How long do chickens need to stay in brooder?

[Blooie]

Agree. My first ones were 5.5 weeks old and their first night out it got down to 18 degrees. We didn't expect that, but they were fine. That was on April 1st and our last snowfall that year was on June 6th. Glad I hadn't kept them in the house THAT long! Have that ice cream - and you can even wash it down with a glass of wine if you'd like!

 

[chickwhisperer 17]

Get a bowl of vanilla ice cream, add your favorite fruit, and enjoy. Relax and enjoy yourself, they will be fine.

Yeah I know, easier said than done. But they will be fine. Mine have gone through nights in the mid 20's at that age without

 

[chickwhisperer 17]

Thank you Ridgerunner for answering my question and easing my mind. So worried. And one of them was being Peck to the point of bleeding so I cleaned it and put blu kote and Peck no more stuff

 

[chickwhisperer 17]

Agree. My first ones were 5.5 weeks old and their first night out it got down to 18 degrees. We didn't expect that, but they were fine. That was on April 1st and our last snowfall that year was on June 6th. Glad I hadn't kept them in the house THAT long! Have that ice cream - and you can even wash it down with a glass of wine if you'd like!

 

[chickwhisperer 17]

Thank you Blooie for your advice too. It eases my mind. Love my 12 girls. What about the pecking. One is bleeding and I put blu kote and Peck no more stuff

 

[Ridgerunner]

Sometimes, not always but sometimes, the other chickens will peck at a raw sore, basically becoming cannibals. Your treatment may work, probably will, but keep an eye on her. If another chicken is pecking at her wound you need to isolate her until the wound heals.

 

[chickwhisperer 17]

Sometimes, not always but sometimes, the other chickens will peck at a raw sore, basically becoming cannibals. Your treatment may work, probably will, but keep an eye on her. If another chicken is pecking at her wound you need to isolate her until the wound heals.

What else can I use

 

[chickwhisperer 17]

What else can I use? A friend told me pine tar

 

[slordaz]

I would have to say a lot depends on what your climate in your area is.the birds themselves, where they are being brooded the space etc. I'm up north and brooded one batch inside and they were wanting out by 1 1/2-2 weeks so took them out as tolerated then brought them back in for about 4 weeks to acclimatize them, the others 2 broods did one in the coop and they could come and go as they pleased and some were out most of the day by 3-4 weeks, while the other the broody took them out from day after they finished hatching but she did all the work and felt sorry for the rest of them cause even the mean rooster was scared of her. When it was just babies brooding in their coop it was extra secure though due to not having adults to deter anything that might go in so they did have to have a lot closer supervision when out even in a tractor. Ultimately you will have to decide how much work you want to do and how you want to manage your flock. One thing I noticed though was they didn't even want much heat from the lamp for more than a a few days in the smaller inside lamp even coming right out of the incubator, best thing you can do is watch them for the signs the others already mentioned, They will let you know what they need. if you don't have adult birds they are going to imprint and depend on you, that's why I have a couple that keep trying to get back in the house , they will even knock at the door lol.

 

[slordaz]

What else can I use? A friend told me pine tar

I have used isolation of the trouble maker and blue kote after about a month old,