NY chicken lover!!!!

[Beer can]

When can i let the chicks out all day and night? They are almost 6-8 weeks old. Rarely lower than 40 at night...they are currently in my basement with no more heating lamp.

How many chicks? The more the better, they'll just hunker down together for warmth at night. As soon as they have most of their real feathers they're usually Ok to put out with no heat, especially if you haven't been providing any.

 

[Beer can]

Awesome!

They actually make a phone mount for scopes, I'd like to get one. Not easy holding a rifle, phone , and trying to follow your game. And have to hold the phone back for the eye relief. I was hopeing for a video, fox was hopping straight up and pouncing on mice, pretty cool. I didn't pull the trigger, thought about it, may have been a good idea, IDK? I just couldn't justify it, I only shoot what I want to eat, and wrong time of yr for fur, not into that anyway. I'd have pulled the trigger if I thought my birds were in danger but have had no problems with fox as of yet and I free range all year.
Got these pics on my trail cam last yr. None of my coops are predator proof, why I'd like to go electric to guarantee I continue to have no problems. Only problems I've had are young stock with hawks, coops have covered runs now.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: I havent seen any mites / lice ..since I sprayed the chickens...
I just want to make sure nothing is hiding in the bedding

My name is Nikki and I am in Stuyvesant, NY! I am happy to be a part of this thread and i have an acre and a half and we are surrounded by corn fields and open pastures around our land.

Welcome ! Is this the coop in the picture ?
The Run - is that a raised trampoline? Cool Idea !

 

[Gramma Chick]

When can i let the chicks out all day and night? They are almost 6-8 weeks old. Rarely lower than 40 at night...they are currently in my basement with no more heating lamp.

When they are fully feathered
Is your coop totally enclosed so the heat stays in ?
and ...So nothing can get in .
I would put a thermometer in to see how cold it gets at night ..
if the coop is big enough you can ..put a card board box in there for them to sleep in at night
with no heat of course.. they will all cuddle and should be fine ..
Or if it is small enough you could cover it with a blanket or comforter ...to keep the cold out

 

[boskelli1571]

When they are fully feathered
Is your coop totally enclosed so the heat stays in ?
and ...So nothing can get in .
I would put a thermometer in to see how cold it gets at night ..
if the coop is big enough you can ..put a card board box in there for them to sleep in at night
with no heat of course.. they will all cuddle and should be fine ..
Or if it is small enough you could cover it with a blanket or comforter ...to keep the cold out

Mine are almost fully feathered now, but we are supposed to be hovering near 32F this weekend! When it warms up a little, out they go...

 

[Lapeerian]

Oh I definitely have I'd love to give them a shock.

Watch some FB sales groups and Craigslist, can pick up a used roll of electric poultry netting pretty cheap. Same with a solar fencer, just have to make sure it is compatible with the netting.

 

[tao chick]

These monsters spilled a gallon of probiotic water in their fresh bedding yesterday. They were scared of my cleaning so flew out of the brooder. I took the tub brooder out and put the heat lamps in my larger seclusion area. My back was screaming at me all night. This morning they are fine. I'm keeping 4 splash chicks and maybe a few Ameraucana. There will be 12 available at Chicken Stock.

 

[tao chick]

Also, last night my sickly hen decided to stay outside. I couldn't find her. This morning she's outside the coop, still sickly. I think she's eggbound? Something internal related to egg tract. I haven't done the Epsom bath because it's been so cold and my chickens aren't pets so I wanted to see how it played out naturally.:/

 

[rancher hicks]

It's MAY!!!! Where is the warm weather!!!! April showers bring May showers?!?!?!

It's May flowers. What do May Flowers bring?

 

[rancher hicks]

Does anyone know of any places I could find free or cheap fencing? More messing around with my birds has convinced me to fence out a huge area, move all the coops into it, and lock all the gates. Which is going to be expensive unless I can find some cheap fence.

If you've got friends you might consider renting a post hole digger and setting post holes first. Or find someone to dig the holes and/or set posts for you. Then add the fencing as money and time would allow. Enlist the help of local PD concerning those messing with your birds. I wish you well.