newbie with chicks= lots of questions!

monkeytreecreations

In the Brooder
10 Years
May 22, 2009
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all right chicken gurus... can you help a newbie out? I brought home 3 almost week old chicks yesterday a little ahead of schedule... I planned to do 6 week old birds, not little guys but totally couldn't resist those chicks. Anyhow, I was doing some reading last night and the chicken book I have totally contradicts the feed store guy. Admittedly, the book is pretty heavy on the pet freindly advice... but I thought you all would be able to give me the real deal.
1. are wood shavings OK to use in the "brooder" they are in?
2. our coop will be ready this weekend. Can we move them into the coop (with the heat lamp) when it arrives? I'm in Nor Cal and it's been in the 80's and 90's.
3. If we move them into the coop, should we bring them in at night and put them back in the brooder? Night temps have been in the 60's and 70's.
TIA!
 
1. Wood shavings are fine at 1 week old.

2. Sounds like you'll be able to move them out when they are ready.. just make sure you watch their behavior and if they are huddled, make sure to turn the lamp on, and for sure at night for the first week or so.

3. They do need to have temps in at least the 80's at a minimum. So, take that into effect during the night hours.

Congrats on your chicks! They are pretty addicting!
 
Quote:
1. If you'll keep them on shavings from the start use only pine(no cedar...bad for babies). For newborns under a week, the first few days cover it with paper towels and sprinkle food on it so they know what their food is and they aren't directly on the shavings trying to eat that.
2. They should be okay in the coop with the heat lamp...with #3 below...
3.Box off a small section with 24" tall wire. that the heat lamp will be hanging over and use a thermometer to determine how high to hang it from the babies... Usually about 2 - 2 1/2 feet is my theory when it's warmer out.
 
Quote:
cool, thanks! DH wanted to get a thermometer so that he could monitor the brooder temp, so he'll be into this.
big_smile.png
 
1. are wood shavings OK to use in the "brooder" they are in?
2. our coop will be ready this weekend. Can we move them into the coop (with the heat lamp) when it arrives? I'm in Nor Cal and it's been in the 80's and 90's.
3. If we move them into the coop, should we bring them in at night and put them back in the brooder? Night temps have been in the 60's and 70's.
TIA!

1. wood shavings are just fine! however, DO NOT USE CEDAR! cedar wood injures chicks (and other small animals) in several ways. the odor affects their lungs and the oils the wood gives off can affect other organs.

2-3. Since it is in the 80's and 90s, it should be okay with a heat lamp. If it gets in the 60s/70s though, I would bring them inside. To be safe, I would keep them inside with a heat lamp in a brooder for at least 3-4 weeks. A lot of people keep them inside longer. It's good to keep them inside as long as possible so that they can live outside without heat, and so that they are large enough to defend at least have a fighting chance if a snake or other predator comes in.
 
We are a Nor Cal, first time chick family as well although I suckered myself into getting the 2 day old chicks. The weather has been so weird as the fog isn't clearing util later in the day. So far I've left my nearly 4 week old chicks out during the day when it is sunny but on some days I reluctantly bring them in when the temp drops. Getting ready to put the coop up and will have the warming light in there at night. I'm considering putting the brooder in the coop the first few days for the transition. I got the chicks purely to lay local, sustainable, healthy eggs...not so much as pets. The kids loved them at first and now that they aren't as willing to be held interest has certainly wanned. My youngest decided to be a vegetarian as we did the research and prepared...now is willing to eat chicken again as long as we don't bring it up in conversation!
Good luck!
 

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