Chicks for the first Time

[one old chick]

Sounds like a great brooder set up. I would like to have a more permanent set up for future chicks.

I just moved my chicks to the barn. they out grew the second brooder. i set up an X-Large Dog Cage. it is nice and tall and they have room to move around. i also found the best branch outside for them to roost on and of course i put in the reptile perch they've had all along. i placed the food in the middle and they can all eat at the same time. one other thing, the water is on the outside of the cage and because it's an extra large cage the bars are far enough apart for them to put their little heads through to drink. you know what that means? NO MORE POOP in the water!

they caught on so quickly. i have three large waterers so they can all drink as often as they want. i hung the heat light in one corner so they can keep warm if needed. they are 4 weeks old now and don't spend as much time under the light but i am going to leave it up for another week until they get used to being in the barn. they are almost completely feathered. we build our coop next week.

 

[PharmGirl]

I think they will be ok as long as they have an enclosed draft free area to sleep in at night. I'm in WV and moved mine out yesterday morning, 60-70 days, 50 nights. Last night was their first night out they huddled together as one big feather mass in a corner and slept, ethy were all fine this morning up walking around and exploring their new house.

 

[one old chick]

New question for yall. Since I know that at least 3 maybe 5 of my chicks are roos and I wanted them for eggs I have to get more chicks. The ones I have are almost all 5 weeks. I have to get the new chicks within just a few days. Should I go ahead and move the older ones out or try putting the day olds in the brooder with them. Will my older chicks be ok outside. I am in alabama. 60-70 days 40-50 nights.

Jeanna, i wouldn't reccomend putting day olds in with older chicks. my chicks are four weeks old and when they were 5 days i added to black sex link 2 day olds and even at that young age they kind of picked on them for two or three days. until they got to be the same size. i wouldn't put anything younger in with them now as i know they would pick on them. they are all trying to decide pecking order as it is

. i bought one rooster and 8 hens, he has just this week started asserting his roosterness to the hens. what you might want to do is raise the day olds separate but next to the older ones so they see them. when they get to be the size of your five week olds then trying putting them together, at least they will be able to peck back or get out of the way of the older ones. 40 to 50 at night is still a little chilly. when you say outside do you mean in some kind of building but out of the brooder? i would say if they are in a building and you hang a light at night when it gets cool in case they need the heat they should be fine. they will be ok during the day. good luck

 

[Jeanna Marie]

Jeanna, i wouldn't reccomend putting day olds in with older chicks. my chicks are four weeks old and when they were 5 days i added to black sex link 2 day olds and even at that young age they kind of picked on them for two or three days. until they got to be the same size.  i wouldn't put anything younger in with them now as i know they would pick on them. they are all trying to decide pecking order as it is . i bought one rooster and 8 hens, he has just this week started asserting his roosterness to the hens. what you might want to do is raise the day olds separate but next to the older ones so they see them. when they get to be the size of your five week olds then trying putting them together, at least they will be able to peck back or get out of the way of the older ones.  40 to 50 at night is still a little chilly. when you say outside do you mean in some kind of building but out of the brooder?  i would say if they are in a building and you hang a light at night when it gets cool in case they need the heat they should be fine. they will be ok during the day.  good luck

We have built them a coop and a run. Sorry I didn't specify when I said outside....lol

 

[schimbare]

Jeanna, what are you going to do with all those roosters?

 

[Jeanna Marie]

Jeanna, what are you going to do with all those roosters?

Well...I don't rightly know! I would like to say id eat em...but I doubt that. So I got some roos looking for new homes. Want some?

 

[kynewbchickie]

Quote:
I'd take them in a heartbeat if I didn't already have 6 roos for sure, probably more like 8! LOL

And I agree with the other advice - they'll be fine heading out to the coop and run permanently now. Keep a roo for breeding purposes, and if you can order Buff Orp pullets in orders under 15, do that to fix the number of girls you need/want. This time of year, you might be able to find a hatchery that will ship fewer than 15 chicks...but don't rule out any farms in your state that might raise Buff Orps and be able to sex them. Craigslist under "Farm" in your area could be handy (also in rehoming your roos). There's all kinds of swaps and sales going on now that Spring has finally "sprung," so keep your eyes peeled on the paper and web for announcements....just keep whatever you get separated completely from your established flock for around 6 weeks for biosecurity's sake.

 

[schimbare]

Jeanna Marie

As much as I would like to take a bunch of noisy roosters (not), unfortunately, they are not allowed in my town. Suburbia, and all that.

There was once a rooster that lived somewhere near a house I was renting. We don't do guns around here, but I am telling you, if I had a gun I would have shot that rooster in an instant. And I am generally a pacifist. I would not shoot anything. The 3am crowing was just too much to take.

But, they are beautiful.

Good luck!

 

[Jeanna Marie]

Jeanna Marie

As much as I would like to take a bunch of noisy roosters (not), unfortunately, they are not allowed in my town.  Suburbia, and all that.

There was once a rooster that lived somewhere near a house I was renting.  We don't do guns around here, but I am telling you, if I had a gun I would have shot that rooster in an instant.  And I am generally a pacifist. I would not shoot anything. The 3am crowing was just too much to take.

But, they are beautiful.  

Good luck!

I love the crowing. I just don't have any place to keep five roosters!

 

[kynewbchickie]

Quote:
Raised together and the breed they are, you shouldn't have any issues with them fighting amongst themselves. You *could* wait until they are 18 weeks and take them to a local slaughterhouse that handles poultry - down here, my closest place is about 45 minutes to the west of me. They charge a $25 fee if you have less than 50 birds to put in their line, plus $3.25 per bird. They practice humanely, cleanly, and your birds come out completely freezer-ready and packaged, processed however you want them. I've got 3-4 myself that will be headed to the freezer, but since I'm not adept at processing poultry, I don't want to cause my birds any undue pain or stress in the process of me learning. Deer are no problem for me...but birds, I'm clueless!