Put the brooder outside?

[gel2727]

So we are expecting 15+ chicks at the end of May, I've raised two batches of chicks before, and have only lost one (from shipping). Its been four years since we had chickens and currently we don't have any. My husband wants the brooder to go out in the coop this time because of all the dust, but I don't feel comfortable putting them out there until they are at least a few weeks old. Has anyone raised their chickies completely outside before? I was thinking maybe I could convince him to let me keep them inside for the first two weeks if I use newspaper, or maybe newspaper and just a little bit of shavings. How long can just newspaper be used? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks all

 

[Keltara]

Quote: Sand would be much easier. You can just scoop the poop out with a kitty litter scoop and it's so much less labor than pine shavings plus it keeps everything dry. No matter what use, there will be dust. They are just dusty animals. Newspaper is not the greatest thing to use as it holds moisture which is not healthy and the ink is not good for them. If he is truly opposed to letting them stay inside, they will be just fine outside as long as they have an adequate heat source. Enjoy your newbies!!

Kelly

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Our Country Chronicles

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[howfunkyisurchicken]

I raise my chicks outside in a hutch, they do great. They seem to feather out much faster than if I brood inside (which is only when the outside hutch is at maximum capacity). I'm getting ready to fire up my incubator and any chicks hatched will go right outside

 

[gel2727]

I raise my chicks outside in a hutch, they do great. They seem to feather out much faster than if I brood inside (which is only when the outside hutch is at maximum capacity). I'm getting ready to fire up my incubator and any chicks hatched will go right outside

Thanks! And that's the best screen name I've ever seen!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Thanks, I've definitely got some funky chickens

 

[SlipsWife]

I think I've read newspaper isn't good because it can cause sprawled legs? We set ours up in the garage so it's not as cold as it would be if they were outside and a little more convenient. Our first group was about 2 weeks old when we moved them out, brooder and all, and they did great. As long as they have the heat lamp and protection from the elements they should be fine, it's just more convenient when they are inside.

 

[giraffe7]

I just recently became a "Chick mommy" and was reading a different website called The Chicken Chick (if you google it it should pull up) and she says not to use newspaper because it can cause "spraddle leg". I was under the impression that newspaper could be used but I have heard from multiple different people to use paper towels or something that provides more traction, so that the chicks don't get some kind of deformity. I also heard to use pine shavings when they are about 5-6 days old as they will try and eat them sooner than that. I tried putting some shavings in my brooder today and they wouldn't eat the food they just sat there and either ate or pecked a bald spot in the bottom so I placed paper towels on top of the shavings again and will try in a couple more days. I hope this helps!

 

[gel2727]

Thanks, that's very helpful

 

[DelcoChix]

I'm kind of in the same boat you're in in that I have 21 10 day old chicks in my mudroom this year...it's been three years since we raised day old laying chicks with 100% success rate each time. The previous batches of babies were late spring babies (May, I believe) and were raised totally outside, well in the horsebarn in the brooder (previously a whelping box).

I had no trouble whatsoever then--and was so proud of myself this year, ordered some lovely chicks (Marans, Ameracaunas, and Bluebells) to arrive the last week of March-all went according to plan. I had the 4'x4'x2'high brooder out, cleaned up, sand in it for litter (eager to try rather than pine shavings like I've always used before), even ordered the Ecoglow 20 brooder lamp...totally ready. Except for the Ohio weather--didn't plan on that. Temps in the 20's, 6" of snow the week they were to arrive (Ecoglow works best over 50 degrees). Got paranoid and at the last minute came up with alternate brooder in the mudroom...where they have been ever since. Am anxious to move them out to brooder-heaven as they are running out of room in brooder #2. Had to find another temp. brooder once they figured out how to hop high and semi-fly. Wild bunch of youngsters!

Anyways, sorry to ramble on, but although it is fun to have them nearby, I would not hesitate to have them outdoors as long as you have a secure location for them and the added heatsource for the first few weeks.

As far as bedding, I would not recommend newspaper ever--it gets slippery when wet and they have no traction (hence the 'spraddle-leg' condition). Use either pine shavings (not cedar) or sand--from what I've been reading sand is a great type of bedding, and re-usable. Sift through for clean up, then dump it in the coop or run after done with brooding. I've read of folks who place paper towel on the sand/shavings and sprinkle feed on top to get chicks used to eating, but I have never had problems with them eating from the chick feeders I have.

Good luck! Very exciting!
PS: My chicks came from Michigan