New chicks coming tomorrow!

[Chickychik]

Well I'm going to be a new mamma, 4 chicks coming tomorrow or Wed. I have a large cardboard box with newspaper on the bottom. I have a heat lamp, a waterer, and some flock starter crumbles. I think that's all I will need but I have some questions. How warm do I need to keep them? Do they need somewhere to get out of the constant light? How old do they have to be before I won't need the light? I have a 250W infrared clear bulb, is that ok? I don't want to do anything to hurt them by mistake. I am very nervous, these are my first chicks!! I have two half grown pullets in my garage right now until I get a coop built but I got them when they were already feathered out(not sure of their age). The babies will be kept in the house at first. Any advise? I need all I can get! lol

 

[couuntrygirl13]

95-100°F and decrease the temperature every week or so. The need a wide space so they can get out of the light if they are hot. They can go outside when fully feathered. You're light is fine. Good luck with your chickens!

 

[Chickychik]

Thank you! I think I'm gonna need a bigger box.

 

[ElCerritoPlace]

Tape two boxes together and cut a door between them. Its easier to do that then find a bigger box. Also I find that lining the bottom of the boxes with garbage bags taped down, help preserve the life and integrity of the cardboard. these are just my opinions, not something that has to be done. Best of luck with your little ones! Enjoy!

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Do you have an old play pen? They are perfect, and you can put cardboard on the outside the pen to deflect drafts. I hang the heat lamp over one corner and that gives the babies plenty of room to run and stretch their wings! Good luck!

 

[Chickychik]

Tape two boxes together and cut a door between them. Its easier to do that then find a bigger box. Also I find that lining the bottom of the boxes with garbage bags taped down, help preserve the life and integrity of the cardboard. these are just my opinions, not something that has to be done. Best of luck with your little ones! Enjoy!

Thats exactly what I did! I will have to try the garbage bags. I was thinking the box wont last too long without more protection that just the news papers. I am now testing the heat lamp. I have a themometer in the box and am trying to see where to hook up the light. The first place I put it made the temp jump up to almost 120 degrees. I lifted it higher and am checking to see where the temp ends up now.


TaraBellaBirds

I wish I had an old playpen. That would have been perfect. I read about using them the other day but no one I know has one they want to get rid of and I don't have time to look elsewhere. I may still try to locate one for when they get a little bigger and start trying to jump out!

 

[gunnysmom611]

My chicks arrive in the morning too! Though if you have newspaper as the substrate for your brooder you may want to put a layer of paper towels down because I have heard slick paper can cause them to have issues keeping their legs underneath them and can be permanent if not corrected.

 

[Chickychik]

. Here they are! All 4 arrived safe and sound. I love them already!

 

[Chickychik]

 

[Chickychik]