Nevadans?

[2seth2]

seperate breeds missy it is just another color.
I am going to say your mystery chicken is a welsummer or partridge rock
I will be on a missions trip to mexico over spring break and won't be back for the swap but i want 2 sell my roos and pick up 2 showgirl chicks from pintail.

 

[americanvalkyrie]

With more new babies coming in just over a week, I'm running out of space. I have the small coop, where the big kids have been spending the days... but not today. Right now they're in the bathroom brooder. The little kids are in the kennel brooder and outgrowing it fast. They're getting in fights in the cramped spot, and behave much better when I move them into the bathroom brooder when the big kids go outside. So here's what I was thinking...

In a little over a week I'll have:
13 hatchlings and 2 new ducklings
14 little kids (4 weeks)
8 big kids (6-8 weeks)

And I have:
The outside coop
The bathroom brooder
The kennel brooder
Rubbermaid tubs for a short time

If the new ones go into the kennel brooder and the little kids go into the bathroom brooder, do you think it will work to let the big kids stay in the outside coop and just come in at night? I'd be putting them with the little kids at night, at a ratio of 8 to 14. Since it's only getting below freezing a few days a week, can they just stay out there at night? I'm so worried about fires that I don't run heat out there.

 

[2seth2]

I'd think that at sis to 8 weeks they would be fine

 

[sherylreno]

Missy, it really depends upon their feathering. Usually 12 weeks or more is the norm with putting chickies out when it's still cold but if they feather in faster then you won't have any issues. Also, it will take your existing flock a bit to accept them as well.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Everything I read says once they are fully feathered they are fine to go outside but I am always nervous about putting them out so young. So I am a terrible person to ask for advice on this subject.

 

[americanvalkyrie]

Missy, it really depends upon their feathering. Usually 12 weeks or more is the norm with putting chickies out when it's still cold but if they feather in faster then you won't have any issues. Also, it will take your existing flock a bit to accept them as well.

They wouldn't be out with the grownups for a long time still. They're way too little still. The smaller coop is totally enclosed and away from the rest of the yard. There's even a small, very sheltered area that's mostly enclosed in wood and is really warm, but when my original 4 were there they only used it for laying eggs. There are roosts in there and everything, but they preferred to roost in open air.

The first 4 came in at night until mid-June, and were 8 weeks old. But all gardeners will remember that it froze until early June last year, too. Plus I really, really pampered them.

 

[SunnyDawn]

seperate breeds missy it is just another color.

Yes separate breeds, not different colors. She was talking about Black Orpingtons and Black Australorps. Same colors. The Australorp is also called the Australian Black Orp. The Australorp originated in England when Orps were brought over (to Australia) and mixed with other breeds. Here is some good info on the subject.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australorp

 

[sherylreno]

Oh yeah, I remember seeing that area. I just don't know MIssy, it's all about the feathering still.

 

[americanvalkyrie]

I'll probably put them outside during the day and bring them inside at night, if everyone can behave themselves when I mix them.

 

[SunnyDawn]

They wouldn't be out with the grownups for a long time still. They're way too little still. The smaller coop is totally enclosed and away from the rest of the yard. There's even a small, very sheltered area that's mostly enclosed in wood and is really warm, but when my original 4 were there they only used it for laying eggs. There are roosts in there and everything, but they preferred to roost in open air.

The first 4 came in at night until mid-June, and were 8 weeks old. But all gardeners will remember that it froze until early June last year, too. Plus I really, really pampered them.

If they are coming in at night and have their own sheltered area outside as well as their own coop I am sure they would be fine. Do you get hawks or owls in your area?

Up here in Red Rock it froze on June 26th last year (according to locals).