can do it! Good luck!
 
Hello and welcome to BYC!

I think Blooie and the others have covered it all! I use the Premier Heat Plate (I seem to be collecting them!!) The first 3-4 days they stay inside with the light on so I can make sure everyone is eating, drinking and doing well. After that they go outside to the shed. They seem to know instinctively that when the sun goes down and the light gradually disappears they put themselves to bed under the plate. So long as the transition from light to dark is gradual I’ve never had a problem. I think the sooner you get them used to it the better. They will be just fine :thumbsup
 

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