Thanks, y'all. I'm really thrilled about this pasture-raising system they've got going on here on the farm. For future peeps, I'm considering keeping them indoors for the first 2 weeks...maybe. The biggest problem I had was "trampled chick syndrome", I lost 5 to that and one that flew over a 2x12 draft barrier (no longer in place) and froze.
We had some pretty nasty storms roll through here with high winds and heavy rains and although the brooder is *relatively* windproof, an occasional gust would cause the heat lamps to sway and the tarps to flap, which would scare the peeps into a stampede. Then again, that jerry-rigged brooder tent you see in the photos is obviously a very unfinished project. Once it's finished, it'll probably be just as sturdy and weather-tight as anything else, so maybe I won't do peeps in the house. I dislike raising peeps in the house anymore and the benefits to pasture-raising are amazing. They've only just now finished the first 50-lb. bag of feed (at 3 weeks for 39 peeps) and their feathering rate is astounding. But, I'm still bummed about the 6 homies we lost along the way.
Next week, for their 4-week birthday, I think I'll raise the brooder up on blocks so they can start peeping about the entire pasture along with the Blancas. I'm planning to definitely have the heat lamps shut off for good on the 6th week...no more being a softy like in the past and leaving it on for 8 weeks. That's life on the farm.
