I've Lost It Completely-Yep, Nuts, Just Nuts

[speckledhen]

My very first bunch of girls went out to the 8x8 coop with a 125 heat lamp suspended about 2' above the floor at 4 weeks of age. This was at the end of February. Sometime about two weeks later, the temps were about 12 degrees overnight. They did just fine. My coop was insulated and draft free, the latter of which is really the key.

 

[BirdBrain]

Now, Aran...Friend....wasn't it you that was limited to...let's see, wasn't it 16 or so birds? Way back when you were lamenting that you couldn't get any more and would have to be satisfied with the low number. What has happened to you? You let yourself go and now look at you. You are hopelessly addicted to a wonderful hobby. Need any more eggs?

 

[MissPrissy]

I know I NEED more eggs.

 

[aran]

BB i know mate my missus originally said no more than 12 birds and that was an increase from the original plan of 6 but you know what the hobby gives her as much joy as it does me and my son ( my 17 year old daughter could care less) so its all good. Anyways i think im done now...yeah right!

 

[Poison Ivy]

That's ok I'm just as looney as everyone else on here! I have the two from you that just hatched. I have 13 button quail in the hatcher with 4 pipped. Then I set 12 welsummer eggs along with 5 partridge and 4 cuckoo silkie eggs. Plus I believe that on the 13th I will be getting another shippment of Ameraucana eggs too! lol

 

[aran]

cynthia I know the coop is draft free but is not insulated. Having said that it is behind a shed and surrounded on all sides so no wind exposure. I think I will try and put the lamps in tomorrow morning when I get home from work and just see how warm it gets in there...there is plenty of room in there for a bunch of lil babies at least for a while. My main coop extension is finished YAY! so there is room in there for the babies when they are big enough to defend themselves from the big girls/boys.

 

[seminolewind]

I was going to have 4 hens. Now I have 4 hens, and 21 eggs in the bator. I had to order another incubator to hatch because I have 3 sets in there. I keep saying to myself that I have to stop. But I keep wondering what I'll be doing next spring when this board will be full of people getting chicks and hatching eggs.

Hi, my name is Karen and I'm an eggaholic.

 

[MissPrissy]

Aran, you could try a corral with brooder guard (corrugated paper) to help insulate the area the chicks are in. I find it does help keep the warmth in.

 

[seminolewind]

Haha, I just looked at the times of the last 5 posts! We are sick.

 

[aran]

yes we are! Corrugated paper...where do i find that? I do have some thick pink styrofoam insulation in storage..more than enough to insulate the coop but that would involve then lining the inside walls after i put the insulation to stop them eating the insulation correct?