New brooder chicks

[Raymond Dean White]

We just got 6 Delaware pullets and I'd like to know how long I can expect to keep them in the brooder before they go outside to the coop. I'm guessing two or three weeks, but it's been 10 years since I raised chicks and I don't remember. I usually bought laying hens from local homesteaders or Juvenile birds that could go straight from box to coop. I don't need to integrate them into an existing flock as I lost my laying hens in a recent storm.

Also, how long do I feed them Start and Grow? Seems like I used to keep them on it until they laid their first eggs then switched them over to Layer Feed.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

More information needed. What is your climate?
When I'm in doubt, I use a scale of 90F first week, 85F second week and keep dropping 5F per week. I usually push that a bit more when there are multiple chicks that can keep each other warm.

 

[CrazyDuckDude816]

We just got 6 Delaware pullets and I'd like to know how long I can expect to keep them in the brooder before they go outside to the coop. I'm guessing two or three weeks, but it's been 10 years since I raised chicks and I don't remember. I usually bought laying hens from local homesteaders or Juvenile birds that could go straight from box to coop. I don't need to integrate them into an existing flock as I lost my laying hens in a recent storm.

Also, how long do I feed them Start and Grow? Seems like I used to keep them on it until they laid their first eggs then switched them over to Layer Feed.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

They can move outside at about 6 weeks of age. Just make sure it is not under 6o degrees if you are letting them. Provide at heat lamp if so. They are on starter for the first 9 weeks or so, and then you can start feeding them grower up until they start laying at 6 months old. Hope this helps!

 

[Raymond Dean White]

They can move outside at about 6 weeks of age. Just make sure it is not under 6o degrees if you are letting them. Provide at heat lamp if so. They are on starter for the first 9 weeks or so, and then you can start feeding them grower up until they start laying at 6 months old. Hope this helps!

Thank you. The feed I've got them on is a combination of Starter and Grower and the feed store told me my chicks would be good with it until they laid eggs, but I like to get facts and ideas from people who aren't selling me stuff.

By 60 degrees I'm assuming you are talking about nighttime lows in fahrenheit? Six weeks from now that certainly won't be a problem as we probably won't dip into the 80's by then.

 

[CrazyDuckDude816]

Thank you. The feed I've got them on is a combination of Starter and Grower and the feed store told me my chicks would be good with it until they laid eggs, but I like to get facts and ideas from people who aren't selling me stuff.

By 60 degrees I'm assuming you are talking about nighttime lows in fahrenheit? Six weeks from now that certainly won't be a problem as we probably won't dip into the 80's by then.

Yes, nightime temps are tricky, but like I said, a low volatage heat lamp could work if you needed! I would also reccomend weening them off of the current mixed feed, and then just start them on grower at about 8 weeks. Hope you have an easy experience!

 

[Raymond Dean White]

We just got 6 Delaware pullets and I'd like to know how long I can expect to keep them in the brooder before they go outside to the coop. I'm guessing two or three weeks, but it's been 10 years since I raised chicks and I don't remember. I usually bought laying hens from local homesteaders or Juvenile birds that could go straight from box to coop. I don't need to integrate them into an existing flock as I lost my laying hens in a recent storm.

Also, how long do I feed them Start and Grow? Seems like I used to keep them on it until they laid their first eggs then switched them over to Layer Feed.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

More information needed. What is your climate?
When I'm in doubt, I use a scale of 90F first week, 85F second week and keep dropping 5F per week. I usually push that a bit more when there are multiple chicks that can keep each other warm.

Thank you for your response.

Here in NW AZ it will be in the 90's (F) outside by this Saturday. Lows will probably be in the 60's. From there it will just get hotter until September when it will start to cool down a bit. I built the coop so it will get shade in the afternoon, and it has plenty of ventilation and an attached run. I'm setting up automatic feeders and waterers to keep them happy when they get moved in.

I'm assuming you mean 90F in the brooder box. I don't have a thermometer in the box. I just figured if it was too cold they'd huddle together under the lamp and if it was too warm they'd move to a cooler part of the box. I ordered a Brinsea EcoGlow Safety 600 plate heater which is supposed to arrive today and I'll move from the heat lamp to that if it does. That will help with modulating the temperature for the chicks. But you're basically saying lower the temp as they age and grow, right? I only have six chicks as my new coop is small so I'm not sure how effective huddling for warmth will be. Right now the lamp has them feeling good.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You are right about all that.
Yes, lower the heat as they grow. They will huddle at night regardless of temperature.
With those temps, you may be good moving them out at 3 or 4 weeks.
Delawares are great birds. I just think raising such a heat hardy bird in AZ may be an issue.
In the future go for a Mediterranean or similar class of chicken.
Good luck.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Look on the feed bag. Does it have a chart on it saying when to feed what? Many brands do.

What is the percent protein on that feed? It should be on the label. Some companies produce a combined Starter/Grower intended to be fed from hatch until they go on Layer. It's usually around 18% protein. Just based on the name I'd think that is one of them.

I've had chicks 5-1/2 weeks old go through nights in the mid 20's Fahrenheit. They were brooded outside and exposed to cold temperatures so they were acclimated. That makes a difference. But basically once they are feathered out they are feathered out. Usually that's around 4 to 5 weeks of age. That's for cold climates.

I watch my chicks to decide what to do as far as temperatures. If they are cold they will be huddled as near the heat as they can get and will probably be giving a plaintive peep. Once you hear that peep you know something is wrong, it's heart-wrenching. If they are hot they get as far from the heat as they can get and will probably be panting. Panting is how they try to cool off since they don't sweat. Mine tend to sleep in a group in a warm spot. That's not because they are cold but because they like to be in a group when they sleep. That warm spot is probably a habit from when they needed more heat.

In one ridiculous (for us) heat wave a few years back (+110 F during the day, in the high 80's to low 90' at night) I turned daytime heat off at two days and nighttime heat off at 5 days. This was in my brooder in my coop. Their body language told me they did not need it and they did not.

I've had broody hens wean their chicks at three weeks, left them totally alone to take care of themselves day and night. I'm guessing but the daytime temps were probably in the upper 80's, the night time temps maybe lower 70's F.

There's a long story behind it but I've seen a broody hen leave one 5-day-old chick alone all day by itself when the daytime temps were in the upper 70's or low 80's. That chick made it fine.

If you have no adults to worry about integration and you have electricity out there set your heat plate up out there and move then out there. You don't have to wait. To me that is the ideal situation. You don't have to lower the temperature unless you really want to. If you provide one spot warm enough on the coolest temperatures and they have a spot cool enough in your warmest temperatures they will regulate the heat themselves, plus get acclimated to cooler temperatures. In my brooder in the coop I put chicks in that even when it is below freezing. I keep one end toasty warm but the other end may have ice in it. They regulate themselves.

 

[Raymond Dean White]

You are right about all that.
Yes, lower the heat as they grow. They will huddle at night regardless of temperature.
With those temps, you may be good moving them out at 3 or 4 weeks.
Delawares are great birds. I just think raising such a heat hardy bird in AZ may be an issue.
In the future go for a Mediterranean or similar class of chicken.
Good luck.

I went with Delawares because several folks in my area have them and they do well here. Also, because they were a breed I was interested in--dual purpose but good layer. We (and especially my wife) wanted calm birds with gentle dispositions. Most of the Mediterranean or Central American breeds tend to be more active, if not flighty. I've had Buff Orpingtons and Dominiques before and they did well here too.

 

[Raymond Dean White]

Look on the feed bag. Does it have a chart on it saying when to feed what? Many brands do.

What is the percent protein on that feed? It should be on the label. Some companies produce a combined Starter/Grower intended to be fed from hatch until they go on Layer. It's usually around 18% protein. Just based on the name I'd think that is one of them.

I've had chicks 5-1/2 weeks old go through nights in the mid 20's Fahrenheit. They were brooded outside and exposed to cold temperatures so they were acclimated. That makes a difference. But basically once they are feathered out they are feathered out. Usually that's around 4 to 5 weeks of age. That's for cold climates.

I watch my chicks to decide what to do as far as temperatures. If they are cold they will be huddled as near the heat as they can get and will probably be giving a plaintive peep. Once you hear that peep you know something is wrong, it's heart-wrenching. If they are hot they get as far from the heat as they can get and will probably be panting. Panting is how they try to cool off since they don't sweat. Mine tend to sleep in a group in a warm spot. That's not because they are cold but because they like to be in a group when they sleep. That warm spot is probably a habit from when they needed more heat.

In one ridiculous (for us) heat wave a few years back (+110 F during the day, in the high 80's to low 90' at night) I turned daytime heat off at two days and nighttime heat off at 5 days. This was in my brooder in my coop. Their body language told me they did not need it and they did not.

I've had broody hens wean their chicks at three weeks, left them totally alone to take care of themselves day and night. I'm guessing but the daytime temps were probably in the upper 80's, the night time temps maybe lower 70's F.

There's a long story behind it but I've seen a broody hen leave one 5-day-old chick alone all day by itself when the daytime temps were in the upper 70's or low 80's. That chick made it fine.

If you have no adults to worry about integration and you have electricity out there set your heat plate up out there and move then out there. You don't have to wait. To me that is the ideal situation. You don't have to lower the temperature unless you really want to. If you provide one spot warm enough on the coolest temperatures and they have a spot cool enough in your warmest temperatures they will regulate the heat themselves, plus get acclimated to cooler temperatures. In my brooder in the coop I put chicks in that even when it is below freezing. I keep one end toasty warm but the other end may have ice in it. They regulate themselves.

Thank you for the information. I have electricity I could get to my coop but I never even thought about installing the brooder in it.