Hello from Central Valley California

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Farmer Joe

Farmer Joe

Hatching
5 Years
Mar 17, 2014
9
1
9
Northern California
Been learning a bunch off of this site for a few years now. I love having my chickens around. Just took home three chicks (reds) for my first go at raising chicks. I've always had mature chickens so this is going to be a new experience. I'm sure I'll have some questions for you guys to help me through.
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Farmer Joe said:
Been learning a bunch off of this site for a few years now. I love having my chickens around. Just took home three chicks (reds) for my first go at raising chicks. I've always had mature chickens so this is going to be a new experience. I'm sure I'll have some questions for you guys to help me through.
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well first things first you got to have a brooder for them it can be any thing really as long as it can hold in heat i use a plastic storage tote for small broods then you must have a heat source i use one light bulb also the temp in the brooder has to be about 97 degrees for the first week or so after that you drop it a few degrees but most of all watch the chicks if they huddle up right under the light you need more heat if they try to get away from the light its too hot and above all make sure they stay dry and always have a fresh supply of food and water
 
Thanks for the info. I've got them in a large breed dog kennel with pine shavings and a heat lamp with reflector. I don't have a thermometer so I'll watch to see how they respond to the heat of the lamp.
How long do you keep them in the brooder?
 
Farmer Joe said:
Thanks for the info. I've got them in a large breed dog kennel with pine shavings and a heat lamp with reflector. I don't have a thermometer so I'll watch to see how they respond to the heat of the lamp.
How long do you keep them in the brooder?
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that depends on the outside temp i usually keep them in there for 4 weeks but like i said it depends on the outside temp after four weeks they can handle low temps in the 50s or so but there again it depends on how many you have together and how warm your coop stays i have a small brooder and a big one right now i have about 100 one and a half week old chicks in the big brooder and i just moved my 4 week olds to a coop outside by themselves away from the grown hens
 
I live in the central valley of California so its pretty warm here already.
I got these chicks from the local Tractor Supply this weekend. I have no idea how old they are, but I'll probably keep these chicks inside for a while longer than 4 weeks. I'll then move them to the small coop. (I may keep the heat lamp on in there at night at first if it gets cold)
I have a big coop for my mature chickens and I have a small tractor type coop that I am going to move these chicks into that sits next to the big coop. This way all the chickens and chicks can get acquainted while still safely separated by fencing.
Thanks for talking with me here. I really appreciate the insight.
 
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Welcome to BYC!

That is what we are here for, all those questions!!

Enjoy your new babies and it is great to have you aboard!
 

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