Fall chick raising

[debir1966]

After having raised two batches of chicks in the house this year, I reaaaly didn't want to do a 3rd batch - so our meatie chicks never even entered the house. For the first couple of weeks, we kept them in a box in the horse trailer and covered them with a blanket at night to help hold in the heat and keep out any drafts.
We had cool but not cold weather so after 2-3 weeks I removed the box and they did just fine. Unfortunately it turned COLD - snow, rain, 30 degrees at night... I was really worried they were not going to make it that first night, for one they are half naked! They are 4 1/2 weeks old and being cornish cross they don't seem to get feathers as well as other chickens. Surprisingly enough, they seem to be doing fine. We are keeping the litter deep and they have hollowed out a nest under the ecoglow. We usually are not this cold in October!

 

[maidenwolfx80]

We have had a few really cold days here too. I wanted to have my chicks out in a grow out pen but I am afraid it is too cold

Maybe though since mine have featherd nicely they wont do so bad????? Maybe I should finish their pen and see how they react..

 

[debir1966]

You can see how feathered mine are and they are doing just fine! But, with that said, if they have been in where it is warm, you would have to figure out a way, in my opinion, to transition them gradually to colder temperatures.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Agreed I am slowly making it cooler in there for them and they are doing great with it.

 

[debir1966]

We have gotten COLD - 13 degrees tonight and almost as cold last night.

Yesterday we bought and installed an infra-red heat lamp in with the meat chicks. I have two that are not doing so well. They do not walk normally, but walk on their whole leg rather than on their feet. I do not know if it is just genetic, or one of the growth-problems I have heard about that occur with Cornish Cross meat birds or if something happened that injured them, or due to the cold weather we have been having.

I am keeping them for now... they do not seem to be in distress or pain and are able to eat and drink normally and go back and forth to the food area and the heat... but if they seem to be suffering at all I will not allow that and will cull them.

I have decided that I am not going to do fall chicks again. Between the rain and the cold it has been hard on them and stressing on me. I will do my main batch of chicks in the spring, probably April or May, and then another batch of meat chicks no later than July, to be ready for processing by the end of September.

We had an unusually cold October this year also. I noticed too, that they are growing slower than the first batch did and I think it is because they are putting alot of energy into keeping warm versus growing and also they have had a shorter period of daylight to eat maybe.

Anyway, just adding an update and personal thoughts.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I am sorry your chicks are having some problems, I do hope they will be ok. It did get very cold here last night. I moved my girls out to the shed/grow out coop on wed. I fixed up this giant wooden dog house and installed a heat lamp and plenty of straw, they have a large yard out front of the shed door to play in. They have loved it. Last nigh they temp fell to 20 with 18 being the wind chill. It was nasty. The chicks stayed warm under their light and this morning when I opened the door they all ran out to great me and are now spending time playing on the frozen ground and running in to warm up. It is not bothering them one bit. I am so relieved.
I do agree though I dont want to do fall chicks again. This was a valuable learning experience. I will for now on do them in the spring. It is stressful. eventhough these guys are doing great I have 10 more,, yes more,, 4 are 3weeks the rest are 2 weeks so I have a ways to go with them too and it will be alot colder when they go out. We learn and now we know it is alot more stressful. Now to get these chicks thru it all.. Good luck with yours, please keep me posted.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

OOPPS it posted twice

 

[nbchickfarming]

mine are feathered out but, It was in the 20's last night so at midnight i checked temps, they were acting a little cold so i broke down and turned the heat lamp on. wow did that confuse everybody !

breaking all the rules......at least i could sleep not worrying about the babies freezing .

 

[humphrey farms]

Mine are two weeks old ( 15 SLW) and are not under a heat lamp. They are kept near a south window in the house. We have not turned on our oil heat yet and its mid Nov in Maine. I plan to have my babies out at 5 wks in an unheated coop living in a special "growing out coop" that we placed inside the older coop with the adults. Neither is insulated but draft free and the sun shines on the building all day long. We also do not plan to add alternative heat. Another forum person from Canada about 6 hrs drive N. said she raised 9 wk old chicks in Jan the same way and had no problem. Yours should be fine as long as things are dry, draft free and have deep litter bedding.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Mine are 6 weeks today and only a fluff or two left on their heads, I have had the heating lamp on in there for them. It stays nice and warm in there. I dont care what rules are supposed to be followed when it comes to my birds I want to know they are at least comfortable. Like you said I could sleep knowing they werent frozen last night. I adjust things according to their actions. I will slowly wean away the heat and teh first night I do so I will worry especially it being winter soon. But they are happy and love playing in the frost covered ground in the mornings like it doesnt even bother them. So I think they will do fine.