MiraBella Ranch
In the Brooder
- Sep 8, 2021
- 9
- 42
- 41
I bought nine 1 week old assorted pullets. Raised them in a galvanized tub covered with chicken wire on the kitchen Island and reduced their nighttime heat every week from 95 to 70. Starting at 3 weeks old they spent 1 hour, then 2 hours, then half the days outside in their run with my dog babysitting them only if the temps were 95° or less in the shade. Lots of posts about temperature are about lows, I avoided our daytime temps in the 100°s by bringing them back in the kitchen.
They are 5 weeks old now, and since days are down to around 95-98° now, they are out all day in the run. And now they have also spent the last 3 nights in their coop.
the first night, I put them in their tub for the night with food and water and a chicken wire top as usual, just moved the tub to the floor of the coop, no heat lamp, but did cover with a dishtowel. coop gets down to 65° at night. The second night, half of them jumped into their tub and the other half came to me and let me put them in! No more chasing them to catch them ! My question now is, should I let them spend the 3rd night in the coop in the tub but without the wire top on it? I have seen all are able to fly/hop in and out of the tub. I have placed shavings all over the floor of the coop, and the coop doors are closed at night. This is my first flock and I am quite attached to each little chick. It gets in the 60°s inside the coop at night and I wouldn't be able to cover the tub if I take the wire top off. Will they find each other to snuggle if the tub is left open?
They are 5 weeks old now, and since days are down to around 95-98° now, they are out all day in the run. And now they have also spent the last 3 nights in their coop.
the first night, I put them in their tub for the night with food and water and a chicken wire top as usual, just moved the tub to the floor of the coop, no heat lamp, but did cover with a dishtowel. coop gets down to 65° at night. The second night, half of them jumped into their tub and the other half came to me and let me put them in! No more chasing them to catch them ! My question now is, should I let them spend the 3rd night in the coop in the tub but without the wire top on it? I have seen all are able to fly/hop in and out of the tub. I have placed shavings all over the floor of the coop, and the coop doors are closed at night. This is my first flock and I am quite attached to each little chick. It gets in the 60°s inside the coop at night and I wouldn't be able to cover the tub if I take the wire top off. Will they find each other to snuggle if the tub is left open?
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