Help..space issues!

[nhblond]

I am having a space issue. Mine are two weeks old approximately, and they are in a 30 gallon plastic tote in the bottom of a shower stall that we don't use in our laundry room bathroom. We live in NH and did have nice weather but are now having a cold snap. Really would rather move them down to the barn with their heat light and figure out something a little bigger. We are converting a shed for their coop but haven't had a chance to work on it, hoping to this weekend. I do have a dog exercise pen that I am thinking of using in the barn. I would have to wrap it in plastic hardware cloth that I have. But I am worried it wouldn't be enough heat??? Can I PLEASE have some suggestions? Haven't had anything over the top of the tote, but had a piece of plastic hardware cloth propped up with bricks against the front of the shower stall. It decided it didn't want to stay put, so I have put it on top of the tote. Just need to make sure it doesn't get too hot. One of the NH Reds jumped up and perched on the side of the tote, and then jumped down in between the tote and the shower stall wall while I was in there. That prompted putting in on top of the tote.

I have four NH Reds and two Aracaunas. I got them from two different people privately, not a grain store or hatchery (didn't need a whole dozen). As far as feathers, they have their wing feathers and the NH Reds have little tail feathers (except for one?) and some on their backs. They seem like they are growing pretty fast. I did have to raise the heat lamp a whole bunch of times. Even though the temp in the bottom was about 90 degrees, noticed them staying out from under it and last night saw one panting. Now they seem to be comfortable as far as temp goes. Still on my first cup of coffee (slacker) and think the thermometer said about 80 degrees.

Do you ever stop worrying about them??? I doubt it since I am this way with all my "kids"

 

[kateseidel]

About the worrying: I figure I just multiplied my gray hairs by 16 !! I am not obsessive (too much else to do for that), but...I do spend a good bit of time hovering over them.

I have 16 chicks, two weeks old, living in a brooder in my basement (I'm in Charlotte, NC - it was in the 30's last night - brrrr). The brooder is 2' x 4' x 2' - and I don't think I will be able to push them past 4 weeks in the thing. At two weeks, they are able to fly to the top of the 2', have not yet figured out they could easily fly out, but we've had it covered from Day 1. I am worried they will make a run for it during cleaning and feeding time - and if they get out in the basement, I will never find and/or catch them!!

These are destined to be free range chickens, so while I have a big coop, I do not have an enclosed fenced area for them. Today's plan is that I will move them to the coop when they hit 4 weeks, hang a heat lamp in the coop, and keep them there for the next 4 weeks before letting them outside. I'd like to take them out for a field trip, but the idea of transporting 16 crazy chicks is a bit daunting. But who knows - my plans seem to change daily!!

Chicks in action
http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/KateAndJoe/?action=view&current=MVI_0484.flv


The brooder (it seemed plenty big pre-chick)

The brooder - fully occupied

Close up of Lucy - looking a bit like a velociraptor

The waiting chicken coop

 

[nhblond]

Wow, beautiful shed for the coop!!!
The more I think about it and looking at pics of the brooders on the thread on here, I am determined to try and set up the exercise pen in the barn. Of course I also have paddock to work on for the horses (moving them so we can work on the riding arena), and about a million other projects! The other good thing about the exercise pen is that I can slide dowels through for perches, and it is pretty tall so less chance of escape. Although I will probably plan on metal hardware cloth, chicken wire, or 2x4 wire on top just in case.

I will try to post pics when it is done. Trying to give myself permission to take the whole weekend to get it done, but you know how that goes.....

Thanks for your pics, they help relieve some of my guilt which is probably unjustified!

 

[poultryfan73]

Quote:
Very Nice coop by the way.. and i do think yours could make it to 4 weeks.

 

[poultryfan73]

Quote:
I am the same way. I think the excercise pen would work with the head lamp. Thats what i do with mine and i never have any problems. As long as theres enough heat they will be fine. Luckily i dont get my chicks from Mcmurray till after schools over so i can watch them all the time and not have to worry! Best of luck with your birds.

 

[nhblond]

What is it they say about a woman's right to change her mind.....

I have decided that I don't think they would be warm enough, so this is what I am in the process of doing...

I set up the exercise pen in the tack room of the old barn, but I have put a rubbermaid horse trough in the pen. I will deeply line the trough with shavings, and the heat lamp will hang down over them. Actually having husband pick up second heat lamp with another red bulb as we speak. Not sure if I will use both of them, but probably I will because it is 10:25 am and it is a balmy 27 degrees! I was freezing in the barn just starting to set things up. I should also be able to put a couple small perches in the trough. I still need to patch a hole in side of trough (husband trying to chip ice out with large pointed metal implement when being used for horses, grrr). I am going to use a small piece of cardboard and duck tape

Having husband also pick up another thermometer to use in the trough. The one I have is stuck to tote with adhesive. Besides, I might want one in each end of trough and can pull off the one I have after chicks are out of it.

The trough is pretty tall, but might put something over top just in case. They would definitely be frozen if they managed to get out of the trough.

Once they do move into the pen it will be awesome because they will have a ton of room and I found a cd rack that I can lay on it's side for a great perch! Plus I can easily move trough out of pen to get pen finished. Will need to use plastic hardware cloth and draft guard, etc.

Yay, later on today I can do laundry without worrying that I will give them a heart attack!

Poor things, they started out in the barn their first night, then moved into laundry room, now moving back to barn....