Question from a beginner :)

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HJSmith

HJSmith

In the Brooder
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Hello, I am a new member of BYC, although I have been searching this website for months now trying to learn everything I could before getting our chicks :)
In a few days we will be getting 10 3 week old chicks (I was supposed to get them sooner, but family issues) Anyway, I want to be as prepared as possible, and I keep reading that when you first move the chicks to live in the coop they have to be shut in for a while. (Yes I know I have at least a month or so before they will be ready) I have read to make sure they have food and water, the roosts and nesting boxes, and ventilation. However, I see varying times of keeping them in the coop, and I am not sure if we are supposed to just leave them alone in there during this time, or am I supposed to go visit with them, or just kindof open the coop, check food and water, and close the coop back up?
Thanks in advance for the advice!
 
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided join our flock. You should spend lots of time with your chicks from the time that they hatch onward. Not only will you be able to care for them in this way, but they will get used to you being around and will become tame for you. You can speed the taming process up by hand feeding them treats (but not more than 10% of their diet as it will be unhealthy for them). There is a good article on taming them at http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyar...-run-away-whenever-they-see-me-Can-I-H57.aspx. The week after they hatch, their brooder temperature should be kept 90-95 F, lowering the temperature by 5 F each week until they are fully feathered at the end of week 6. At that point, you won't have to worry about the air temperature around them any longer. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your chicks.
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Usually it is suggested to lock the flock in their new coop for a few days (usually 3 days to a week is mentioned) so they get used to it being home, and will go back in there on their own at night. (especially if you leave them free range at all)... if they are in a run and you can easily get them back in the coop, some people don't bother locking them in the coop at first.
 
Well we ended up getting 3 day old chicks instead of 3 week old chicks, so I have a little longer to figure it out. Thanks for the advice!
 
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Welcome fellow noob! For whatever it's worth, Im planning on locking my flock in for several weeks to get used to their new home. Mostly because it's the path of least resistance.

We were aiming for 12 chicks and ended up with 20 on accident (okay it's because I'm a softy and got all the chicks my kids wanted rather than making them choose their favorites-no accident whatsoever). They are getting too big for the 6' water trough we started them in and the run isn't built yet (neither is the coop but it will be this weekend).

I'll be moving my chicks in to the coop with 2 250 watt heat lamps early next week. My chicks are 3-6 weeks old, so I'll leave both heat lamps in there for a couple weeks, and then leave 1 in there for a month or so while the weather finishes warming up here in zone 5.
 

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