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

[chickenannie]

I am amazed that my chicks have survived. They're still very small but have at least a set of feathers now. they run about with mum in 30 degree weather! At night it's worrisome, but I bring them in the house if it's going below 25 F. I can hardly believe they've survived this well -- certainly not prime conditions, but hardier than I ever believed. Maybe they get adapted to the cold? That said, I would never do it again, like the others here.

 

[Teresaann24]

My lone silkie chick is 3 weeks old now and is doing fine with momma hen.

But, like others have stated I would never do it again either. I should have broke my hen from brodiness when I found her.

We have had some 22 and 20% temps I so worry about the little booger but he is doing fine and growing like a weed.

 

[Solsken Farm]

Mine have been out for 2 nights and 3 days. They are loving that they have more room. I did the same thing you did Cottage Rose. I used a corner, and actually put insulation and metal sheet roofing on two sides, then covered the whole thing with some insulation on the top and a tarp. I put lots of hay on the ground over the shavings. It is staying about 60. I only have one lamp right now, but will add another if it gets much colder. They venture out in the stall (we built a 12 by 12 stall in the barn, and they are loving pecking at things and flapping around. Sometimes I will find a few burrowed into the hay outside their enclosure. That worries me if if gets too cold.

I am so grateful to have them out of the house that I am not upset about their not having the outdoors. Just a few months and the wonder of spring will come around (just in time for egg laying!)

I would do this again, but I would move them out sooner. I probably won't need to do this again. I am hopefully done buying hatching eggs!

I do still have another 2 dozen in the house that I will move out in a few weeks. Good luck all!

 

[Cottage Rose]

Mine are restricted to their box. At least you have a big pen for yours Jennifer.
I'll be so glad when they can get out in the sun and eat some greens.
Is anybody supplementing their chicks diet with any greens? I've been so busy with the recent holidays and work that I haven't had time to fuss with them. I give them chick starter, Milo and grit and thats it. I did offer them some kelp meal the other day and they gobbled it up.

 

[Solsken Farm]

Awww, the box is hard. I do agree that sunshine and greens will be better!

Mine now have hay to peck at Chop some up and give them that Rose.

Hopefully they are content snuggling and chirping and milling around. They will hit the grass running in just a few months. We start to have some decent weather in March......Only like 10 weeks away.... Sigh. Life moves too quickly for me.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Winter moves too slowly for me and this one especially so since November and December has been unseasonable cold and snowy. 50" of snow already!
Plus gloomy. Most days are overcast.

Makes me what to eat chocolate all day.

I went to the tanner before we went to Mexcio last February and felt so much better so I just started going again. I only go once a week for 10 minutes in the Hex. The lack of sunshine really effects me badly.
Noticed I didn't get any colds and flu last year either and I really think it was due to the extra Vit. D I got from tanning.
I had the thought recently that I should get some full spectrum lights to put over the chicks

 

[Solsken Farm]

Oh Rose. I completely know how you feel!!!!!!!!!!!

We went to Hawaii last year in late Feb and after the holidays we had that to look forward to. No trip this year.

And I saw your thread on being cold for barn chores. Boy, I understand that too!!!!!!!!!!

But since we started getting out more skiing and tending to the animals, I feel better about the winter. I do love coming in and sitting next to the fire after being outside. I continue to bug my dh to help wire up a heated tank for the horses (we already have the dang tank and heating element), but beside lugging some hot water to the horses, this winter is going ok, even if it is so cold.

Hang in there. Spring will be here soon. I am going to start a winter blah thread.

 

[Cottage Rose]

Oh I'm achin' to go back to Mexico!
We just LOVED it!
The turquoise water, beach, Mayan Ruins...oh and Margaritas!

Can't wait to go back again.

I do love the outdoors year round and having the animals gets me out more than I would if we didn't have them so its a good thing.

Where are you posting your winter blah thread?

 

[Solsken Farm]

Where did you go in Mexico? I went to the Yucatan a few years ago.... LOVED IT. And spent time in Cabo before the stars found it.

I was just looking for a place to post the blah thread. I'll let you know.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I ended up using an old stock tank (metal one) with two heat lamps (hung at two different heights) and the babies are thriving. They are dry & away from drafts--so they seem to be doing okay. I made the mistake of hatching mine out in September (mid-Sept) and I was REALLY "lucky" to not have gotten snow & super-cold temps until 12/12. However, the past few weeks, it's been below zero over night and just above zero (5 degrees & under) during the day. I also added supplements to their water. I looked at those heaters from shopthecoop.com and almost bought one, but with the insulation & an extra heat lamp (as well as locking everyone into the coop) I did not need to. It stays 10-15 degrees warmer in the coop than outside and it's toasty under the lights.