How to keep them warm

PeepersMomma93

In the Brooder
Apr 8, 2015
16
0
22
Texas
Im am currently raising my second round of chicks ( six red sex links) and they are 2 and a half weeks old. My dad just made me put them outside and wont let me bring them in :( Im really worried about them and it is only 75 outside. How can I keep them warm at night? How can I keep the snakes away? Every night I do a chicken check and search the whole coop for snakes but I am still worried about them. Thank you for any and all advice
 
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They ought to still be in a brooder at that age, until at least 6 weeks when they are fully feathered. They need a heat lamp, at least. As for keeping predators out, you need to proof the coop. Are there other chickens in there with them?
 
Yes but they are a year old. The coop is very predator proof but last year when the older flock was just a month old a rat snake killed one so I am a bit paranoid. I cant have a heat light as there is no electricity but I do have them all in a little hut I made from two boxes. They can go in and out as they please but it does a good job of keeping their body heat in. The older ones cannot get into it
 
Keeping chicks in a brooder in the coop is fine, but the coop needs to be predator and pest proof. 1/2 hardware mesh over all openings will keep snakes out. Can you construct something in the coop for them (hardware cloth cage?). If you have older chickens the threat is more from them. And do you have electricity available for a heat source?
 
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A box isn't going to keep a baby chick warm. There's a good chance you'll lose them, if not to cold nights than to the older chickens.

And extension cord will run electricity out to the coop, or put them in the garage. You can't throw baby chicks in with adult chickens, they will hurt/maim/kill them.
 
I know, that's what I thought. Tonight is supposed to be 70 for the low so they shouldn't be too cold. So far only 1 chicken made an attempt to peck at them and that was when 4 of the 6 tried to run to her. They have their own food and water inside of the shelter right now. Im going to try to make a shelter for them now with hardwire cloth. Wish me luck
 

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