Raising chicks outdoors in Scotland

[soloequestrian]

Hi, I've had a disasterous year - lost a few of my girls to predators, had 12 eggs under my lovely fluffy hen (hatched without barbicels so she had silkie-like feathers but wasn't a silkie), only one of them hatched and then mum and chick were eaten by a badger. So I am down to four hens, none of them likely to go broody. I've had three successful hatches in the past using broodies but think I'm going to have to use an incubator this year to get the flock going again. Assuming I manage to hatch some I'd prefer that they go straight outside. I've read a bit in the 'Articles' section about this but couldn't quite understand heat sources. I'm wondering if I could have a mini electric blanket set up that they would sit on with something over it that they could burrow under, for instance a fleecy blanket (or feather dusters??)? Or do they need heat from above? I'm hoping to do this March/April so temperatures are likely to be around 10 C (50 F) in the day and might go down to near freezing at night. I know it's early to be asking about this but I'm excited about it and want to be prepared! Thanks in advance for advice!

 

[GodLovesU]

I would try to fortify the coop.Do you free-range?Here’s the United Kingdom thread:https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2199
Good luck!

 

[soloequestrian]

Thanks but I don't know what fortify the coop means? Do you mean as in stopping predators? The hens free range - they are pretty secure at night already, they are in a shed and up on perches. The ones that have been taken have gone during the day. The chicks will be in a secure coop at night and a secure run during the day until they get old enough to mix with the adults. It's their temperature that I'm not sure of.

 

[GodLovesU]

Oh my bad,I thought you meant predators were breaking into the coop!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Regardless of where you raise chicks they need food, water, protection from predators, and protection from the environment. Protection from the environment means adequate ventilation, protection from breezes, and a spot warm enough in the coolest weather and cool enough in the warmest weather.

In colder temperatures ventilation is about removing excess moisture from the air to prevent frostbite. Danger from a cold breeze hitting them should be self-explanatory, not good. This generally means openings above them so moist air can escape but solid walls down where they are to stop direct breezes. Moisture comes from their breathing, their poop, and open water.

Chicks need warmth until they feather out, usually around 5 weeks of age. So they need a heat source. A lot of people use heat plates. I don't know where you would get one in Scotland, maybe online or at a feed store. Some make a shelter out of a heating pad. You might do a search on this forum for information on both of those. Other people use various types of heaters.

I use a heat lamp. Although they have been used for over 100 years many people on this forum are scared silly of them. To me, any heat source is a fire or electrocution risk if you don't use it correctly, including heat plates and heating pads. I do not use the clamp that come with it but firmly fix it in place with wire or chain. I do not use fiber or plastic cord that could melt of burn.

The big problem brooding out of doors that is different from indoors is the temperature swings. I use a fairly large brooder and heat one spot warm enough in the lowest temperatures. When the weather warms up that area can get too hot, hot enough to kill them. So they need a cooler spot to go to when the weather warms up. Straight out of the incubator my chicks are really good at moving to a comfortable place as long as they have options. On really cold mornings the far reaches of the brooder may have frost on it but the warm spot is toasty warm. On hot days the chicks may be at the far edge of the brooder away from the heat. What I see a lot is that they like to play in the cooler areas of the brooder until they get a bit chill, then go to the warmer area to warm up. I keep their water close enough to the heated end that it does not freeze.

To me that's the main thing about brooding outside, make sure they can handle the temperature swings.

Good luck!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm wondering if I could have a mini electric blanket set up that they would sit on with something over it that they could burrow under, for instance a fleecy blanket (or feather dusters??)? Or do they need heat from above? I'm hoping to do this March/April so temperatures are likely to be around 10 C (50 F) in the day and might go down to near freezing at night. I know it's early to be asking about this but I'm excited about it and want to be prepared! Thanks in advance for advice!

I would not use an electric blanket unless it's super tiny and can be secured to a frame to prevent tangling.

A heating pad WITHOUT an auto shut off or heat plates would be the recommended heat source for what it sounds like you're hoping to set up. Many different ways to set up a heating pad. My outdoor brooder and heating pad set up is here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/
or there's an entire huge thread on it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

The "Ohio brooder". May be what you're looking for. Search that on Youtube. Here is one video about it, but look at others too because I can't use my volume right now on my phone and couldn't preview if that was a good example video or not.

It's a good brooder setup for cold weather because it keeps the chicks warm and protected while they are under it, but they also have the choice to go outside in the cold briefly, which kind of simulates how things work with a mama hen and helps them adjust to the outdoors sooner.

I also would suggest looking into a secured run for your chickens. It seems you have a lot of predators where you live.

It might be worth looking into broody breeds as well. Buff Orpingtons should be available near you. My most broody hen has been a black Australorp and she is an excellent mother. Idk what's available by you, but those are some common breeds to try.