Let the Controversy Begin!!

[elmo]

Sounds like this "Chicken Lady" does things artificially...not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just different than the way a hen naturally raises her chicks. But if you think about it, what she's suggesting is the opposite of the way nature works, and nature has been producing chicks from chickens for a lot longer than 25 years.

Hens naturally bring their chicks outside, because that's where they are. Chicks naturally eat anything their hen gives to them or what they can find on the ground. I was horrified for a moment when we gave one of our hens a mealworm as a treat for a job well done on the day she led her chicks off the nest...and she promptly gave that mealworm to one of her newly hatched chicks! Hey, that's not on the treat list! I thought. And then I laughed at myself. Hens don't read those lists.

If you're raising chicks yourself without the benefit of a hen, you can either follow the Chicken Lady's advice, or you can try to act as a mother hen would. Either one will probably work out fine.

 

[DTRM30]

I think you need to do what feels right for you. Though i do tend to agree that - ferral chickens - and outdoor barnyard chickens without supervision all have taken their chicks outside as soon as they are hatched and they, for the most part, are fine (except for the few occassions as mentioned earlier with a cold rain, or predators). In the wild, chickens didn't have a cozy "people" home to be kept inside of and protected until they were full grown - and they managed to make it this far

It's exactly like parenting - well in a way - it IS parenting ! You need to do what you feel is right for your little baby fuzzy-butts. If that means keeping them indoors a bit longer, then that is what you do. If you want to let them out for 15 minutes - that's what you do

I'm sure with some adult supervision - they will be just fine.

Mine went out as soon as they could - I wanted my garage back !

 

[scbatz33]

A.T. Hagan :

The more you have to do with poultry the more you're going to find folks with different ways of doing things. And chances are most all of them will be succesful so long as they covered the few fundamental basics that chick care requires.

I don't take take my chicks out to play. I put them in the brooder at hatch or when ever I receive them from the hatchery and they don't usually come out of again until it's time to take them out for good. I also don't feed treats. I do however begin feeding green feed at one week old and I use rolled oats for chick scratch every other day to encourage them to keep the brooder litter scratched up and fluffy. I don't normally feed grit in the brooder with those particular feeds. I do occasionally experiment with other feeds though where I will give them grit. My rule of thumb about this is that if it's a food I would need to chew with my teeth to properly digest then the birds will need grit for that same food.

Some folks in my opinion go way overboard with this treat business, but so long as the birds have good access to a complete ration and the treats aren't too awful nutrition wise they're not likely to hurt anything. Not doing them any particular good either, but not likely to hurt anything.

As to whether or not you should take them outside it's entirely dependent on temperature and if the ground is wet. If the birds are more than a week old and it's hot outside and the ground is dry I don't see that it would hurt anything. IF you are paying attention because little chicks like that are bite size snacks for a world of predators and the first time you forget and they get wet from rain or water sprinklers you may find yourself in a world of hurt. I'm with your "Chicken Lady" in that it's not necessary and not worth taking a chance on. But if you're careful and mindful of conditions it can be done safely enough.

There is a myriad of ways to raise chicks and they can all be made to work IF you understand what you are doing.

As always, sage advice.....and so well said

 

[RM44]

It sounds to me like "Chicken Lady" is giving you the most conservative advice, minimizing the risk and the monitoring you'd have to do. There's nothing wrong with her advice. Some people will do it differently, and as long as they monitor the temps and humidity and the babies, their way can be just as right. I didn't take mine outside because it was more trouble. Drop 'em in the brooder until they are fully feathered out (or until age plus weather conditions were right), and then move 'em outside in one swift motion! Easier for me, so that's the way I did it.

Regarding treats, some small amount of easy to eat treats is okay, but if you feed treats, you have to use grit (or sand, or dirt from the ground). Treats aren't necessary for nutrition and require additional research and monitoring of intake, so many elect not to give them. That's up to you. Do not feed oyster shell when they are that young. Whoever said that was wrong, wrong, wrong. I accidentally killed a young pullet giving layer pellets when she was too young. At young ages they can't process the calcium, it builds up in their kidneys, causing the kidneys to fail and the uric(sp?) acid to build up and kill the bird.

It sounds like you know and trust "Chicken Lady". She's not wrong. It seems you see her often and look to her for advice right now. If I were you, I'd follow her advice until I was comfortable branching out on my own trying something different.

 

[PhilErvin]

I would give the "Chicken Lady" credit for her many years of actual experience. If you are in question as to what you are doing I would listen to this lady and allow her to help you along. I guarantee you that once your chicks mature and start laying and you have to deal with other issues "The Chicken Lady" will be your clossest friend.
When one of my girls got Bumblefoot I turned to this site and got many different methods of treating it. I love this site and all the people here are THE GREATEST. People are willing to share their experience. However the "Chicken Lady" is right there at your feed store and she can actually look at your girls and help you in "real time". I wish I had a person that was local that I could go to without an appointment.
Good Luck and welcome to this addiction.

 

[nuttyredhead]

Laurajean - i wonder if we go to the same store lol!

It is supposed to be fairly warm here through the weekend. I would say as long as there is no wind they should be fine. I started taking mine out last week at 4 weeks old, only because it wasnt warm enough before that! But i have to agree with the pp posters, what about the ones with a mama hen, she takes them out. As long as you watch them they should be fine. I personally dont do treats yet, they are in my bathroom and i dont need their poop stinking any worse lol! I figuere there is plenty of time for treats when they move outside!!! In the long run you need to do what you are comfortable with!

Good Luck!

 

[Maine-ly]

If she has been raising chicks in your area for the past 25 years, she seems to know what she is talking about. I live in Central Maine, and my chicks, which are now 17 days old, are still in the brooder under light with a temp of about 85-90 degrees F and they have a broody hen with them and she is now their Mommy. I also haven't brought them outside yet. I'll wait until they are fully feathered. Why expose them to a chill when they are still young? As for treats, I'll wait on those aswell until they are outside with the other hens. Although, if you want to watch something that will make you pee you pants, then throw a worm in with the chicks. Lot's of fun!

 

[hearthnsoul]

Well I'll be

My chicks thanks to intervening husband have been out since a week old. They are healthy and thriving, I also don't do grit,..they all free range(thanks to my fifteen year old cutting a hole in the corral so they could head out with the other chix, just like his dad it seems) they find plenty of what they need out there. My husband grew up on a farm and I am learning the man is far more brilliant than I or maybe it's luck I don't really know but so far it works.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Chickenlady's advise is sound advise. I've been raising chickens for most of my 53 years & when I incubate, I care for them in about the same manner as Chickenlady, & my mortality rate is lower than when my hens raise them.

 

[Why and Dotte]

So we all know there isn't anything wrong with bringing babies outside, everyone has their thing that they do, use The chicken Lady's advice, if you second guess it come to the good peeps of BYC, someone will reassure you

I raise my babies outdoors, with lots of heat they were fine in 30 degree lows weather, no reason your chickies can't go for a day outside.