I'm a newbie from Auberry, California (5000' above Fresno)

[imamtgrandma2]

Howdy! I'm new here and new to being a chicken mommy. I do, however, have 4 cage birds. An African Grey, a Sun Conure, a Dusky Conure and a Lutino Cockatiel.
I'm sooooo excited

because my 4 babies are coming May 17.

I've ordered 1 of each (all females)...an Easter Egger - we'll name her Cadbury, an Australorp - we'll probably name her Bindi after Steve Irwin's daughter, a Partridge Cochin - definitely naming her Shirley (for the Partridge Family), and a Silver Laced Wyandotte - don't have a clue what to name this one although they describe her as looking like she's dressed for a ball so maybe Princess.
I'm getting one of those portable coops for the time being until we decide what innovations we want to include in our permanent model and where we want to put it.

Has anyone raised chicks in the bathtub? At least the first couple of days??? I was thinking that at least we could keep an eye on them with our periodic visits. The door would be closed to discourage visits from the cats and dogs.
I hate to put them in the garage which IS quite cold this time of year - plus verrrry dark.
Did I say how excited I am?

:

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

from Vermont!

I think the bathtub will be fine, although they grow very quickly, so it may only work for a couple of weeks.

BYC is full of great info and friendly people; I'm sure you'll love it!

Nice to have you here!!

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Welcome from the Central Coast. Yes, I can tell you are excited and I'm sure with your experience you'll do fine. Haven't heard of using the bathtub as a brooder. Cleaning may be difficult as sides are not straight and litter (pine shavings) may be hard to get out. A brooder can be a simple cardboard box. Best of luck and

.

 

[imamtgrandma2]

cambriagardener - I love your webcam.
If I do the bathtub thing - I figure I could just shop vac the mess when someone (hubby) is holding/managing the babies. I'm sure it wouldn't work when they are getting bigger but the first week or two - until our weather warms up a bit - I think it might be feasible.
Once the snow melts around here the garage will warm up and we can put the "starter" cardboard brooder next to the wood pile that we won't have to access any longer.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio. Good luck with your chicks.

 

[Bantimna]

Welcme from South Africa!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

 

[tinahoak]

Hi, my name is Tina and I am new here too.
As for your question of raising chicks in a bathtub.... I have done it in a stand up shower. I placed a plastic bag down first , then news paper to soak up anything wet, and placed non cedar wood chips over the top. The plastic bag kept unwanted things from going down my drain. I placed a baby gate across the front of the shower stall ( as I just have a curtain, not a door style) this works fine as long as you have a spare tub or shower. I was able to hang a heat lamp over the baby gate.



Tina

..................
raising egg and meat chickens for 4 years
currently have 19 hens ( orpingtons, austrolorps, barred rock, cochins, speckled sussex, salmon faverelles, and americunas ) 1 cochin rooster.
2 black silkie chicks, 2 light braham female chicks and lotsa cornish rock meat chicks!
And 2 dogs that are wonderful with my "girls"( and guy)

 

[Iheartmyhens]

Hi from California too-I'm near LA.

We did the bathtub chick thing-it's messy but doable.

This time around we got some pullets several months old-hard to find but worth the wait...

 

[Lotsapaints]

Hi from Paso Robles

Chickens will thrive just about anyplace you keep warm enough for them. The shop vac idea is great too. We're very cool for us today you must have new snow burrrrr The more you hang out here the more chickens you'll have