I need chick info

[Winter1]

So I will be getting some chicks soon (1 of each: speckled Sussex, blue and partridge Cochins, andalusion, and black star), they are vaccinated for coccidiosis and mareks. They where hatched February 16th. And I have a couple questions
So my step dad isn't a huge animal lover so we can't have them in the house or the screened in porch. I have a 3ft by 6ft coop and I was wondering if I could fence off a part of it and put a heat lamp in there so they can stay warm, because I already have other chickens(1 ameracuana/ Easter egger mix rooster, 1 bantam Wyandotte hen, 2 silkies one hen one rooster, and a frizzled polish hen).
What age can I let my chicks loose with my other chickens?
Should I give my chicks medicated feed even if they're vaccinated?
Any other suggestions would also be helpful! Thanks! e

 

[azygous]

This article I wrote addresses every single one of your concerns. (linked below in my sig line)

Believe it or not, your step dad is doing you and your new chicks a huge favor by banning them from the house. I list many reasons why chicks benefit more from being raised outside in a coop or run than indoors in a box. That's what I call brooders. They're really like putting human toddlers in jail.

You will probably want to enlist your stepdad's help, since this is his stellar idea, to rig a safe pen for the chicks in the run, if your run can be weather-proofed, or the coop. Also look into this advanced system of heating chicks: "Mama Heating Pad for the Brooder" thread located on this forum. It's usually right on the first page, rarely the second.

 

[keesmom]

One quick side note about blue fowl, in case you get a chick of an unexpected color. Blue does not breed true. In a blue x blue breeding you can get blue, black or splash offspring. So your Cochin and Andalusian may be one of those 3 colors.

 

[Winter1]

Oh that's cool! I didn't know that. These chicks are going to be more of pets so it doesn't matter to me though

 

[Winter1]

Ok so I will get a wire dog crate, put some hardware cloth stuff around it and use the heating pad brooder. Scence I can't weatherproof the run I will just keep it in the coop and on warm days, put them in a little playpen thing in the run. I'm so excited!

 

[Winter1]

About what sized crate would I need? I will be getting 5 chicks.

 

[lazy gardener]

You're saying that you have a 3 x 6 coop that has 2 roos and 3 hens in it? And are now getting 5 more chicks to go in this 3 x 6 coop? Or am I missing something here? If this is the case, your coop is already overcrowded. Having 2 roosters will make the crowding even more noticeable. For 10 birds, I recommend that you have a coop that is at least 40 square feet (about 4 x 10, or 5 x 8) I wish you the best, and hope that you can get some help expanding your coop.

 

[Winter1]

Oh poo. Yup that's right. Would getting rid of one of my roosters help? 3 of my chickens are bantam. The run is 10 by 30. And could I just get 2-3 chicks? Btw all the chicks are pullets.

 

[lazy gardener]

That would still put 7 birds in 18 s.f. Not something I'd want to try. Especially with the integration.

 

[Winter1]

So I have an idea, since we don't have the money to get a new coop and I certainly can't build an entire coop, could I transform part of my garage into a coop? Like put a door in the back of it and attach the run to it? My mom probably won't approve but maybe I could save up a bunch of money.