Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[wannahomestead]

Hello, I am Nicole and we have our first chickens! We got them almost 4 weeks ago. There are 2 EE, Vanilla and Milky Way, 2 RIR, Ember and Sunrise and 2 BO, Clarence and Pablo. All are pullets (we think/hope). I have a 13 year old who is helping as much as she can and a 10 year old boy as well are there other members from Northern MI? Tonight is going to be COLD (low 30s) and I am a little nervous about their coldest night yet! Their coop is 40 degrees right now, but I do have a 100 watt bulb they are sleeping in front of so that area is warmer...trying to decide if they NEED the 250 watt lamp. Oops, getting way off topic on my intro! I have really enjoyed reading here so far.

If they're only 4 weeks old 40 is a might bit cold. Do you have a thermometer in there? It should be closer to at least 75 or so according to "the rules"

 

[nikolairapunzel]

If they're only 4 weeks old 40 is a might bit cold. Do you have a thermometer in there? It should be closer to at least 75 or so according to "the rules" 

well it is 40 away from the lamp. I do not have a thermometer in front of the lamp. The last 5 or so nights it has been 50ish in there away from the light. I'm just so confused! They are roosting in front of the lamp. 2 together on the baby roost and 3 together on the top roost and one about 6 inches away from them. I wish they could talk!

 

[wannahomestead]

well it is 40 away from the lamp. I do not have a thermometer in front of the lamp. The last 5 or so nights it has been 50ish in there away from the light. I'm just so confused! They are roosting in front of the lamp. 2 together on the baby roost and 3 together on the top roost and one about 6 inches away from them. I wish they could talk!

if they're huddling close to the lamp or a big pile of baby chicks they're cold. I kept mine on a light well into 6 weeks. I would supplement at night as well even after 6 weeks when we had some cold nights.

My thought is with the cold weather I'd rather give them a little extra heat as long as they have room to get away if it's too warm.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! My chicks are four weeks old, in the coop with a 250w heat lamp. In this chilly weather, they are under it, so it's necessary. Mary

 

[nikolairapunzel]

if they're huddling close to the lamp or a big pile of baby chicks they're cold. I kept mine on a light well into 6 weeks. I would supplement at night as well even after 6 weeks when we had some cold nights. 

My thought is with the cold weather I'd rather give them a little extra heat as long as they have room to get away if it's too warm. 

well I went and changed out the 100 watt for the 250 so they should be good now, I hope. They weren't really huddling, just roosting all puffed up. And no pile. They have been outside all wek in the run. Days have been between 55 and 80 one day. Nights 60s-40s. The 60s nights they did not have a light at all. This is just as confusing as having a new baby lol thanks!

 

[nikolairapunzel]

...

Welcome!  My chicks are four weeks old, in the coop with a 250w heat lamp.  In this chilly weather, they are under it, so it's necessary.  Mary
[/quote
well I went and changed out the 100 watt for the 250 so they should be good now, I hope. They weren't really huddling, just roosting all puffed up. And no pile. They have been outside all wek in the run. Days have been between 55 and 80 one day. Nights 60s-40s. The 60s nights they did not have a light at all. This is just as confusing as having a new baby lol thanks! Are you also in northern Michigan?

 

[wannahomestead]

if they're huddling close to the lamp or a big pile of baby chicks they're cold. I kept mine on a light well into 6 weeks. I would supplement at night as well.

My thought is with the cold weather I'd rather give them a little extra heat as long as they have room to get away if it's too warm.

well I went and changed out the 100 watt for the 250 so they should be good now, I hope. They weren't really huddling, just roosting all puffed up. And no pile. They have been outside all wek in the run. Days have been between 55 and 80 one day. Nights 60s-40s. The 60s nights they did not have a light at all. This is just as confusing as having a new baby lol thanks!

np. as long as they can move away from the light if they get too warm they'll be fine. It's suppose to get super cold tonight though (frost/freeze in many areas) and at 4 weeks they aren't fully feathered yet. I'm definitely not a know it all, I've had my first flock for about 11 weeks now, just sharing my limited experience that has worked so far

 

[nikolairapunzel]

te name="wannahomestead" url="/t/697050/michigan-thread-all-are-welcome/32700#post_15251273"]
np. as long as they can move away from the light if they get too warm they'll be fine. It's suppose to get super cold tonight though (frost/freeze in many areas) and at 4 weeks they aren't fully feathered yet. I'm definitely not a know it all, I've had my first flock for about 11 weeks now, just sharing my limited experience that has worked so far
[/quote]
Thanks! I appreciate it. My husband is so tired of my chicken talk it's nice to have a place to go for that my chicks started in our garage but it stays heated to 70 or so even on cold cold nights so when the weather was warmer a couple of weeks ago, they went into the coop because it gets sweltering in the garage in warm weather. So I was all worried about them being too hot then! Lol

 

[wannahomestead]

Thanks! I appreciate it. My husband is so tired of my chicken talk it's nice to have a place to go for that my chicks started in our garage but it stays heated to 70 or so even on cold cold nights so when the weather was warmer a couple of weeks ago, they went into the coop because it gets sweltering in the garage in warm weather. So I was all worried about them being too hot then! Lol

Mine started in the house where the xmas tree lived before. I figured if the xmas tree was a symbol of christmas and winter, the chicken brooder would be the symbol of spring. I kept them in the house well into their being about 8 or so weeks old, and learned first hand how dirty and dusty they are. My office STILL has a coating of chicken dust all over that I'm working to clean up. I moved them to my garage because the weather had warmed up a little bit (this was in mid march I think).

Assuming I have chickies again next year, I'll probably start them inside again and move them to the garage earlier, before they get all dusty all over

 

[nikolairapunzel]

Mine started in the house where the xmas tree lived before. I figured if the xmas tree was a symbol of christmas and winter, the chicken brooder would be the symbol of spring. I kept them in the house well into their being about 8 or so weeks old, and learned first hand how dirty and dusty they are. My office STILL has a coating of chicken dust all over that I'm working to clean up. I moved them to my garage because the weather had warmed up a little bit (this was in mid march I think).

Assuming I have chickies again next year, I'll probably start them inside again and move them to the garage earlier, before they get all dusty all over

I cannot imagine having these chicks inside and they are only 4 weeks! Are you from northern Michigan as well?