Pulling the trigger

[3KillerBs]

I build my brooder and hung a thermometer in there. it's in the shed, in the shade, door and windows open and it's 83 degrees without a heat source.
Am I asking for trouble?
the contraption is cardboard. not roof (yet - but that would be chicken wire)

Potentially.

They need a spot that's warm enough and a spot that's cool enough.

Of course we can't get cooler than the ambient air when our steamy summers heat up.

Make sure that they can get away from the brooder heat source to cool off as much as possible.

Also, take your temperature readings at chick height -- it might be much cooler on the ground. I put my thermometer on a brick since that's about as tall as a day-old chick.

 

[Alagirl]

Potentially.

They need a spot that's warm enough and a spot that's cool enough.

Of course we can't get cooler than the ambient air when our steamy summers heat up.

Make sure that they can get away from the brooder heat source to cool off as much as possible.

Also, take your temperature readings at chick height -- it might be much cooler on the ground. I put my thermometer on a brick since that's about as tall as a day-old chick.

I think it is about 6 inches off the ground, taped to the 'wall' I am considering - if I can find it - installing a window fan to blow air out the west window.
And pray I won't run over the extension cord with the lawn mower (I have done that one before...)

 

[3KillerBs]

I think it is about 6 inches off the ground, taped to the 'wall' I am considering - if I can find it - installing a window fan to blow air out the west window.
And pray I won't run over the extension cord with the lawn mower (I have done that one before...)

Blow air in rather than out unless you get a barn-rated fan with a sealed motor.

Both the dust from the bedding and the feather dander are flammable.

I strongly prefer passive ventilation, but for this purpose see this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/window-fan-mount.75608/

 

[Alagirl]

I am probably picking the worst day to consider chick shopping. We have a storm front headed our way (with all implications, like a possible power outage)

Ok, I have not yet bought feed - because, why, when you have no chicks.....

I am assuming the chicks are not vaccinated (TSC stock) So would it be a good idea to start them off on medicated feed? Or just go plain?

How do you guys introduce 'real food' to chicks? One at a time and wait a little? Or throw them out into the yard/run, hope they know what they are doing? It would help there if one had an older hen I guess.
Feeling a little dumb right now, Somewhere like a kid with pocket money, itching to spend it, and like a grown-up, yet feeling dumb.

Is DuMore a decent brand feed? I would love not to buy more Purina. I can't wean my cats off it.....

 

[Alagirl]

also
the selection is largely reduced, I am guessing chick days are over.
In one tub the chicks had something dark stuck on their bum, about the size of a small olive. I could not get close enough to see what it was (and I can't see worth a crap anyhow)
But I figured I should stir clear of those chicks seeing I have NO clue whatsoever.

 

[3KillerBs]

I am assuming the chicks are not vaccinated (TSC stock) So would it be a good idea to start them off on medicated feed? Or just go plain?

Yes, farm store chicks are almost never vaccinated.

Also, the vaccines don't *usually* have anything to do with the medication in the feed -- being for different diseases.

I *personally* like the insurance factor of feeding medicated feed for the first weeks. Just in case.

How do you guys introduce 'real food' to chicks? One at a time and wait a little? Or throw them out into the yard/run, hope they know what they are doing? It would help there if one had an older hen I guess.

Chicks can't have anything other than their starter crumble (or all-flock crumble), unless they also have grit.

I wait 2 weeks to start introducing the tiniest bit of green stuff -- broken up into pieces like a single lobe of a clover leaf and only one per chick. That's not universal practice. Just my comfort point.

However, I must note that since I brood outdoors I've had chicks just out of the shipping box -- in the stage where they're supposed to have water only -- snapping up dead bugs under the heat lamp or picking ants off the walls. So not everything is always under our control.

Is DuMore a decent brand feed? I would love not to buy more Purina. I can't wean my cats off it.....

I'm not familiar with that brand. My local feed store is a Southern States and I use their brand. The TSC is much further away and I've never had occasion to buy feed their.

the selection is largely reduced, I am guessing chick days are over.
In one tub the chicks had something dark stuck on their bum, about the size of a small olive. I could not get close enough to see what it was (and I can't see worth a crap anyhow)
But I figured I should stir clear of those chicks seeing I have NO clue whatsoever.

WISE MOVE!

That stuff stuck on their bums was almost certainly Pasty Butt -- a condition that can kill them without treatment. You don't need that as a first-timer. (It's often related to shipping stress or to too warm a brooder and not necessarily TSC's fault -- but not something you need for your first chickens).

May I suggest that you consider ordering chicks from Ideal? They don't have a numbers minimum, only a dollar amount, and your desire for 6 is well within reason for that. (If you think you're capable of it, order extras, pick the ones you like best, and sell the rest).

I've had great luck with my orders from Ideal and figure that since they're in Texas their lines are heat-adapted for our climate.

https://www.idealpoultry.com/shoponline

 

[Alagirl]

Bookmarked.
I found some sources locally (probably not much more trustworthy than TSC) in case the store around the corner runs out.
never thought I'd be this determined about chickens.
it is getting hot here already, temps in the mid 80s and it is only the first week of May. it is raining now, maybe it will be a little cooler at the end.
(BTW, do you have a picture of your outdoor brooder?)

Once the rain lets up I need to collect all my materials up again I have strewn around the backyard in anticipation of building something BIG.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have an article about my brooder: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-to-outdoor-brooder-conversion.76634/

And here is my current batch of babies in it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-easter-eggs.1521380/

I love brooding outdoors. No noise or mess in my house and the chicks acclimate to the outside temps without me having to worry about them.

 

[KRack]

I'm no help with chicks, although I'm following for all the advice! I did get a coop from this company though, and I'm very happy with it! I've had no predator problems at all.

https://www.chickencoopcompany.com/

 

[Alagirl]

I have an article about my brooder: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/run-to-outdoor-brooder-conversion.76634/

And here is my current batch of babies in it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-easter-eggs.1521380/

I love brooding outdoors. No noise or mess in my house and the chicks acclimate to the outside temps without me having to worry about them.

Interesting structure.