I need some advice or opinions or whatever.

[jvls1942]

by 8 weeks they should not need a brooder should they?? once they are feathered out you can just hang a light low in the coop and they will huddle under it if they get chilly..

we use ten gallon aquariums for brooders.. we us adult bed liners for in the bottom.(my wife gets them free) the brooders are cleaned every day..

 

[PunkerTechnoRoo?ter]

Okay then how old should the chicks be when I take em outside ? Once thier completely feathered ? Im in Central GA so the weather never gets to the twenties so could they be placed outside at 6 weeks with a heating light outside in the coop ? I waited the entire eight weeks with my Buffs.

 

[BeardedChick]

I'm in Colorado and I kick 'em out to a sheltered run with a heat lamp at 5 weeks.

 

[jvls1942]

PunkërTeçhñöRøø§ter :

Okay then how old should the chicks be when I take em outside ? Once thier completely feathered ? Im in Central GA so the weather never gets to the twenties so could they be placed outside at 6 weeks with a heating light outside in the coop ? I waited the entire eight weeks with my Buffs.

I have a hooded brooder. I guess you would call it a regular brooder.
I put one week old chicks under it outside in an open sided lean-to shelter when there is snow on the ground.. I slide the feed and water dish under the brooder so the water does not freeze.. I keep it at 80 to 85 degrees under the hood..

I do not make it a habbit to have chicks in the winter time, but s---
happens..​

 

[BawkinOnTheBench]

Go to an appliance store (or Walmart) and see if you can get a box that a large appliance, like a stove or a washing machine came in. I had a saddle box (about 3x2) for the first brooder and added on the washing machine box when they were a couple of weeks old (and I only had 6!) That would be big enough until you kick them out at 6 weeks or so.

You won't be sorry with the EE's! My 2 are the nicest, most personable chickens I have.

 

[Smartie_Pants]

Just be aware that NOT ALL EE'S LAY COLORED EGGS! I have seen quite a few posts on here latley of people being dissapointed when their EE hen layed white or brown eggs. Just though you should be aware. Mine lays white eggs too.

 

[PunkerTechnoRoo?ter]

Which ones are the best known to lay colored eggs then ??

 

[BeardedChick]

True Ameraucanas - but you have to be careful because a lot of people & hatcheries sell EE's as Ameraucanas when they are not the same thing.

 

[LynneP]

You have enough space for 2 weeks, but then they'll be flying out!
My girl 'Doe' was on my shoulder at that age from a container that size- I opened the top and she was 13 days old.

Maybe start them and move them to bigger digs...

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Boxes from refrigerators and freezers make really nice, big, cheap and disposable brooders, too. I've done that before. I just needed to put some garden netting over the top when they got big enough to fly out.