Chicks outside??

[smcottrell]

Hi! I'm about to get my first chicks on Tuesday and I have quite a dilemma. Friday many relatives are coming in for the weekend, so the room I was going to use will be occupied for two nights, so I thought about going ahead and putting them in the coup since it's so warm out there. I put an outdoor thermometer inside and it's 102F with the door open (it will have to close if they're in there), two screened windows opened and a vent near the roof. What do I do? I don't have a spare bathroom and the laundry room isn't big enough. Should I put them in my bedroom? If so, will it be impossible for us to sleep? Help!!

 

[Jewellan]

Hi! I'm about to get my first chicks on Tuesday and I have quite a dilemma. Friday many relatives are coming in for the weekend, so the room I was going to use will be occupied for two nights, so I thought about going ahead and putting them in the coup since it's so warm out there. I put an outdoor thermometer inside and it's 102F with the door open (it will have to close if they're in there), two screened windows opened and a vent near the roof. What do I do? I don't have a spare bathroom and the laundry room isn't big enough. Should I put them in my bedroom? If so, will it be impossible for us to sleep? Help!!

I would think that as long as you keep them contained (So rats, cats or vermin cannot get to them) and then make sure that they have a way to get away from the heat in the day, and a heat lamp at night so that they have a temp of 95 It would be okay. I am not sure if I would do it. Maybe the spare bathroom would be a better choice.

 

[Sylviaanne]

Hi! I'm about to get my first chicks on Tuesday and I have quite a dilemma. Friday many relatives are coming in for the weekend, so the room I was going to use will be occupied for two nights, so I thought about going ahead and putting them in the coup since it's so warm out there. I put an outdoor thermometer inside and it's 102F with the door open (it will have to close if they're in there), two screened windows opened and a vent near the roof. What do I do? I don't have a spare bathroom and the laundry room isn't big enough. Should I put them in my bedroom? If so, will it be impossible for us to sleep? Help!!

I find they are a lot like parakeets. Cover them so it is dark and they will be quiet. Unless bumped. If your room is dark, you don't need to cover them and if your room is very warm, they don't need a heat lamp. I don't know what you are preparing to put them in if you put them in your room and depending on how many you are getting, and possibly the age, you could use one of those under the bed sweater storage totes. I put a heating pad under one end, under the tote and they can go where it is warm or to the other end of the tote if they get too warm. When I use these totes the chicks are very young and can't yet jump or fly out of the totes. If you use a deeper one, you don't need to worry about them flying out and can leave it open. I have an old refrigerator shelf that I put over the top of mine so when they get older but yet too young to go out with the others, they can't fly out of the tote. HTH

 

[smcottrell]

I find they are a lot like parakeets. Cover them so it is dark and they will be quiet. Unless bumped. If your room is dark, you don't need to cover them and if your room is very warm, they don't need a heat lamp. I don't know what you are preparing to put them in if you put them in your room and depending on how many you are getting, and possibly the age, you could use one of those under the bed sweater storage totes. I put a heating pad under one end, under the tote and they can go where it is warm or to the other end of the tote if they get too warm. When I use these totes the chicks are very young and can't yet jump or fly out of the totes. If you use a deeper one, you don't need to worry about them flying out and can leave it open. I have an old refrigerator shelf that I put over the top of mine so when they get older but yet too young to go out with the others, they can't fly out of the tote. HTH

Thank you! I should've thought about covering them! I have parrots I cover every night. I'm getting about 30 chicks; do you think I could use a pack n play for that amount? It was suggested in a book of mine, but I haven't actually measured it yet. It would have great ventilation and I don't need to worry about drafts where they would be. I do have a tote I can use, but since it would have to be temporary and I have dogs, I thought I'd opt for the crib. Oh, I'm getting so excited! I've wanted to do this for years.

 

[smcottrell]

I would think that as long as you keep them contained (So rats, cats or vermin cannot get to them) and then make sure that they have a way to get away from the heat in the day, and a heat lamp at night so that they have a temp of 95 It would be okay. I am not sure if I would do it. Maybe the spare bathroom would be a better choice.

Yeah, that's probably going to be an issue with the heat. I think I'm rodent/varmint proof as I can get. So maybe, I can move them out there after a couple weeks as long as I can give them ice and water down the run area for them to dig into? I raised the coup and chicken wired around it so they can go under there for shade, plus I've put tarps on top of the run for shade. I really appreciate any help I can get. Thank you!!!

 

[Sylviaanne]

Thank you! I should've thought about covering them! I have parrots I cover every night. I'm getting about 30 chicks; do you think I could use a pack n play for that amount? It was suggested in a book of mine, but I haven't actually measured it yet. It would have great ventilation and I don't need to worry about drafts where they would be. I do have a tote I can use, but since it would have to be temporary and I have dogs, I thought I'd opt for the crib. Oh, I'm getting so excited! I've wanted to do this for years.

I have a packnplay, wonder why I didn't think of that before I had to put them out in the coop. I don't see why it wouldn't work but you would probably want them out before they start to practice flying. If they get their little toes caught in the mesh, they might get hurt.

 

[smcottrell]

I have a packnplay, wonder why I didn't think of that before I had to put them out in the coop. I don't see why it wouldn't work but you would probably want them out before they start to practice flying. If they get their little toes caught in the mesh, they might get hurt.

Well cool, maybe next time? My grandkids rarely used it. I inserted the pad in two large trash bags to cover both ends. I'm going to then layer in newspaper and pine shavings. Mcmurray says to cover the pine shavings with newspaper the first day to keep them from eating it until they find their food. That worries me with the problems they get with splayed feet from what I've read, but I think I'll do it since they're trying to protect their product unless I get replies warning me not to.

 

[subhanalah]

Well cool, maybe next time? My grandkids rarely used it. I inserted the pad in two large trash bags to cover both ends. I'm going to then layer in newspaper and pine shavings. Mcmurray says to cover the pine shavings with newspaper the first day to keep them from eating it until they find their food. That worries me with the problems they get with splayed feet from what I've read, but I think I'll do it since they're trying to protect their product unless I get replies warning me not to.

just use paper towels instead of newspaper.

 

[smcottrell]

just use paper towels instead of newspaper.

That's better! Thanks! Better traction.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi

Rodent/varmint proof. I was out at the poultry yard today and surprised a chipmunk
at the base of the maple tree. It couldn't go up because I was towering over it...so it
ran right thru the chicken wire and out the other side of the poultry yard. Too bad it
was so fast. I am sure the birds would have loved to have eaten it. But it did remind
me that mice and chipmunks can go right thru chcken wire. Maybe a reason to affix
a bicycle hook to the rafters of the roof of the yard and hang the chicken feeder every
night. Right now it sits on a large cement block all the time.
Best,
Karen