Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

[junebuggena]

Yes, I know that. Our 6x8 coop should be herein the next weeks. That's where there permanent settling will be. I'm just trying to do something to get them out of the garage sooner than that.

Just take out one of those roosting bars and setup the heating pad in that little coop. They should be good in that for a couple weeks, as long as they get to run around in a bigger area.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yeah they could be shown your pictures as well. I don't have any pictures of chicks in temps colder than what it is here in June 

Blooie, my very good friend, a CREAM LEGBAR ROOSTER!!!!!!! You can make your own Easter Eggers with him. And when Ralphie sends you a few pullets you can make CLs as well.

Really sorry for the poor hatch. I'm still pondering engineering a better method of shipping hatching eggs. Seems no matter how well protected from breakage, I keep reading about them being "scrambled", detached air cells, etc. As you know I've not ever gotten hatching eggs but I sure would like to improve the odds for those that do.


Blooie moves hers out after a 24 hour "make sure they are all eating and drinking" period. And "out" means into temps well below freezing.


With all due respect, I think I'd give "chicken math" a rest until next year. You don't even have the larger coop finished yet. There is plenty to learn with the first flock before adding more. And I don't think a 3x3 coop is large enough for 8 bantams any more than it is big enough for "3-5" generic chickens. That 3 of the 3-5 might hold for bantams. They are smaller than large fowl but they aren't parakeet sized. 



How many is too many? You can start 24 ducklings under one large pad but would need a second large pad in a week or two. I guess I would make 2 caves rather than trying to make one big one 12 deep x 48 wide.

It's okay, wasn't disrespectful or rude or anything at all and I completely understand what you're saying. I probably definitely should wait and honestly it was more another dream and excited babbling because I saw cute chicks than anything else. It likely won't happen, I tend to want a lot of animals or to start projects or whatever and then move on just as quick. Of course, in this case, I've wanted silkies since before I got tjese ones, but I've waited this long, I can wait some more. And yeah, I figured it wouldn't be able to hold 8 so was mostly wishful thinking I guess. If I did decide to get silkies or any other bantams, I've since learned that TSC silkies really aren't silkies since they don't have good crests, sometimes no crests, and are pretty large and not bantam like. So that kinda stopped me in my tracks. If I got them, I'd probably find a local breeder at this point or do hatching eggs, which I don't think I'm ready for. And most I'd probably cram in there is 4, the "can't leave 2 lonely chicks" thing was mostly joking, although TSC minimum is 6 anyway so probably wouldn't work out.

That said though, I WOULD like to add to the main flock eventually.

But that probably won't happen either and if it does I, once again, can wait. I was actually originally thinking of either the summer or fall again, which is pretty far off, or next year. This summer is really busy though and I'm going to be gone a lot so probably won't be till next year.

I mostly just tend to get over excited and/or impulsive and/or post about things before they happen.

Don't worry, probably won't happen.

And if it does happen, I don't want to add like another 8 or 10 birds or wind up with like 50 chickens or anything crazy, I know I couldn't handle that. The most I would want to add is 4 to make an even 12. But I know that might be a tight fit even in the new coop and like you said, the new coop isn't even finished yet.

The only reason I want to add more is because there were a couple breeds that Meyer Hatchery had sold out of when I ordered mine.

For instance, I wanted Speckled Sussex and some Wyandottes. They sell Gold Laced, Silver Laced, Blue Laced Red, and I think also Columbian. I wanted GLW, SLW, and BLRW. So if I added more chickens I'd add Speckled Sussex and those Wyandottes. But I heard some Wyandottes can be mean so not sure I'd add all those, may add more than one Sussex and only one or two Wyandottes. But another one I really want is some different color Orpingtons or at least the English type or both. I love my buffs but they're not very big and kind of plain, there are a million different Orpingtons. And I've learned there's loads more Australorp and Wyandotte colors too and friendlier birds.

As you're probably starting to see, there are loads of different breeds and types of chickens I want and I could very easily get very carried away and wind up with like 50 chickens but I only listed some I want. I know I'm limited.

If I had the room and the capabilities to have and manage multiple flocks or one huge flock, which I know I will one day, I would also get some Ameraucanas or more Easter Eggers or Olive Eggers. I'd get some different color Rocks, Partridge might be cool, and maybe eventually add some Brahmas or a Buckeye or Cochin or some Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire Red, or other reds. Those last ones after the rocks aren't really high priority breeds or anything I have to have, just things that might be cool or that I'd like to try eventually. The Sussex, Wyandottes, and Orpingtons are must haves eventually.

And of course eventually having a few pet bantams.

I also want ducks but I'm really on the fence about that since I have heard they are VERY messy and can be noisy or smelly, traits I don't want, but I have also heard that they are very sweet, personable, and hilarious which makes up for it. So eventually I'll have some but maybe not now or here. Swedish, Welsh Harlequin, Runner are top of the list, Rouen or Buff is maybe.

I really want goats eventually too but not sure on that one, they're a lot more expensive.

But more chickens are a definite. But I'm not necessarily saying I'm going to rush out and buy them all now, though I admit my post may have implied that.

Anyways, sorry I wound up rambling a TON and got waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy off topic and carried away talking about breeds or whatever I was talking about but hopefully, if anything, it helps to further point out how much of a dream that really was. An over enthusiastic, very convincing and serious sounding dream, but mostly a dream none the less.

My dad has limited it to 8 chickens anyways so any additional chickens would have to either be snuck in or wait until after we've had these ones a while.

So yeah.

 

[susan251]

How many is too many? You can start 24 ducklings under one large pad but would need a second large pad in a week or two. I guess I would make 2 caves rather than trying to make one big one 12 deep x 48 wide.

Does chicken math apply to ducks? I wanted 4 ducklings last year, but bought 10. this year "just a few pekins" turns to 25. Still, two caves doesn't sound too bad, and then next year i can have more ducklings......

 

[Blooie]

On our way home from Billings with some buddies for Yokel and Sweet Pea! 2 Easter Eggers, 3 White Orpingtons, and 2 little Bantams for Katie because the Bantam eggs I got look to be clear. Dunno anything about White Orpingtons yet but I'll figure it out!

 

[Bowldy45]

Blooie moves hers out after a 24 hour "make sure they are all eating and drinking" period. And "out" means into temps well below freezing.

Oh, that makes me nervous! But it is an insulated all around coop, with no extra heat other than the MHP. The temps the next 2 nights are going to be in the mid to lower 20's, just don't want them to freeze. If it stops raining today, maybe I will get the nerve to get them outside.

 

[ShrekDawg]

On our way home from Billings with some buddies for Yokel and Sweet Pea! 2 Easter Eggers, 3 White Orpingtons, and 2 little Bantams for Katie because the Bantam eggs I got look to be clear. Dunno anything about White Orpingtons yet but I'll figure it out!

Well if the white Orpingtons are anything like my Buffs, they'll be friendly, sweet, adorable little (well, big) chickens. Hopefully they all turn out to be girls!!! I actually heard that the white color was one of the original Orpington colors but is now pretty rare.

 

[Blooie]

I have no insulation in the coop, and the chicks with MHP aren't even in the coop anyway. Their brooder pen is out in the run. I am on my "dumb" phone so I can't post the link, but if you do a search for "Yes You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors" it will come up for you, or you can look for the link in my signature.

 

[Bowldy45]

I have no insulation in the coop, and the chicks with MHP aren't even in the coop anyway. Their brooder pen is out in the run. I am on my "dumb" phone so I can't post the link, but if you do a search for "Yes You Certainly Can Brood Chicks Outdoors" it will come up for you, or you can look for the link in my signature.

I am going to take the leap of faith here and move them out today. My only question is, they are 4 days old. With the upcoming overnight temps in the mid 20's,, are they to young to survive those temps? Or am I overthinking this and being way to cautious? LoL

 

[GardenNut]

On our way home from Billings with some buddies for Yokel and Sweet Pea! 2 Easter Eggers, 3 White Orpingtons, and 2 little Bantams for Katie because the Bantam eggs I got look to be clear. Dunno anything about White Orpingtons yet but I'll figure it out!

Congratulations @Blooie

 

[mobius]

Oh, that makes me nervous! But it is an insulated all around coop, with no extra heat other than the MHP. The temps the next 2 nights are going to be in the mid to lower 20's, just don't want them to freeze. If it stops raining today, maybe I will get the nerve to get them outside.

It is all good Bowldy, I am in Kalispell. You can move them out! Put the MHP to 6, you are insulated , wow!