Help me please !!! Method from chick to outside

[plecostrum]

I need a fool proof method from day one to outside lol

Struggling and lost 2 chicks one had to bring in just constant cheerp cheerp cheerp and I though a cockerel was noisy a annoyed cold chick Issa nightmare!

I have been brooder 100w.
1 week 60w
2 40w
3. 30w. Spot bulb
4 boxed in house
5 hutch in garden all sealed Perspex windows 2 older girls who tolerate
To week 8
Then to hutch no 2. With no Perspex I go out everynight and lock in the bedding area lolol
Then Market

But. At week 5. I loose them..
I would say 2 were very small not frowning so weak
This last one is a Silkie and will not nest with others gets in food bowl and squawks all day and heard it night lolol it's now in with the week old and silent lolol

I'm thinking of moving them out at week 2/3 In a hutch with lighting but food in the open end so they have to brave the cold to eat
I live in the uk it's not freezer pretty mild so far last few weeks.
I need them off heat and ready for auction April. So this new lot need to be ready! There a week old

What am I doing wrong?

 

[mrslb333]

I leave mine on heat till 6 weeks then I gradually introduce them outside. The weather is still pretty unpredictable over here at the moment and we have had a lot of temp changes I've had the same problems as the days have been mild then it gets freezing at night.
It might be worth adding a heat source to one end of the coop and see if that helps

 

[Highlander]

they need to be under a heat lamp at 95 degrees for the first week. Each week raise the lamp so the temp drops by 5 degrees until they are fully feathered out. Also, what are you feeding them?

 

[blefky]

Quote:
x 2

 

[plecostrum]

Chick crumb

Later Then I add ,
layers pellets,

Treats
Cracked corn, sunflower, meal worm mix
canary mixed seed
they never seem to like veg, rice scraps and fruit till alot older.

My non growers were a AnconaX And a ssx cross. At 6 wk they looked like 1 week
I'm guessing some fault! Rest have been fine. I did help a few from shells which I've noticed weakens them but can't say if these were those but it a thought.

As with the bulb I try to reduce the watts as my brooded lamp is a desktop table lamp lol. They are in a ply box I can't higher it really
I'll get a thermometer in there. And test it!

There's a spot bulb on 30w. At all times separate incase of a bulb blowout on main light but I move that out at 3/4 wks

 

[Highlander]

How old are they when you start giving them layers pellets? I feed mine chick crumbs exclusively (no treats, no corn, no scraps) until they are 8 weeks old. Then I switch to Grower. I don't move on to layer food until around 20 week or when they start laying. If your 6 week olds looked like 1 week olds then i would say you need to look at your feeding practices.

 

[plecostrum]

Last time at 6 wks I put them on the window sill so they got a colder temp at night. Before moving to hutch.

My friend broods hers from day one in her shed. So out from under the lamps it's cold

I think as I'm indoors the temp is still too warm without lights etc that's where I'm struggling!

The Room isn't heated it's my kitchen so cooker and a small oil filled rad lol. It's from 10-20 degs in there

 

[ranchhand]

I'm having a bit of trouble deciphering your first post, but I think it would answer a lot of your questions if you read the basics here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-first60days.html

I suspect temperature and feed are your biggest issues. 20 degrees Celsius is about 68F. MUCH too cold.

They should NOT be on layer feed until 18-20 weeks or the first egg.

 

[Casey76]

I'd say you were reducing the heat far to quickly. At this time of year, they won't be ready to go off heat until about 8 - 10 weeks if they are outside.

During the first week the brooder needs to be 95*F / 33*C, reduce this by 5*F / 3*C every week for 5 weeks, at which point they are usually pretty feathered and can go off heat during the day, with heat still on at night.

OR

You can use an electic hen, which decreases electric use, and lengthen the legs every week - but if you have a lot of chicks, traditional infra red bulbs or ceramic dull emitters are better.

For the first weeks feed only chick crumb (medicated or not it is your own choice), then slowly switch over to growers. They don't need layers until they have laid thier first egg.

 

[plecostrum]

Sorry for confusion.

I only start mixing food at 8-10 wks plus. As this is when they get integrated with older chicks/birds

We don't have a growers supplier local! I'll look into this ..

My brooder is a large plastic container like toy box
I have a 100w incandescent bulb in. They do not gather under it so it's very warm. They have this for 1 week
I reduce to a 60w. Week 2
40w. Week 3.4. 5
30w spot. 6.
25w. Night.and warm Days outsides 7 8
Then i Move to very well insulated hutch with Perspex windows wood covered under run. And at night enclose in the box section.

The 2 chicks were rejects. They just didn't grow can't see it being food as all others have progressed fine. Lost 2 to night temps
These were all eating eggs but the supposedly pure breeds are the problems

I just worry and the first time still had chicks inside at 12 wks I panicked they'd die outside lol hubby's not impressed


I can sell at auction at 6 wks but how can. I when there still heat dependant lol

My friend has hers in shed with light and they are out in a coop at 6 wks! Is she doing wrong ! Too quick

I will admit if I run out of crumb they get what I have I need a new supplier he runs out !! Often. I'm in a town chickens aren't really pets here I have to travel 15miles to get supplies every weds. Lol

I have brooded 3 lots now hope I'm doing ok. My first 2 lots are out now took a bit too long I'm sure.

Anyone else got chickens in the kitchen?? Or am I just mad!!