New(ish) to Raising Chickens!

[ValerieJ]

@TwoCrows has given you really good advice on the temperature regulation. I just want to add a couple things. One is to make sure that heat lamp is very secure. Don't rely on the clamp, wire it in some way.

Also, make sure there is plenty of ventilation, (and I'm probably forgetting if you already addressed that). The one window I see has wire on it that wont keep your chicks safe from predators. If you can get it today, I would pick up some hardware cloth and secure that on all windows and openings.

Moving the brooder operation to the coop was a great idea!

 

[CrisAnderson27]

There should be cool spots in the brooder to cool off. Their internal thermostats won't be working for a few weeks yet and their bodies rely on the cool places in the brooder to lower their internal temps. Keep the food and water on the cool side too, its healthy to draw them away from the heat to get sustenance.

Perfect!!

I ran some errands and everything is checking out. I raised the light up a good 8" to get a wider spread and less intense center heat, and I've got about a 5' area that's all above 83°F. Ambient by the wall thermometer says 74°F. I'm sure by morning it'll be closer to 80°F or more. I'm going to let it run all night, check it at 6:30am tomorrow...and if all is well they all make the transition tomorrow.

I don't know if I caught it in the video...but I made a 'baby gate' for the door, so I can leave it open (supervised of course) here and there to cool the ambient if it climbs too high. I have yet to see what it levels at after 24hrs though...so we'll know more tomorrow.

Thanks guys!

 

[CrisAnderson27]

@TwoCrows has given you really good advice on the temperature regulation. I just want to add a couple things. One is to make sure that heat lamp is very secure. Don't rely on the clamp, wire it in some way.

Also, make sure there is plenty of ventilation, (and I'm probably forgetting if you already addressed that). The one window I see has wire on it that wont keep your chicks safe from predators. If you can get it today, I would pick up some hardware cloth and secure that on all windows and openings.

Moving the brooder operation to the coop was a great idea!

Thanks!!

I'm building outright windows tomorrow (four, in a 10"x24" wide format)...though I wonder how it's going to affect the overall heat in the room. There's a small vent at the top rear for hot air to exit...and it's not really an airtight container. When I'm standing in there with the door shut, I can feel air movement up and out. It's not a ton, but it's able to be felt by a bare hand.

The windows I'm building will have plexiglass slides on the inside, to allow ventilation to be infinitely controlled. They will go all around the 'gable' area...though there isn't much 'gable' to speak of. I'm also picking up a 14"x24" attic vent to replace that 6"x8" thing in the back. That should exhaust much better, and since it's at the top the flow will come from the windows as intended.

Oh! And that little door guard with the 2x4 landscape fence and wood slat is just to keep the chicks in if I'm in there doing something, or to be able to leave the door open supervised to air out the room. I'm not worried about predators because it'll never be open without someone responsible around .

 

[ValerieJ]

Thanks!!

I'm building outright windows tomorrow (four, in a 10"x24" wide format)...though I wonder how it's going to affect the overall heat in the room. There's a small vent at the top rear for hot air to exit...and it's not really an airtight container. When I'm standing in there with the door shut, I can feel air movement up and out. It's not a ton, but it's able to be felt by a bare hand.

The windows I'm building will have plexiglass slides on the inside, to allow ventilation to be infinitely controlled. They will go all around the 'gable' area...though there isn't much 'gable' to speak of. I'm also picking up a 14"x24" attic vent to replace that 6"x8" thing in the back. That should exhaust much better, and since it's at the top the flow will come from the windows as intended.

Oh! And that little door guard with the 2x4 landscape fence and wood slat is just to keep the chicks in if I'm in there doing something, or to be able to leave the door open supervised to air out the room. I'm not worried about predators because it'll never be open without someone responsible around .

Sounds like you got this! And you're putting the windows high, so that is great. You need the ventilation but you don't want a breeze blowing on your chickens. You're doing great!!! Obviously you have a knack for this sort of thing.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Sounds like you got this! And you're putting the windows high, so that is great. You need the ventilation but you don't want a breeze blowing on your chickens. You're doing great!!! Obviously you have a knack for this sort of thing.

Currently the roosts are like 18" off the floor. I'll have to change things around when it gets closer to egg time, but as it stands it'll work. I'll probably build an exterior nest box setup so interior room isn't impacted. 20 birds is a lot for the space.

Although...as they're developing...I'm thinking many of them are male. A lot are much lighter than they were, and the spots are very 'soft'. The feet are no help at all...lol.

So maybe I don't have 20 in there after all lol.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

And here we are!!

Temps climbed about another 5°F from when I took the first video, before I introduced the chicks. That puts the 'habitable temperature area' around a 5' plus radius from that corner.

I think it'll work out just fine...though I'll be monitoring temps and such closely for the next week. By then the chicks should be able to all tolerate the temperatures put out by one light...and all will be good!

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Evening checkup!!

I think this is going to work out really well.

 

[drumstick diva]

See your dog is keeping an eye on them. Good boy!!

 

[CrisAnderson27]

See your dog is keeping an eye on them. Good boy!!

He is! When we go outside he usually goes straight to the steps and puts his nose on the door, lol.

So, final check up this morning! The chicks survived the night, apparently very comfortably, and immediately went into good spirits on waking...running about, landing on the roost, etc.

So, I guess we can call this one a win!!

Next challenge...when to let them out into the run, lol!!

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Quick update!

All seems well. I've ordered the attic vent...and tomorrow I'm building the inner 2x4 framed full size doors with 1/2" mesh. The way I'm setting it up, I'll be able to open the outer doors for full frontal ventilation, while still leaving the inner 'mesh' doors shut for containment, entertainment, and protection.

I'm also going to pick up all necessary materials to remodel and completely enclose the run (20' x 20' ish), as well as leaving half of it covered for rainy day shelter.

Busy week...but with my boys home from school it's a good time to get 'er done!

Speaking of...we picked up our breeding stock for our fledgeling rabbitry program last night. One big breeding age male, a 6wk old male, and two 6wk old does. I'm still looking for an appropriate breeding age female (finding ANY rabbits...much less quality meat rabbits here has been like finding hen's teeth!)...but at least we have bare bones basics going on!

We also got a 4 bay hutch frame built into the barn today.

Busy doesn't even cover it lol.

Anyhow...with all the craziness going around...I figure being productive here can't hurt. Next challenge once the animals are settled, is enclosing myself in a garden plot, lol!!

Any guidance appreciated!!