Colorado

[Latestarter]

Well, looks like we're in another upcoming moisture pattern... Supposed to start some time tomorrow and run through the weekend. Just cold, enough (out here on the plains) to be snow at night, and rain during the day, so shouldn't impact driving too badly. We'll see.

 

[uzisuzuki]

Does anyone have any suggestions on integrating the newly hatched chick with the week old chicks? Do you think I'll have anything to (legitimately) worry about putting them together?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Congrats on the last little one making it out Uzi!

I never had much trouble mixing the little ones with week old ones. I would wait til dark time and then add the little one. Just keep an eye on how things are going so the little one gets to eat and drink without being hassled. Since you probably have to work tomorrow it would do no harm to wait for Friday evening or even Saturday morning. Biggest thing is just to keep an eye on them. If your set up allows you could put a cardboard divider or such so the little one is in the same brooder earlier but protected a bit. (Added that in case you only have one place to keep them just now)

 

[oshun55555]

Congrats on the last little one making it out Uzi!

I never had much trouble mixing the little ones with week old ones. I would wait til dark time and then add the little one. Just keep an eye on how things are going so the little one gets to eat and drink without being hassled. Since you probably have to work tomorrow it would do no harm to wait for Friday evening or even Saturday morning. Biggest thing is just to keep an eye on them. If your set up allows you could put a cardboard divider or such so the little one is in the same brooder earlier but protected a bit. (Added that in case you only have one place to keep them just now)

ditto

 

[JessHeller]

So I have 2 chicks, a silver laced wyandotte and a barred rock, which are now about 10 weeks old (?) - they've been spending the days out side in the coop while the established flock free range in the backyard. They are, in my opinion, too big to be locked up in the basement during the day in their pen. With the colder weather coming in today are they ok to be left in the coop during the day or should we keep them inside? They are very well sheltered from the wind and we're putting down more bedding for them (this coop is under construction so its not occupied by the flock at night). I'm just worried about them going from being toasty and warm down in the basement to a chilly 40 degrees outside.

 

[Latestarter]

@ 10 weeks old, they could have been put out in the coop full time 4-5 weeks ago!

They are good down to freezing as soon as they're fully fledged. Remember, they're wearing a down coat... As long as they have room to shake and fluff up, at 10 weeks, they can handle anything a full grown adult can handle. I'm sure you'll be glad to get those major dust polluters ouit of your basement for good!

 

[COChix]

So I have 2 chicks, a silver laced wyandotte and a barred rock, which are now about 10 weeks old (?)  - they've been spending the days out side in the coop while the established flock free range in the backyard. They are, in my opinion, too big to be locked up in the basement during the day in their pen.  With the colder weather coming in today are they ok to be left in the coop during the day or should we keep them inside?  They are very well sheltered from the wind and we're putting down more bedding for them (this coop is under construction so its not occupied by the flock at night). I'm just worried about them going from being toasty and warm down in the basement to a chilly 40 degrees outside.

Well said....those babies will be fine, we had two week old chicks out a dog kennel brooder set up in the run during the snow storm. They did fine, yours should be fine and you shouldn't worry about it. I know that is hard not to do at first.

 

[captivatedlife]

You guys will get this. The cold came in and cooled the house down to the point that the brooder was 78! I caught it, heated it up again and took care of it but these spring time changes in temperatures can be crazy. I didn't really think of the weather as something to remember when the chicks are in the house. Yay Colorado weather!

 

[madileana]

My polish are growning and growing. They are about 7 weeks now. Any guesses on gender?

And

 

[uzisuzuki]

This little nugget is cracking me up now that he's all dry. It looks like he might end up with a full crest like his grandmas instead of the partial crest his parents have. He's a little spitfire already and made itself one of the gang with the other four. This batch is going to be a handful.