flying!!!

[wildflowers]

Our chicks will be three weeks on Monday. The original brooder wasn't very tall and we knew it would not last long. Well last weekend we saw them fly and perch on the edge. We took that to mean that we needed a taller one. So we used two old doors and some scrap wood and made a good sized, taller brooder. Well today we go out and find that two are perched on the edge. They are in our garage, it isn't super cold up here, from MI so just getting to maybe feezing at night doesn't seem very cold. Our garage doesn't get very cold either. We have a heat lamp on them obviously. Should we worry that they can get out? I am figuring they aren't going too go far and get chilled. We already suspect that a few have gotten out but have gone back, found some poop. So just wondering so we worry and put a screen or such on top, or just let them go? I am stay at home kinda mom so they never go very long without being checked on.

 

[poupoule]

I would put a lid made of wire if I were you. Just in case. You never know what they could find in the garage.

 

[peggyb43]

We used a plastic wire top to keep them in. Little peeps can find things to hide under and you might not be able to find them OR to get them out. Good luck...they are so cute at 3 weeks!

 

[Texas ChickenZ]

I had the same problem. At 2 1/2 weeks mine were flying out of their brooder box. Luckily I had just finished their coop at that time, and just moved them out into it. Sounds like you need a wire 'lid'. Better yet, some of the plastic poultry netting would be easy to work with.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Yep, you really need to put a lid on these guys. They will eventually fall to the ground and at that age they could well die of hypothermia.

One of the first things my chocks due is fly out of the brooder when I am changing water, feed or whatever. They do like to fly.

 

[wildflowers]

okay we will figure out a screen soon. I am actually not horrible;y worried about them in the garage, my husband actually cleaned i out

not saying they sill couldn't get lost out there but much less likely.

I knowI have read many things about them growing so fast but wow! I swear they double in size every day. And the way they fly now. I knew chickens flew, yeah got that. But I wasn't really prepared for how well they could fly. I love my chickies

 

[debilorrah]

Ours are in the laundry room and they get out and play and then go home again. They are confined and I always count them before I ever THINK of starting a load...... Little buggers are devious aren't they?

 

[LynneP]

Aren't they amazing? When Dorothy (aka 'Doe') began to fly at 2 weeks we knew we were in trouble! She's still the first one to fly to my shoulder in the coop or run. I was shicked at how soon they flew...nice!

 

[Nathan]

This brings back memories of the valley quail I had a few years back. Wild and accomplished fliers at one week old.

They didn't just hop out of the brooder. They took sustained flights across the room and into the second floor via the vaulted entry, perching on top of curtains. Sure was fun catching them when they all escaped during church.

But assuming I do have a top on my brooder, how tall should it be at 4-6 weeks? Mine is 9 inches interior height - I'm wondering if I have to build up.

 

[Wildsky]

I would put a top on the brooder.

My preference would be for the top to be 1/2 solid, wood or something, 1/2 wire for the lamp to shine through. A small opening on the side (wire covered) not a WHOLE side open, but just a little.

The solid top will keep the warmth in better.