I'm evicting my chicks tomorrow

[gryeyes]

But I don't think your chickens need a heat lamp. Let them feather out, it's better that way. It's ffrrreeezzzing here and mine are doing just fine

What my neighbor said!

They really need to adapt to the ambient temperatures once they are fully feathered - not full grown, but no longer dressed in down. Folks do disservice to their birds by providing supplemental heat in cold weather.

What if you lose power? Then you've got heat-dependent chickens who suffer in the sudden cold. They will become even more cold tolerant if you let them feather out naturally in the actual temperature of their living quarters. (But if you want to keep 'em cozy until they are 8 weeks old, just reduce the heat to a GREAT degree.)

Segregation/integration wise, you're doing exactly the right thing!

 

[pgpoultry]

I wouldn't let the babies into direct contact with the adults too quickly. Give then a week or so of the introduction behind wire.At the end of that stage the adults should be used to the newcomers.


When the barriers are down the dominant hen(s) may still peck and chase the chicks, so the bigger the area for integration the better. Usually the aggression amounts to nothing more than a cursory peck and then everyone is part of the flock.

I've done it dozens of times in a free range environment and have never had an aggression problem (and I have 7 roosters).

I'm sure it will be just fine.....Good Luck.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Okay, Thanks for the heat lamp advice. I do think they are ready to loose the heat lamp. The issue I have is I bring them into the garage and turn out the lights and they cry. They are not used to being in the dark. Sooner or later, they have to get used to the dark. Can 7 week old chicks get through the night w/ out food and water?

I have food and water in the dog crate but it's DARK in the garage and they can't see. So, obviously, I caved again last night and turned the heat lamp on. But it's got a 100 watt red bulb in it and it's about 4-5 feet above them so it's not giving them much in the way of heat. Just light.

I could really use some guidance there.

Also, what about rats. I know there are rats outside. I don't think I have a problem. And I do have measures in place to keep them in check. How big do the chicks need to be to be safe against rats?

The chicks are in a 3' square pen that has 1.5 by 4" openings. So rats COULD get in there. And I was going to take a sturdy box and cut a small enterance hole and run a large dowel through the middle for them to roost in for another month or until I'm ready to integrate them with the big hens. But a rat could get in there. Would they eat or go after a 1 lb. chick roosting?