New chicken farmer

[RRChickenFarmer]

Just bought 4 chick yesterday. How long before I can put them into an outdoor coop? We are in the Albuquerque NM area.

 

[ChickenLover5912]

You should wait about 6 weeks before bc the temperature can be too much for them along with predators and generally being out in the elements without a mother

 

[ChickenLover5912]

But you can take them outdoors supervised some until you can leave them full time!

 

[RRChickenFarmer]

You should wait about 6 weeks before bc the temperature can be too much for them along with predators and generally being out in the elements without a mother

Thank you are you in NM?

 

[ChickenLover5912]

No I’m in lower Alabama

 

[ChickenLover5912]

What kind of possible symptoms have you been seeing?

 

[kissezmychicken]

What?

 

[ChickenLover5912]

Sorry wrong thread!

 

[Kat C]

Just bought 4 chick yesterday. How long before I can put them into an outdoor coop? We are in the Albuquerque NM area.

from McMurray Hatchery https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/chickcare.html
HEAT: The temperature where the birds are should be 90 to 95 degrees for the first week. Reduce the temperature 5 degrees per week until you get to 70 degrees. Then they shouldn't need any more heat. A good source of heat is a 250 watt bulb. (Red bulbs are better than white. They cause less picking.) Hang it 18 inches from the floor. The temperature directly under the bulb will be higher than 90 degrees but the birds will adjust themselves to the area they like. Use 1 bulb for each 50 chicks in cold weather. Use 1 bulb for each 100 chicks in warm weather.

Someone on another thread lost chickens due to using a heat lamp that was teflon coated, so be sure to not use one of those. Adult chickens do not need to be kept heated, but baby chicks do.
http://blog.mcmurrayhatchery.com/20...nt-bulbs-a-potential-danger-to-your-chickens/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Just bought 4 chick yesterday. How long before I can put them into an outdoor coop? We are in the Albuquerque NM area.

What are your temperatures?

Chicks still need a source of heat, no matter where you decide to brood them. If this is your first "batch" and you have your coop ready, brood them directly in the coop if you have electricity there. Some use heat lamps, but I prefer using a heating pad. It works very good, you don't have to worry so much about fires, chicks have a natural sleep/wake cycle and seem to feather out slightly quicker.

I agree, go by general guidelines of providing a heat source at 90-95F then stepping it down by 5* each week, your brooder should have 1 warm spot for chicks to get warm and the rest of the brooder should be cool. Put food/water on the cool side. Behavior is also a good indicator whether or not your chicks are comfortable - if they are all huddled and peeping under the lamp/heating pad, then they are too cold. If they avoid the warm spot all together, it's too hot.

I brood outside for the most part with a heating pad, temps can be down in the 20's - BUT this is with housing that has wind protection, has deep bedding and I monitor it very closely.

Just my thoughts! Good luck with your babies

Here's an enormous thread about "Mama Heating Pad" https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/