First time outside and now more questions!

[Bone Bunny]

The Vill-hens turned 3 weeks on 4/4/22. I had to upgrade their brooder to something they cannot escape and let them play outside in their future run. They had a blast, though the ants they found were completely massacred.

This is the first time raising chickens, and using online to find answers is a pain to say the least. Everyone has a different answer, and everyone believes their answers are right. I usually spend more of my attention on going with the most common answers. However, even then I am getting into a mess of information. So I figured I would ask here and hope for the best!

1) I introduced black soldier fly larvae last week. They had some issues with pasting up and cleaning them regularly had them scared of my hand. I crush up a small handful and give in the morning after spot cleaning and freshening up food and water. All my research goes back and forth with the age limits for treats. They seem to be healthy and thriving and I would like to start adding veggie scraps. just a small bit like I did with the larvae, but is this still soon and should I stop with the larvae?

2) Heat lamps. We have a heat lamp set up for warmth. I have read that you start at 95F and reduce by 5 each week. I don't know if it matter that my chicks are brahmas, but I find them panting quite a bit in temps that are at 80. I will unplug let it cool down and then it goes back on for the night. Should I be looking at a different schedule for them because of their breed?

3) They have started figuring out their pecking order, which is quite hilarious to watch. However, There is one, Ursula, that just seems to have no interest in this at all. She also does not seem to be getting feathers the same way as the others. She has two small bald spots at the top of her humerus on both wings. I'm wondering if she may actually be a he since I have read that males develop slower, but I am worried about the little balled spots none the less. Is this common?

4) Last but not least, Fluffy feet! The dark brahmas feather feet completely engulf they toes. You cant even see they have feet. The single buff and the 3 lights, are only getting feathers on the outside of their feet. Is this normal?

I've been trying to find pictures and information specific to brahmas, but I'm having issues finding information on this age range that is specific to these bird.
any and all information is helpful and if there are any links specific to brahmas, that would be helpful. Most that I come across are specific to adult and not chicks.

TIA,
The league of Vill-Hens

 

[rosemarythyme]

As you noted, you'll get different answers as everyone does things differently.

1) I think 3 weeks is fine for a tiny amount of treats. Not sure how much they're all getting, but for chicks around 2 weeks of age I'll start them off with maybe 1 or 2 dried mealworms a day. They do need grit if given anything other than processed feed.

2) The "start at 95 and lower by 5 a week" is IMO too slow and too hot - I brood outdoors and chicks are completely off heat by 4 weeks, with lows in mid 40s. Regardless if you like being more conservative or more aggressive about weaning them off heat, the most important thing here is to trust that the chicks know if they're too hot, and your birds did just that and you adjusted. Since it sounds like you're using a heat lamp, I would 1) get a lower wattage bulb or look into a dimmer, to reliably lower the heat output and 2) depending on your set up, move the bulb off towards one side of brooding area, so the chicks have a warmer area and a cooler area at least 10F or more cooler.

 

[Bone Bunny]

As you noted, you'll get different answers as everyone does things differently.

1) I think 3 weeks is fine for a tiny amount of treats. Not sure how much they're all getting, but for chicks around 2 weeks of age I'll start them off with maybe 1 or 2 dried mealworms a day. They do need grit if given anything other than processed feed.

2) The "start at 95 and lower by 5 a week" is IMO too slow and too hot - I brood outdoors and chicks are completely off heat by 4 weeks, with lows in mid 40s. Regardless if you like being more conservative or more aggressive about weaning them off heat, the most important thing here is to trust that the chicks know if they're too hot, and your birds did just that and you adjusted. Since it sounds like you're using a heat lamp, I would 1) get a lower wattage bulb or look into a dimmer, to reliably lower the heat output and 2) depending on your set up, move the bulb off towards one side of brooding area, so the chicks have a warmer area and a cooler area at least 10F or more cooler.

Thank you for that information. There are 7 of them, so I grab just enough to fit in my palm and crush. I would say maybe 20 in total between all of them. They also started on grit the same day I offered them treats because I had read that as well. However, the feeding them veggies is all over the place. Some of them say to wait until they are 3-4 months of age. This sounds wrong to me since they will obviously have access to leaves/grass/fruits from the yard.

Our temps are fluctuating by by 30-40 degrees between day and night. Ex: today is supposed to be 80, even though last night was in the 40s. That being said, starting Sunday it looks like temps will not be getting below 50. Their brooder is, as of yesterday, an extra large dog kennel. They kept trying to escape anything with an open top and they seem to be happier seeing what is coming and going. They are also in our enclosed sunroom that is not temp controlled. But, by next week they should be able to go off the lamp completely?

Can they be weaned to their coop as soon as the lamp is no longer in use?

Seriously, you can look at one website that says chickens are sturdy and then the very next one talk about how fragile they are. Its so crazy trying to make sure its right.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you for that information. There are 7 of them, so I grab just enough to fit in my palm and crush. I would say maybe 20 in total between all of them. They also started on grit the same day I offered them treats because I had read that as well. However, the feeding them veggies is all over the place. Some of them say to wait until they are 3-4 months of age. This sounds wrong to me since they will obviously have access to leaves/grass/fruits from the yard.

Our temps are fluctuating by by 30-40 degrees between day and night. Ex: today is supposed to be 80, even though last night was in the 40s. That being said, starting Sunday it looks like temps will not be getting below 50. Their brooder is, as of yesterday, an extra large dog kennel. They kept trying to escape anything with an open top and they seem to be happier seeing what is coming and going. They are also in our enclosed sunroom that is not temp controlled. But, by next week they should be able to go off the lamp completely?

Can they be weaned to their coop as soon as the lamp is no longer in use?

Seriously, you can look at one website that says chickens are sturdy and then the very next one talk about how fragile they are. Its so crazy trying to make sure its right.

Chicks are both very durable and also very fragile. They're durable enough to be stuffed in boxes and shipped all over the country, yet can die from something as simple as pasty butt. I've raised 3 batches of chicks and now err on the side of "durable" since they seem to do better the less I try to coddle them.

As far as veggie treats, again, as long as it's in moderation I don't see an issue with it. Since mine go outdoors immediately I see them picking up and eating bits of grass and leaves and bugs. Just keep in mind that this is their growth phase, so their feed has all the nutrients they need to gain size and strength, and so too many treats will dilute or throw off that balance, that's why some folks don't do treats at all.

As far as weaning them off heat and moving them outside, if you work on actively weaning them off heat this week I see no reason they can't move outside next week with your temperatures, as long as they're all feathering in and in good health. Goal is to try and gradually get them as close as possible to outside temperatures, so you can do that by letting them spend more and more time outside, reducing heat output from their heat source, and/or lowering temperature of the space they're in (i.e. opening a window to push the temperature down a bit).

 

[Hermits Garden]

I can't add anything to Rosemarythyme's advice but:

Congratulations on your wee birds!