I have four chicks in a brooder in my living area. They're just over 4 weeks old. I'm now turning their heat lamp (60W red bulb) off through the day, but I've been turning it back on at night cause indoor temperatures in our caravan have been as low as 5C this last week. I'm worried I might be not hardening them up properly though, as through the day our heating is on and if the temperatures are too high it won't be good for their development, right?
In any case, they're getting big and the brooder's looking a bit crowded, and I'm wondering when I should think about moving them outside. I have an 8 x 6 henhouse with an attached 8 x 9 run with a covered roof. I know you're supposed to keep chicks separate from the biguns while their immune system is still developing, but would it be feasible to section off an area of the henhouse and put the chicks in there with their red bulb to keep them warm? Or is that a really bad idea? I just don't fancy having to talk my boyfriend into letting me build another shed out there. He's already worrying about chicken expansion!
Should I keep them indoors for another couple of weeks?
Build them another separate chick house outside?
Put them in with the others but separate them with mesh?
In any case, they're getting big and the brooder's looking a bit crowded, and I'm wondering when I should think about moving them outside. I have an 8 x 6 henhouse with an attached 8 x 9 run with a covered roof. I know you're supposed to keep chicks separate from the biguns while their immune system is still developing, but would it be feasible to section off an area of the henhouse and put the chicks in there with their red bulb to keep them warm? Or is that a really bad idea? I just don't fancy having to talk my boyfriend into letting me build another shed out there. He's already worrying about chicken expansion!
Should I keep them indoors for another couple of weeks?
Build them another separate chick house outside?
Put them in with the others but separate them with mesh?
