Heating Coop for chicks in the winter...

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UrbanHenKW123 said:
You definitely make some good points there about integration. It may be tight but I'd try to keep them all inside as long as possible. They're almost three weeks now right? I think that size of brooder should be ok for another 3 weeks. You can start having them outside in short spurts at around 4-5 weeks. But very short seeing as its pretty chilly out. This will help them climatize to the cool air. Then doing daytime in the coop for a few days then outside once they're completely feathered.
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Good points. In a couple weeks I’ll start doing little trips to the coop and run, eventually all day outside and in that dog kennel thingy at night, and then finally out for good.
 
I'm in Loveland, just up the road a bit, and I used seedling mats. Fairly inexpensive on Amazon (2 for $24 when I got mine) and then you can add more if needed. I use them over a roasting rack first when they're teeny, and when done they're good for lining a rollout nest box to keep eggs from freezing and in spring for their intended purpose.
 
aart said:
Yep, and turn off the heat in the shop now.
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Roger that. I had then set at 55 and just turned it down to 50 and will keep knocking it down every couple days. I have to keep it around 40° at the lowest because my husband doesn’t want pipes freezing in there.
 
sunrise.superman said:
I'm in Loveland, just up the road a bit, and I used seedling mats. Fairly inexpensive on Amazon (2 for $24 when I got mine) and then you can add more if needed. I use them over a roasting rack first when they're teeny, and when done they're good for lining a rollout nest box to keep eggs from freezing and in spring for their intended purpose.
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Hello fellow Coloradan! That’s a wonderful idea.
 
BluebirdHomestead said:
View attachment 1973408 View attachment 1973407 Hey there,

Curious what some people with experience think about my current situation. I have 10 chicks that are 2.5 weeks old and 3 little pullets that are 9 weeks old today. I have them all in my heated work shop as of now. I’d love to get them out of there sooner rather than later. I’m working on integrating them all now with a see, but don’t touch situation. The babies are being raised under heating plates are are feathering out rather quickly! My pullets that I did under a light took FOREVER.

For context, I am in Longmont, Colorado. We have fairly cold winters but nothing like farther north. It will be in the teens most nights. I am generally against heating chicken coops, especially with a heat lamp. I have no plans of doing that. But I’d love to get them in the coop in the next few weeks and the littler ones will need some sort of supplemental heat. I have been looking at mounting a sweeter heater in there. It’s more than I want to spend, but I am not willing of doing anything that risks fire. Thoughts? Do I have other options? I could of course put their heating plate in there, but I think they will have outgrown it by then. The coop is 3x8 feet. I don’t plan on keeping them all in there together once their big. I’ll be picking my favorites. I also have a second coop. But for winter they will all be in there.
Pic of current situation that they will quickly outgrow attached as well as coop (and yes I’m adding more ventilation). ;)

Thanks!
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My 17 hen chicks were 2 weeks 5 days when I had only 1 egg hatch in incubator so I brought 2 hen chicks up to brooder they acted like they were its mom and took care of her and taught her to eat and drink and cuddled her you might try 1 pullet if hen and watch her behavior and just add them till all are in 1 pen
 
shewolf56 said:
My 17 hen chicks were 2 weeks 5 days when I had only 1 egg hatch in incubator so I brought 2 hen chicks up to brooder they acted like they were its mom and took care of her and taught her to eat and drink and cuddled her you might try 1 pullet if hen and watch her behavior and just add them till all are in 1 pen
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Awww that’s so sweet. How perfect! I have wondered if adding one of the big girls in with them first would make sense before then introducing the other 2...I just am not sure which I would do it with though. 1 of the Swedish Flower Hens is clearly the boss hen. She has been so outgoing and a very big personality from day 1. Would be nervous putting her in. I kind of think the BCM is turning out to be a rooster so definitely wouldn’t do that one. That leaves the more mellow of the 2 Flower Hens. She is hard for me to read so I’m not sure how that would go but that might be worth a try.
 
BluebirdHomestead said:
Awww that’s so sweet. How perfect! I have wondered if adding one of the big girls in with them first would make sense before then introducing the other 2...I just am not sure which I would do it with though. 1 of the Swedish Flower Hens is clearly the boss hen. She has been so outgoing and a very big personality from day 1. Would be nervous putting her in. I kind of think the BCM is turning out to be a rooster so definitely wouldn’t do that one. That leaves the more mellow of the 2 Flower Hens. She is hard for me to read so I’m not sure how that would go but that might be worth a try.
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did she become boss before or after little ones arrived if after she may be broody and would do great so try her first. If before it could be she is trying to be mom of the other 2 in her pen. Be sure not to be to quick to intervene give them time to adjust just monitor calmly
 

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