Please help! Raising baby chicks NOW in a cold climate!

[QBRanch]

Oh, I now know I am not the only person in this boat. I have 25 chicks on their way. And first I thought oh hubby wont mind to brood em in the house and then he was so kind to tell me "ain't no chicken livin in this house". So, now I am trying to figure out what to do. I have the metal shed that was turned into the coop and I have one insulated shed used for well whatever DH decides to shove in there and another shed used for DH's tools. I think I am going to have to tell him either give up part of his bed or one of the sheds.. LMAO I like alot of these ideas. I am going to go buy a large water trough and use that for the first couple weeks. Then I will probably go back to my pallet box thingy and when it's time introduce them to the big girls. <<<crossing fingers>>> It will all work out! I hope!

 

[FrChuckW]

Quote:
If you can divide a portion of the coop with a chicken wire frame when you go to instroduce the new birds to the current flock. Keep them seperated by the divider so that they can see each other and get used to each other first. Put the new birds in there just before you close them up for the night. Then when they wake up in the morning they will see the new birds and won't remember if they were there or not when they went to bed.

 

[jjackm21911]

keep them warm as much as you can get them on grower food and by the time you know it they will be big and running around and making you enjoy youre day

 

[Cottage Rose]

We're moving the chicklettes out this weekend.
Will keep you posted.
Praying for a mild winter but I don't think thats gonna happen.

 

[pbjmaker]

I moved my 3 week olds into a bigger cage in the basement. Trying to see how they will do without the heat lamp because I had a single serama hatch and he needs the light. The basement is heated but not finished - I'd say it is around 65-70 in their cage right now and they seem fine. They are all sleeping together but not in that pile on each other to keep warm way. Just snuggly. My next move will be back out into the garage with heat lamp - I think next weekend. I need to clean off one of the themometer (apparently it is for pooping on) and put a new battery in the other one. My third one is in the incubator where my BC Marans eggs are under close watch. I think I will drape the big cage with a blanket tonight.

 

[Rufflemyfeathers]

How old are you chicks now moving out?? I live in Florida so I should be safe in few weeks.

Quote:

 

[Cottage Rose]

Ruffle
I wouldn't worry as long as they have heat lamps.

 

[Wildsky]

I got to see cute little 4 week old babies out with their mom hen this thanksgiving at my husbands cousins place. No snow - but it was in the high 20's - and those little ones were diggin and scratchin in leaves and dirt just having a good ol time.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Well thats reassuring!

 

[Cottage Rose]

Well I didn't get them out unitl last night.
Its around 30º here.
Its very warm directly under the 2 heat lamps which are situated about 1 foot off the floor but the heat does not spread out beyond that. They're on a wood floor with thick pine shavings
We plan to put a thin plywood top on the brooder to contain more of the heat. Ran out of lumber and have to go pick up more this AM.
I can see if we don't create a bigger area of warmth they're just going to expend all their energy staying warm.
They're still quite small and not fully feathered out yet.
Any ideas on what foods would be good to supplement with to help them stay warm?
At what age can chicks eat whole or cracked grains?
I'm feeling a little concerned at this point.
I just hope this wasn't a big mistake by trying to raise chicks in the dead of winter.
Yikes..maybe I shouldn't use the word "dead".