Integrating chicks into flock at 4 weeks old.

[termeerchick]

This topic/technique doesn't apply to a broody with chicks....that's a whole other scenario, mostly about mama integrating back into the flock.
@termeerchick Would be good to start a new thread here about how to do this.
Lots of different things can happen.

Thank You @aart!! I will definitely start a new thread to see what everyone suggests. Lol I need all the pointers I can get, I’ve never done this before.

 

[Ted Brown]

@aart Guess I should have known you would have the answers.

We have eight chicks from our recent incubation, now 3-9 days old and in a plastic box that already seems small.



My main concern was how to get them ready to put into the coop as the temperatures drop (one night last Friday below 0C but normally in the 5-15C range until at least November) but also what should I get/construct for their next weeks inside the house.

Your article provides answers to both questions and probably a host of others that I have not thought of. I discussed with sister (departure October 26th) and we very quickly agreed to set next weekend as the target for the move. Also ordered a Brinsea EcoGlo 600 last night as it is inexpensive, accommodates chick growth and avoids the project that your Pseudo Mama Pad entails.

I will utilize the area under the drop board/roosts; ~2' by 10', largely unused except for a random egg which I want to discourage. Will construct a mimic of your enclosure board.

 

[aart]

but also what should I get/construct for their next weeks inside the house

Just a bigger cardboard box should do for another week. Keep the ambient temp in the room where brooder is as cool as possible to ease the transition to outdoors.

Also ordered a Brinsea EcoGlo 600 last night as it is inexpensive, accommodates chick growth

That model will adjust to height, but it's kinda small(12x8") for 8 chicks, they may out grow it before the 4-6 week fully feathered stage, might want to buy another.
Also keep a close eye on them, not sure how accurate their CYA is:
"IMPORTANT: This product is for indoor use only and the room temperature should not drop below 50°F (10°C)."

Will construct a mimic of your enclosure board.

Blackdogs design might better suit your coop.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
My chick area has walk-in access.

You might want to start another thread about building your brooder area in the coop.

 

[Ted Brown]

@aart Sister and I have done more talking, reading, looking. Main decisions are to forgo the Brinsea (I had missed the "inside only" qualifier) and use your heating pad approach (I looked for other pads with auto-off disable but descriptions are vague on this so will use the Sunbeam you referenced).

I have looked at the various other designs including blackdog, somehow I can visualize your design "fitting" more easily into my coop setup so will continue with that. I will extend it to fit my 10' wide space under drop board and use a closed section outside panel on one end where I will mount my existing heat lamp; I expect/want the heating pad to become the preferred spot so will likely only use the lamp if needed and only for a short transition period.

I have most of the materials in hand, will only need to buy a sheet of 1/4 luan and the electrical bits (will need wire, pvc pipe to run about 60' to and inside the coop, outdoor electrical boxes some with covers). Goal remains to have the chicks in the coop this weekend.

 

[aart]

but descriptions are vague on this

There has been much discussion on this, the amazon descriptions are vague and confusing.

I have looked at the various other designs including blackdog, somehow I can visualize your design "fitting" more easily into my coop setup so will continue with that. I will extend it to fit my 10' wide space under drop board and use a closed section outside panel on one end where I will mount my existing heat lamp;

Be careful with that heat lamp.
Can't wait to see what you come up with....just make sure you can easily access the whole brooder area.

 

[Ted Brown]

...Be careful with that heat lamp.

To clarify - I understand the risks from a heat lamp to be:

1. Insecure attachment and the fixture get knocked off/broken onto easily flammable materials (I will use a permanently mounted plastic electrical box, ceramic base and ceramic "bulb").
2. Dust build-up on the bulb/fixture which then ignites.

Are there other risks?

 

[bruceha2000]

WHY do you want to use a heat lamp at all?? No chicken over 4 weeks (fully feathered) needs external heat. With the Mama Heating pad cave (or flat plate if you prefer) younger birds get the heat they need when they need it and aren't subject to overheating by a lamp.

 

[Ted Brown]

WHY do you want to use a heat lamp at all?? No chicken over 4 weeks (fully feathered) needs external heat. With the Mama Heating pad cave (or flat plate if you prefer) younger birds get the heat they need when they need it and aren't subject to overheating by a lamp.

We have had chickens for about 4 weeks now and the chicks for 4-10 days. Largely feeling our way with guidance from folks such as yourself.

Our weather is similar to yours, probably a wee bit colder. We have had one night below freezing, a frost warning yesterday and today but there several days of 5C forecast. This week we are in the 14-17C range during the day, next week expect a 5C drop so 9-13C range.

I will be running a 20Amp 110V circuit to the coop in the next couple of days so have capacity and wiring in the heat lamp box/receptacle will take 15-30 minutes so electrical is not a consideration.

My chicks will go into the coop this weekend at which point they will be ~2 weeks old. I was thinking the heat lamp would provide extra heat during the sudden drops below 0C for the next couple of weeks but want them acclimatized as soon as possible because I will not be heating the coop through the winter. If I can forego the heat lamp and get them acclimatized sooner so much the better. Sounds like you are saying AFTER 4 WEEKS that can be done?

Much appreciated.

 

[bruceha2000]

Somewhere in here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/
@Blooie recounts raising Scout in sub freezing temps out in the coop with a MHP.

When it is cold, the chicks will stay in their MHP cave/under their MHP shelter. I believe they will acclimate sooner if they do not have a constant temp from the heat lamp.

9 C is 48F, 13C is 55F. I had 3 day old chicks out with a hen in those temperatures. They slept under the hen at night and were running around during the day, returning to their heat source when needed. One major difference between a MHP and a hen is that the hen can travel with the chicks. They have to go back to the MHP.

Obviously you can choose to use the heat lamp. Maybe set it up so it is available but don't turn it on right away. Let them have their MHP and watch them. Generally speaking if they won't stay in, it is too hot, if they won't come out, it is too cold. If they come and go it is just right.

 

[Ted Brown]

I will be moving eight chicks into the coop this afternoon. They will be behind a "wall" modeled on aart's in her integration article (see below,link is in post 1 above) and under the drop board at the back in a Woods coop.

The chicks are mostly around 3 weeks old, we will keep the "doors" closed for about a week and then will open them to begin the integration process.

I will be putting the brooder plate I built in their segregated area along with two roosts of about 30" long, food and water containers (plus other play bits). We will monitor to see if they use their roosts during the night.

We will also monitor their integration during the evenings/nights to see if/when they will begin to use the larger roosts in the main coop area.

I am curious:

1. how long this may take;
2. if we may have to "train" them to use those bigger roosts
3. if yes to 2 when we should start the training.