Okay plan for chicks? [update: It's working!]

[HappyPlace]

My 19 EE bantams are going to quickly outgrow their brooder and are already trying to fly out of it. I didn't even know just-over-week-old chicks could fly...?

They have two brooder lamps; a 150? degrees white bulb that stays on all the time and a 250 degrees red bulb that I was turning on at night for them. I decided to leave the red light off last night and they did fine. I'm planning on doing this for the next couple nights and then start leaving the white light on only at night, eventually leaving it off completely. I'm aiming for adjusting them to be outside by 3 weeks (Sept. 14th or so). I also plan on taking them out for gradually increasing time periods so they can get used to their pen/coop.

From what I've read, this sounds okay, and their pen is pretty darn secure, but their coop is basically just a wooden box (no electricity) with a couple of holes for entrances. Would this be too harsh or unrealistic for bantam chicks? Is there anything that I should do to the coop (temporarily) to make it more secure for them?

Also, they are already 1/4 to double the size they were at 2 days. About how big will they be at 3 weeks?

 

[Eris]

That sounds pretty close to the plan I have for my week old chicks.

Is there anyway to put an electrical cord out to the coop?

 

[wolftracks]

Quote:Do you have ventilation in the coop?

 

[HappyPlace]

That sounds pretty close to the plan I have for my week old chicks.

Is there anyway to put an electrical cord out to the coop?

I could probably find a way. I know there's an outlet at the front of the house, but I'll have to check if there's one out back where the chicks would be. Do you think they'll still be too small (and unfeathered) to be okay? I think they would be fine during the day. It's night that I'm worried about.

Do you have ventilation in the coop?

Of course.

 

[SteveBaz]

sounds like a good plan 20 chicks wow how crazy is it?

 

[HappyPlace]

sounds like a good plan 20 chicks wow how crazy is it?

Ha. Well... It didn't seem like a large number at first. They were adorable when I got them: quiet, easy to pick up... Now, it's like having an infestation of giant, furry and flying cockroaches. They are constantly on the move and generally a pain in the arse...

Still some of the cutest things i've ever seen, though.

 

[Eris]

I think they would be fine by 3 weeks. But if they seem cold then just run an electrical cord out there for night time to keep a heating lamp on for them. Also extra bedding, that they could dig in to keep warmer. Maybe even a whole pile of straw or hay that they could dig in. I currently have a upside down box with strips of hanging fabric, as a foster mom, they go in the box when they are cold and the strips of hanging fabric keep them warm. Otherwise I think your plan sounds fine.

 

[HappyPlace]

I see a few sleepless nights once I move them outside.

I had a sleepless night last night because of a rather big storm and consequent power outage. They got through the night fine, though, so today the light stayed off and they even got to spend some time in their future pen. I'm still giving them some time to adjust (and get a little bigger) before I let them stay out permanently.

I actually have a box for them just like that in their brooder and thinking about it today, I considered moving it out with them as it would probably be good for their transistion. I'm glad someone else thinks so, too.

Thank you, Eris.

 

[Eris]

You're welcome. I think moving the box with them is a good idea too. I'll have to steal that idea from you. Keep us updated.

 

[HappyPlace]

I think they are going to adjust just fine... I decided to take them out again yesterday. I put all 19 in the cat carrier and put them in the pen. The first time, I had to keep taking them out of the carrier, but yesterday, I had no sooner taken the top off and they were in the grass!

They were actually spreading out (they usually crowd so close together, you can't tell one chick from the other) and even trying to get into the coop. An ant hill was demolished in about 5 seconds once they realized it was food, moths were plucked right out of the air and even a slug was tasted (but not eaten). What was supposed to be a half hour excursion turned into over 2 hours because I didn't want to break up their fun.

I'm still waiting until they are at least 3 full weeks before they are out there permanently, but at just under 2 weeks, they seem to be handling the gradual transistion well. Today, it's a little too overcast with possible rain, but tomorrow, I may even let them stay out in the pen alone for a couple hours (with constant check-ups by me, I'm sure

).