Good morning All,
I am a new chick raiser. My son started us raising chickens about 8 years ago. He has since flown the coop and for the first time, I am raising chicks. I have 3- 2 week old chicks: 2 Black Copper Marans and an Easter egger. The Easter egger is the smallest of my little flock but a feisty little one, already trying to fly out of their little cage when I open the door. She is also the most docile, eating out of my hand, hopping onto my hand, perched. The BCM are considerably larger. All get along well. I got the chicks when they were 5 days old. I kept their crate at 90-95 when I first got them. In the last couple of days, I have lowered the temp to between 85-90 and they seem to be more comfortable at the lower end of the temp. I have one BCM who will lay down, fluff out and pant when it hits 88-90 in the crate. They are being raised in my home, in a spare bedroom that is the "cooler" part of the home. I keep a cover on top and side half of crate to maintain heat. The other sides are open to allow for air flow and view. I clean the crate bottom every two days, sometimes more, with clean shavings. They are on medicated chick starter (20%) with electrolytes/probiotics/vitamins in water. Water is changed at least 3-4 times a day.
So much that I read and hear says temp in crate/coop should be at 90-95 at 2 weeks and decrease 5 degrees each week. My chicks seem to be much more active, flying around pecking, grooming at 85-88 degrees right now. What say you old time chick raisers?
I am a new chick raiser. My son started us raising chickens about 8 years ago. He has since flown the coop and for the first time, I am raising chicks. I have 3- 2 week old chicks: 2 Black Copper Marans and an Easter egger. The Easter egger is the smallest of my little flock but a feisty little one, already trying to fly out of their little cage when I open the door. She is also the most docile, eating out of my hand, hopping onto my hand, perched. The BCM are considerably larger. All get along well. I got the chicks when they were 5 days old. I kept their crate at 90-95 when I first got them. In the last couple of days, I have lowered the temp to between 85-90 and they seem to be more comfortable at the lower end of the temp. I have one BCM who will lay down, fluff out and pant when it hits 88-90 in the crate. They are being raised in my home, in a spare bedroom that is the "cooler" part of the home. I keep a cover on top and side half of crate to maintain heat. The other sides are open to allow for air flow and view. I clean the crate bottom every two days, sometimes more, with clean shavings. They are on medicated chick starter (20%) with electrolytes/probiotics/vitamins in water. Water is changed at least 3-4 times a day.
So much that I read and hear says temp in crate/coop should be at 90-95 at 2 weeks and decrease 5 degrees each week. My chicks seem to be much more active, flying around pecking, grooming at 85-88 degrees right now. What say you old time chick raisers?
