Nevadans?

[Knemeyer]

Boy, don't come on here for about a week, you gotta read so many pages to keep up!

I need some help in regards to my chicks on when is a good time to put them outside. Here is the situation: As of today they are 3 weeks old or 21 days. I'm leaving for vacation on the 31st which would make them almost 6 weeks old or 42 days. I have them in a 2 large box brooder we made with a cover. I'm figuring they will probably be pretty big by the 31st (not sure how big, but any clues would be welcome). My parents live next door so no problem having someone to take care of them while we're gone for 2 weeks, but when is a good time to put them in their new coop? I especially would love to hear from the folks in the Vegas area. I'm so nervous about putting them outside because if anything goes wrong while I'm gone, I'll feel so bad putting that on my parents. But, my dad is pretty capable and lived on a farm through his elementary school years. But if I keep them inside till I get back, will I have enough room for them? I don't want them getting cramped and pecking on each other.

Any thoughts and advice is greatly appreciated. Here are some pics of them today!

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote:
Knemeyer I know how you feel! I lost a few when I went on vacation. I thought they were plenty old enough to go outside but something got a few of them. How big is the coop? Can it be locked up tight while you're gone? If it has plenty of ventilation (secured with strong wire to keep predators out) and your Dad can run ice bottles out to them each day, etc., could they go in the coop and stay there? I don't know. After listening to people say "let them out they'll be fine" and then losing a few... Well I think they are safest in the brooder as long as possible. Being crowded is not so bad. 'Course I'm not from the LV area.
BTW those chicks are awfully cute!!!

 

[NevadaRon]

Knemeyer those chicks are adorable!

I too am in N NV, but I put my chicks out at 6 weeks. And, it was still cold at night here then. They adapted very quickly! I think like SunnyDawn says - if you have a secure coop, someone to make sure they have plenty of cool water, and I would add shade so they have a place to get out of the sun, then they should be fine. I wouldn't want to keep them in a coop all day with the heat down there

. Do they have a secure run, too?

 

[Penturner]

Sunnydawn, I would love to get the tree. I will send you a pm.

 

[laceynoelle]

Nevadaron, thats wht makes the seeds awesome!! The huge mess they make is loads of fun. You guys should see it when we chip the cottonwood in spring. It looks like snow.
knemeyer those chicks are so cute!! I think by the time vacation time comes around they'll be fine out side, but if you have any doubts just leave them in. like sunny, idkabout lv

 

[ke_ben]

Hi all. It is supposed to be 117 from Thurs to Sunday here.

Quote:
Good looking chicks. I should be in bed already but since nobody answered you from down south yet, I thought that I would throw in my 2 cents. What has already been said is all good advice but since you are home til the 31st I would suggest you put them out now while you have time to get them acclimated. If you put them out late at night they have all night to get a feel for new surroundings and slowly in the morning warm up to the heat of the day. Misters and fans (also cold fruits and veggies) during the hottest hours can be helpful. By the end of the month you can see how they are doing and adjust accordingly. Good luck!

 

[Knemeyer]

Quote:
Thanks everyone! The coop is a shed that is 6x12' and the run is 8x20'. The shed is locked up tight and the run is fully enclosed with 1/2" hardware cloth. We still have some finishing touches to be done. Gotta put in the roof, more ventilation and add misters. Hoping to have it done real soon. I'm thinking that probably trying them out there at least a week before I leave should be best so I can work out most of the kinks before I leave.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote:

Ok Reno-ites, no complaining about 100 degrees! Maaan! I hope you all have air-conditioning! I won't be visiting. The air in my car is broken.

 

[evonne]

i lost 7 last week when i put them out.. they were between 3 & 5 weeks, but they didn't know how to get into the shade to get out of the heat.. i felt ssoo bad... 5 were mt own chicks, but 2 were mt golden phoenix that i got from texas... oh well, live and learn.. and now i'm out checking the others a few times in the afternoon.. they're fine for the most part now... but the frozen water bottles in the shade are must right now.. like keving said, we're sposed to get to thigh teens this week... BLAH!!!!!!!!!!!
my friend over in dolan springs az just the other side of the darn says he soaks the ground in the area that gets afternoon shade so the birds can hang out there and theres a little moisture still left in the dirt to help cool them too....

don't take my loss as a warning not to put them out, just a warning of what to watch out for... i put another batch out after that, but knew to go out and check and make sure they had found the shade, and moved with it as the day got later... they know the routine now and everyone is doing good....

good luck!!

P.S..... did i hear pampered chef on your voicemail that time i called you??

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

lacynoelle
Thanks for posting the list. Lots of great ideas.


SunnyDawn
If you should have more “volunteers” that you will be pulling, I would also love some. News of your puppers makes me sad – she is such a love with a fantastic personality.

Hope your friend is doing much better.


Ke_Ben
Wow, that is beyond toasty – just about fry your eggs before they are laid.


Vegaschick
Would you mind if we……… (ok, I) posted pictures and asked you what plant it is?


NvRon
10 foot growth a year – send those nuisances my way

Knemeyer
Adorable chicks. I would start putting them out in their coop now. You can let them run around inside the coop during the day (monitor temps), bring them in for the night – for a couple days, then let them spend the night in the coop. I would start introducing them to run also. They get so busy, curious, active and feisty fast at this age, so the more they have to do/places to run, the happier they are. Be sure they have more shade than you think they should – even a tarp or wood shade (plywood) on the east and west side of the run.


Penturner
How is your mom doing?


evonne
Oh that is painful

I am so sorry.
I also soak the ground under the shade here. I joke that you can tell a NV chicken - they come running when the hose turns on and fight to stand in the cool water