Get your Chicks out the box

[kcfuerst]

Regarding being harsh, the words did seem a little that way to me. Typically when the word "you" is used, it can feel to others as if the finger is pointing to them in an accusatory manner, even when it is not intended. For example, instead of saying, "the way you are keeping chickens" (which someone could take personally) could be stated something like "some people keep chickens", or "the way some chickens are kept".

My dozen chicks are now 11 weeks old. I loved having my babies in the house until they were seven weeks old. It gave us quality time to bond together, and provided time to intensely study each and every one of them, and give them each a name. They enjoyed, and still do, being held and petted and follow me wherever I go. Some believe that this helps to make them more friendly, and it has proven true for me. To be honest, it was a lot more work having them in the house than to be outside, but it was well worth it. Now when they go outside, they stick around having a good time in the great outdoors as they please.

I vote for everyone to do what's best for the chicks' health and wellbeing. Mine are happy, that's what counts for me.

 

[Stef]

Woops

Which seems Harsher

1 . "The way you are keeping your chicken"

2. "your tone is a little harsh. I hope that is just my reading of your post? It could be a little offensive to some"

:|

I will try to watch the use of my You's in future

Please take me with a light hearted view. I'm too daft to be harsh

 

[Stef]

I have been asked to supply some pics of the Triangle we use for our chicks. I built this from scraps around the garden and a very small amount of chicken wire.

It has two handles built into the roof (ie the roof beam extends beyond the triangle) I rounded them off for comfortable carrying. It means when we want to isolate the baby bunnies they can be moved to fresh grass. The bottom of the triangle is half mesh, half open which helps greatly with Hygiene (dirty cage? move it

)

We have had many different animal babes in it over the years, it proves a very useful all purpose isolation and nursery unit.

Stef

 

[keljonma]

Great pics, Stef!

 

[mandolinmama]

Thanks Stef!
Those pics will really come in handy when I get ready to build mine. I didn't see the shaded area of it before - that's really nice! You don't have to constantly move it to keep part of it shaded.
If it would quit raining, i'll get out there and build one for my gang. If I get it built, i'll post pictures.

 

[GoPups]

I don't think your tone was harsh at all. I see you are from France so I would assume that English is your second language, and if that's the case, then different word choice is forgivable!

I think you're right and I wholeheartedly agree with you. I had a couple baby chicks a while back. One was acting very quiet, down, and unsocial, and it concerned me. I took them out in the yard (at a week old in warm weather) and she totally changed. She started peeping and flapping her wings. From then on she was fine, and I took them out every day. They really do enjoy their time outside. I think it's the best thing you can do for them.

 

[Frizzledhen]

I wish I had seen this post before. Now don't get me wrong, I love my Bantys!
BUT, after watching the temp very closley, going from 95 degrees to 70 degrees at a 5 degree drop per week, keeping them out of drafts, protecting them from verman and cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning, the results..................chicken dust EVERY WHERE...........computer quit working - $249 to clean it, furnace quit working - $186 to clean it, DAYS to clean chicken dust from every surface in the house and MY LUNGS will never be the same again - x-ray, cat scan, pulmanary specialist, medication and anxiety to boot. I wish I knew that those 37 little banty butts didn't need to stay in my house for 8 weeks. Out of neccesity, I kicked them out but was still thinking they needed to be kept in where I could control the temp to exact specifications. They are doing great and loving the freedom from there cardboard box which had to be expanded 3 times. They still have a heat lamp but would rather be out doing chicken things than setting under the lamp. This was my first time with chickens and probably won't be my last, but the next batch will live in the coop and not in my puter room. I think all new chicken lovers should be told about "CHICKEN DUST" the problems it causes both to mechanical things and to human lungs. After all of this, I brought home 11 more bantys from the feed store 2 days ago. They are in a cardboard box in my kitchen.

But you can bet that they will be outside in just 3 weeks before the chicken dust starts to take over my house again. My new chickies are white silkies, black banty frizzles and red banty frizzles. I couldn't leave the poor little things in the feed store on a wire bottom cage. Guess I am hooked like the rest of you in spite of the "CHICKEN DUST".

Gayle
Chi lady in Michigan

 

[Menagerie]

You have happy little chicks there. I agree get them out and in the grass pecking away after a few days when they start getting active. That is what the mom would do. Looks like a great place you have there.

 

[allen wranch]

I hope I didn't say somewhere that chicks needed to be in the house for 8 weeks !

Chickens are raised differently depending on the weather, brooder, coop set-up, household pets, predators, neighbors, spouses, parents, etc.

Baby chicks are delicate at hatch. If they don't have a mama to keep them warm and show them where to find food and water, it becomes our responsibility. Keeping them inside for a while gives us a chance to get them off to a good start and enjoy interacting with them.

However, I agree they need to get out, get some sunshine, have more room and learn how to be chickens. I usually try to kick mine out to the coop at about 2 weeks because I can't stand the dander and they are getting too big for the brooder. They still get a heat lamp if the weather is chilly, but the coop is bigger and they can regulate where they want to be to get comfortable.

Temperature regulation of 95°, then lower 5° each week, etc. is based on how chicks normally feather out and conserve heat. It is the basic recommendation for new chick owners, but it is not set in stone. As you gain more experience, you tweak your set-up to what works best for you and the chicks.

Should you put your babies outside at an early age? Maybe, maybe not.
-Do you have a place to put them where they will be protected?
-Is it warm outside?
-Is it the rainy season?
-Is it freezing or below and you have no way to provide supplement heat?
-Are the chicks so small that they can slip through the fencing and become your dog’s next meal?
-Are they so small that they are snake bait?
-Can other chickens get to them?

 

[franfoley]

This sounds like a good idea to me. I am a newbie also but it seems that if the temperature is in a reasonable range the chicks could go outside on warm days.

I have only had my little ones for one (1) week. I received 26 of (rare breed assortment) them from MM on the 23rd of April. I lost one the first night. I wanted to have a different kinds of birds and eggs are of secondary importance.

Unfornately another died last night. He seemed to be lethargic and wasn't eating/drinking like the rest of the group. Hmm what do you call a bunch of baby chicks.

I cut down the box my washer came in longwise (2ft X 3ft) put wood shavings in the bottom with a feeder and waterer. Attached a red heat lamp and a temperture gauge. They seem to be doing fine.

The first night we kept them on our front porch but it seemed a little drafty so we moved indoors with the box.

I would post pics but don't know how to do that maybe someone could email me and tell me how to put up pics on the forum.

Would love any feedback anyone might have to help me be a good chick mom.