How long in the house?

[Summer98]

When raising day-old chicks, how long can you have them in the house before you have to move them outside into their coop? I read about the temperature thing. When I get them, I am planning on using a large rubbermaid tote to house them with the heat lamp hanging above. I'm just wondering how fast they grow, where they get too big to be in the rubbermaid tote any longer?

 

[Tripp16]

Quote:
I guess it depends on the rubbermaid tote. Yes they grow ast very, very fast! With in 4 weeks they will look like mini chickens! It also depends on how many you get if you have like 10 in one tote it will most likely get crammed quickly.

They could most likely stay in there until you get something else. After my first chicks I dont raise them inside I raise them in my garage!

 

[maybejoey]

I usually keep them In for 2 months or until they feather out (whatever comes last). But I think I keep them in a little bit long.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Ours are never in the house. My wife would never allow the dust and smells.

We brood outside in the barn, although I've used the garage once. As long as you can maintain the required warmth, it is irrelevant where the brooder is.

As for how big the brooder should be, about twice as big as you might imagine. They grow tremendously fast, from hatch to adult life in 16 weeks. That is fast. Have the coop ready before ordering chicks or coinciding with your order. Folks get caught off guard and it is tough, really tough when you aren't prepared properly.