First Saturday lime

[Cmp211]

Give me all the deets!!!
I have this on the way for my chicks brooder, they stink!!
But tell me at the pros and cons, do’s and don’t. Thanks ◡̈
Sincerely, new chicken lady ◡̈

 

[DobieLover]

You need to clean the brooder more frequently and make sure it is sized properly to the number and age of the chicks.


Chicks from hatch to 1 week need 1 sq ft of space per chick. Add more for feeders and waterers. From 1 week to 4 weeks, they need 2 sq ft of space per chick along with perches and dust bathing material. From 4 weeks to 6 weeks they need 3 sq ft of space per chick. After 6 weeks, they should be in a coop sized at 4 sq ft per bird. Although if chicks are raised in a brooder built-in to the coop under the watch of the flock, integration into the flock can begin between 3-4 weeks.

I would not use FSL around young chicks. Their respiratory systems are even more delicate than an adults and you need to avoid dust. It is one of the reasons why I only brood outdoors in a brooder made essentially of 1/2" hardware cloth with an attached 32 sq ft run with a solid pitched roof. The pop door to the run remains open after the chicks are 1 week old so they can come and go and explore their surroundings, enjoy the sun for bathing and dust bath outside. But equally important is the amount of additional fresh air it admits.

 

[Cmp211]

You need to clean the brooder more frequently and make sure it is sized properly to the number and age of the chicks.


Chicks from hatch to 1 week need 1 sq ft of space per chick. Add more for feeders and waterers. From 1 week to 4 weeks, they need 2 sq ft of space per chick along with perches and dust bathing material. From 4 weeks to 6 weeks they need 3 sq ft of space per chick. After 6 weeks, they should be in a coop sized at 4 sq ft per bird. Although if chicks are raised in a brooder built-in to the coop under the watch of the flock, integration into the flock can begin between 3-4 weeks.

I would not use FSL around young chicks. Their respiratory systems are even more delicate than an adults and you need to avoid dust. It is one of the reasons why I only brood outdoors in a brooder made essentially of 1/2" hardware cloth with an attached 32 sq ft run with a solid pitched roof. The pop door to the run remains open after the chicks are 1 week old so they can come and go and explore their surroundings, enjoy the sun for bathing and dust bath outside. But equally important is the amount of additional fresh air it admits.

Thank you ! ◡̈ what do you advise I use as a dust bath for the chicks?

 

[Cmp211]

You need to clean the brooder more frequently and make sure it is sized properly to the number and age of the chicks.


Chicks from hatch to 1 week need 1 sq ft of space per chick. Add more for feeders and waterers. From 1 week to 4 weeks, they need 2 sq ft of space per chick along with perches and dust bathing material. From 4 weeks to 6 weeks they need 3 sq ft of space per chick. After 6 weeks, they should be in a coop sized at 4 sq ft per bird. Although if chicks are raised in a brooder built-in to the coop under the watch of the flock, integration into the flock can begin between 3-4 weeks.

I would not use FSL around young chicks. Their respiratory systems are even more delicate than an adults and you need to avoid dust. It is one of the reasons why I only brood outdoors in a brooder made essentially of 1/2" hardware cloth with an attached 32 sq ft run with a solid pitched roof. The pop door to the run remains open after the chicks are 1 week old so they can come and go and explore their surroundings, enjoy the sun for bathing and dust bath outside. But equally important is the amount of additional fresh air it admits.

That was another thought I had that I needed to clean it more. I have 18 chicks. 8 that are 4 weeks and 10 that are 2 weeks.

 

[DobieLover]

That was another thought I had that I needed to clean it more. I have 18 chicks. 8 that are 4 weeks and 10 that are 2 weeks.

Is your brooder at least 36 sq ft? Probably not. You have that many chicks pooping all day long in a small brooder and it will stink very quickly. Clean daily and enlarge their space.

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you ! ◡̈ what do you advise I use as a dust bath for the chicks?

Is there any reason why you cannot move them to their coop and brood them in there? No power? No brooder plate? They will dig their own dust bath holes in the soil. MUCH less dusty for them and you. Their immune systems will develop faster and stronger if exposed to their natural environment ASAP.

 

[Cmp211]

Is your brooder at least 36 sq ft? Probably not. You have that many chicks pooping all day long in a small brooder and it will stink very quickly. Clean daily and enlarge their space.

Thank you◡̈

 

[Cmp211]

Is there any reason why you cannot move them to their coop and brood them in there? No power? No brooder plate? They will dig their own dust bath holes in the soil. MUCH less dusty for them and you. Their immune systems will develop faster and stronger if exposed to their natural environment ASAP.

It’s currently 25 degrees outside.

 

[Cmp211]

I do have a brooder plate, but no electricity, I could run an extension cord, but I’d rather not.

It’s currently 25 degrees outside.

 

[Iluveggers]

How big is your brooder? I have an XL dog crate and brood my chicks in our garage with a plate. They move outside around 4 weeks old.

At 4 weeks, technically the chicks should not need heat (although your temps are very low for littles). If your brooder space is too small, could you keep the 2 week chicks in the small brooder with the plate, and expand brooder space for the 4 week olds? A cardboard watermelon bin (or other similar produce box) would provide a free & quick decent amount of space for expansion. The 4 week olds don’t need a heat plate, so you could give them a bigger area without the plate until it gets above freezing & you move them out.