I have a batch of 4 week old game crosses now, they will be going in the coop/run once it is complete later this week. In mid to late August, I will be getting a shipment of 15 heavier breed chicks from MPC. I will put them in the outdoor frankencage (not using a brooder, it will be august when they come). In fact, I did the same thing with the chicks I have now and they were fine without the heat lamp. They have been outside on a raised platform under a shed roof area of my FIL's shop. His yard dog guards them at night.
Anyway, when I get these new chicks, I would like to get them out of the cage sooner. I am thinking of building a tractor for them to enjoy once they are around 3-4 weeks old. I also would like to figure out a way to introduce them to the others and get them integrated as soon as possible. How old do they need to be before I put them in with my game crosses? There will be 6-8 weeks of age difference but the game crosses will be smaller birds?
I was thinking of separating the game cross boys and prepping them for the freezer. Should I go ahead and build a second bachelor tractor or just keep them in with the girls until time for processing? I am waiting to find that special rooster to keep as the main man for my ladies).
Oh, and should I be worried about the nasty humid august heat with the shipping of my chicks? Everything I read talks about keeping them warm, etc. That isn't the hard part. I wonder if the excess heat and humidity will be more stressful on the little ones? I ordered extras in case of trouble. If all survive, I will be overrun with chickens, I hope that it is easy to rehome some of them.
Anyway, when I get these new chicks, I would like to get them out of the cage sooner. I am thinking of building a tractor for them to enjoy once they are around 3-4 weeks old. I also would like to figure out a way to introduce them to the others and get them integrated as soon as possible. How old do they need to be before I put them in with my game crosses? There will be 6-8 weeks of age difference but the game crosses will be smaller birds?
I was thinking of separating the game cross boys and prepping them for the freezer. Should I go ahead and build a second bachelor tractor or just keep them in with the girls until time for processing? I am waiting to find that special rooster to keep as the main man for my ladies).
Oh, and should I be worried about the nasty humid august heat with the shipping of my chicks? Everything I read talks about keeping them warm, etc. That isn't the hard part. I wonder if the excess heat and humidity will be more stressful on the little ones? I ordered extras in case of trouble. If all survive, I will be overrun with chickens, I hope that it is easy to rehome some of them.
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