Fall chick raising

[hotteaplez]

I like the posts that keep close to mother nature! If they are too big to fit under their ma, they should be fine alone. I put some 7wk olds out last week I checked on them all the time. They got real happy real fast. Leaping & playing. I have good henhouse w/plenty of hay around. Another bunch in inside still, I have no warm light on them now. They are 6wks. I want them to get used to cooler temps. But is not really cold since it is inside our house. I transfer them to a wire cage in henhouse for a few days, then leave the cage door open. All the feathers get along ok. A little bit of bossiness at first.

 

[debir1966]

I agree, fully feathered chickens do not need supplemental heat during the winter if their house is draft-free. We do not heat our chickens, though my husband and I have had some debate over that LOL (I am winning still, at this point!).

These Cornish Cross (Cornish Rock) I thought would be fine. My first batch this year (hatch date the end of June) did wonderfully even though I was worried about them in the heat (we get temps up to a 100ish here during the hottest part of summer). I really thought this fall batch would do ok, but October turned out very cold and wetter than normal. I do a deep litter method and they are in an enclosed horse trailer with the only opening above the gate in the back, which we have covered with a tarp to keep out the drafts, and use smaller ventilation areas.

I don't know, they are just not doing as well as the earlier batch did and it bugs me. I just had so much better luck the first time around and will be leaning on that success next year for sure.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

With mine being 6 weeks today I think what I am going to do is switch to a lower watt bulb and wean them down. They are doing great and I have a draft free wooden dog house inside of a draft free metal barn that the dog house is in. I think they would be fine but this is the first fall batch I have done so I am just nervous about them freezing. The waterer that sits in the shed but outside of the doghouse door freezes over night so it worries me alittle I guess I should stop worrying huh?

 

[Glockoma441FA]

I am really new to this. I have 3 chicks that will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. 2 RIR and 1 BR. I have had them in a brooder box with a heat lamp. I was told that they needed to maintain 95 degrees the first week and drop 5 degrees per week. So right now its is and average of 85 degrees in their box. tomorrow I should raise the lamp so it will 80 in the box. Is this right? I know winter is right around the corner and I was planing on building a bigger area for them in the garage because the coop is going to be a Christmas present for the kids to decorate. Any tips or am I going about the temp changes correctly?

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I am really new to this. I have 3 chicks that will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. 2 RIR and 1 BR. I have had them in a brooder box with a heat lamp. I was told that they needed to maintain 95 degrees the first week and drop 5 degrees per week. So right now its is and average of 85 degrees in their box. tomorrow I should raise the lamp so it will 80 in the box. Is this right? I know winter is right around the corner and I was planing on building a bigger area for them in the garage because the coop is going to be a Christmas present for the kids to decorate. Any tips or am I going about the temp changes correctly?

Your are doing it correctly. At this point you could even lower it every 4 days since they are getting more feathers and should be feathered out in a couple of weeks. I have my 9 week old pullets in the grow-out tractor with a 75W bulb in the brooder light so it is about 45 degrees on the roost bar. They get the light for tonight and come off tomorrow. They will be going to the main coop next weekend as I have a broody with eggs that needs to go into the tractor to hatch out her eggs. My pullets have been free ranging with the big kids for this week to get used to them. And your kids will be excited about the coop, cool idea.

 

[Glockoma441FA]

Thanks.

 

[nbchickfarming]

8 weeks 2 days now...Nighttime temps were back up above 30 past week and I slowly weaned them off the light. (was only 45-50 degrees under light). They feathered out nicely. Everybody is living in coop but separated because of the feed issues..I'm looking for "all flock" to feed in place of layer, the store was out, only had 28%protein game bird feed.....guess ill buy grower... Finally- My DH is building a chicken tractor!!! I was going to build it myself but he wanted to do it. LOL ...This is my first flock of laying chickens...... I bought some books but not very helpful.... I've been reading and learning so much on BYC..

 

[aeb1960]

Thank you for the information. I am in Missouri, as well, and just got some chicks on November 26. Seven are about 8 weeks old now, and three are about 5 weeks old. I was told (by the feed store) that I would have to keep them inside for 3 to 4 months. They suggested that I put them under a 250 watt red light in the playhouse where we are keeping them. I don't know how cool I can let it get. I do make sure that they don't seem TOO warm. I have 17 chickens in a large, unheated coop, but thought that I could not put the chicks in there until spring. I was wondering, with the advice you received, do you think that I could put a partition in the big coop and introduce the chicks earlier than March? I could put them on the side away from the chicken door/ramp, so that they would still remain indoors, if need be, but that opening would still allow the cooler air in. What do you think?

 

[BethanyS]

delayed reply : kiddie pools can be great even when they are older if you use some wide hardware cloth or any roll of stiff wire .simply make a cylinder out of the wire that fits in the tub.we used to do this for ferret/rat cages and add a top with doors. this one gives u a visual http://www.oocities.org/florida_hamster/images/button_aviary.jpg

Well mine are shipping out oct 3rd cant wait hope all goes well in shipping for mine. I like the tub idea I also was thinking of using a small kiddie pool. I have so much planning to do.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

delayed reply : kiddie pools can be great even when they are older if you use some wide hardware cloth or any roll of stiff wire .simply make a cylinder out of the wire that fits in the tub.we used to do this for ferret/rat cages and add a top with doors. this one gives u a visual http://www.oocities.org/florida_hamster/images/button_aviary.jpg

I want to find a rabbit huutch , a larger one. My chicks are all outsie in their grow out shelter and loving the outdoors. I have more coming,, yep addicted doesnt even cut it. I have 41 birds right now,, it will keep growing lol. Thank you for the response, late or not.

Thank you for the information. I am in Missouri, as well, and just got some chicks on November 26. Seven are about 8 weeks old now, and three are about 5 weeks old. I was told (by the feed store) that I would have to keep them inside for 3 to 4 months. They suggested that I put them under a 250 watt red light in the playhouse where we are keeping them. I don't know how cool I can let it get. I do make sure that they don't seem TOO warm. I have 17 chickens in a large, unheated coop, but thought that I could not put the chicks in there until spring. I was wondering, with the advice you received, do you think that I could put a partition in the big coop and introduce the chicks earlier than March? I could put them on the side away from the chicken door/ramp, so that they would still remain indoors, if need be, but that opening would still allow the cooler air in. What do you think?

You will only have to keep them indoors until they are fully feathered out. which your 8 weekers shouldbe about there if not fully yet. Red is a good bulb color but depending on temp you dont always have to use 250 watt. Test the temp under that light and also watch how the chicks respond. the chicks should be happily scratching around and spread out doing their own things during the day not cuddled up under the light or spread out as far from the light as possible with wings spread. I would lower temp for these guys to the point that they seem to notice the temp change but not to were they will be cold. those ages the chicks should be with out heat (8 wks) and almost without heat(5 wks) . Can you post a pic of them so we can see how feathered out they are? I would make sure the heat is on the low side and put plenty of fod in there and as soon as they are featherd put them in their own area outside and put a small 100 watt light out there for them to get under if cold while they are adjusting to temps. When they are used to being outdoors. which wont take long, you can introduce them to the other chickens as soon as they are big enough to defend themselves. Putting a partition in the cooop is great, make sure they can see each other thru it so that they get used to one another. You can keep them this way for a month and then let them loose together. As long as you keep a lamp in there while they are adjusting they will be fine. They do much better in the cold than heat so winter time is their time. If you free range you could always let your girls out to range and then let the small chicks out to explore the rest of the coop or run. Or build a small fenced area to put the chicks so they can have some play time to. I hope Iwas able to help, feel free to pm me anytime if you have questions.

8 weeks 2 days now...Nighttime temps were back up above 30 past week and I slowly weaned them off the light. (was only 45-50 degrees under light). They feathered out nicely. Everybody is living in coop but separated because of the feed issues..I'm looking for "all flock" to feed in place of layer, the store was out, only had 28%protein game bird feed.....guess ill buy grower... Finally- My DH is building a chicken tractor!!! I was going to build it myself but he wanted to do it. LOL ...This is my first flock of laying chickens...... I bought some books but not very helpful.... I've been reading and learning so much on BYC..

I hope yours are doing well. We are all available for answering queations you may have. Isnt it exciting ? I love my birds.