New babies coming soon...Advice?

[chicky lady]

I have some new baby chicks coming on monday. I have some older chicks (3 weeks old) that are now in the coop and seem to be doing well (except one little one that I believe got too cold and died last night even though they have heat.) I was just wondering if when I get the chicks should I put them directly in the coop or take them into the house a few days until the weather gets a little warmer. The week they are coming it is supposed to be a high of 60's low 40's with rain on some days. My coop has a section for babies so they won't be put with the older ones right away. I am just wondering what most of you do when you get new babies. I lost a lot from the first batch and am just very nervous about it happening again. I just want to do what is best for them so they live and I can have a decent flock. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!!

 

[CorinneP]

The most important thing is can you regulate the heat where ever you keep them .. Each week of life you can lower the heat down five degrees .. but if they are not feathered and cant be kept warm they will be in trouble . Also If there is a age and size difference between the chicks you have and are getting you need to be very careful about introductions the younger ones can easily be hurt or killed .

 

[TheSitcomGirls]

I keep mine in the house until they are feathered....same temps as yours here. For me it's because if the heat doesn't work outside for whatever reason for sure they will die. Too much for me to worry about! Then when they are feathered I move them to a pen inside the coop with no heat and they do fine.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Same here. I keep mine in our utility room until they are around 4 weeks old. I use a red heat lamp bulb and start the temp. at 90 degrees for the first week (7 days) i then lower the temp. by 5 degrees each week. The fourth week I then removed the heat source during the day and only turned the lamp back on at night if temp is going to be below 60 degrees. Just expect a LOT of dust in the house!! I use pine shavings and change them daily to help with the dust bunnies!