Newbie needing help

[dalasgalas]

We need baby bird pics!!!

 

[Criticalicious]

Yes, the grit should be in a separate dish, but you don't need a whole feeder setup. I used one of these cheapo dishes from Pet Smart to offer grit. But my brooder was a dog kennel, so I had a way to hang it up.

 

[Bulldog4675]

Still under the plate lol

 

[rjohns39]

I think i have about 5 weeks before they will need the coop. It was about 2 degrees here last night

For brooder planning, growing them out to five weeks, I'd plan on 1 1/2 - 2 square feet per bird, bigger is always better. They'll start trying to fly within a week or so. I discovered that the hard way.

 

[rosemarythyme]

In regards to the heat issue, the heat plate is the heat source, so I absolutely would remove the heat lamp. Do not add a heat pad. It's good to have it on hand in case of emergencies (like the plate failing) but too much heat is bad for chicks just as too little heat is, and that set up is so small that it'd be easy to accidentally overheat them.

If it helps ease your mind any, my last batch of chicks were outdoors with a mama heating pad, days were mid 60s, night mid 40s, with occasional rain. They're not as fragile as people think.

I think i have about 5 weeks before they will need the coop. It was about 2 degrees here last night

Which means you'll be stuck building a coop in very low temperatures... many of us have been there, done that, so definitely get cracking on it as soon as you can!

 

[rjohns39]

Which means you'll be stuck building a coop in very low temperatures... many of us have been there, done that, so definitely get cracking on it as soon as you can!

Sorry, I'm horrible about "Just in time Farming" Can't tell you how many times coop was ready the day or day after they were due to come out of the brooder.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sorry, I'm horrible about "Just in time Farming" Can't tell you how many times coop was ready the day or day after they were due to come out of the brooder.

We had to assemble our first coop in a marathon 10 hour session because we were about to have some emergency bathroom renovations done (ugh mold) and the chicks were being brooded in the only other available shower/tub in the house!

 

[rjohns39]

 

[Bulldog4675]

In regards to the heat issue, the heat plate is the heat source, so I absolutely would remove the heat lamp. Do not add a heat pad. It's good to have it on hand in case of emergencies (like the plate failing) but too much heat is bad for chicks just as too little heat is, and that set up is so small that it'd be easy to accidentally overheat them.

If it helps ease your mind any, my last batch of chicks were outdoors with a mama heating pad, days were mid 60s, night mid 40s, with occasional rain. They're not as fragile as people think.



Which means you'll be stuck building a coop in very low temperatures... many of us have been there, done that, so definitely get cracking on it as soon as you can!

 

[Bulldog4675]

I have a coop, just gotta build the run