ROAD TRIP!!

[Celticdragonfly]

HEY Y'ALL, we're home and have gotten enough sleep that now I can post this - the video of the chick unboxing and surprise!

The LOOK on her face when we handed her the extra two!

 

[Celticdragonfly]

Our baby flock is now 3 weeks old - and I gotta tell you that brooder box is getting outgrown QUICK with six in there. They're not totally feathered out, though.

So - today we moved them to the run extension, Cera can see them and is fascinated but can't get to them.

(She *has* gotten some supervised time in the run extension with them - she mostly wants to eat their food, I expect it's a dominance thing, and doesn't peck at them unless they try to eat too - then the first peck doesn't seem to hurt, we've only heard a squawk from a chick the one time they stuck around for a second peck. And she's had some time in that extension run without the babies.)

However - we have their brooder box out there, with the lid serving for a ramp into it - they can get out just fine on their own - and an extension cord running to the brooder plate, and a section of moving blanket cut and draped over the brooder box to help keep the heat in better at night.

They really seemed to be having a good time in the run, this is the first time I've seen them explore the whole space.

I hope they're okay in the morning.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Polk, OH is 2 hours east of me. Honk when you drive by! Happy travels!

 

[Celticdragonfly]

UPDATE - they were shivering the next morning, even with the moving blanket over the brooder box. Okay, so it's not keeping enough warmth for them overnight.

SO we had to unhook everything and bring them back inside, and we'll just try taking them out to the run each day and bringing them back to the box each evening. I *didn't* want us to have to go upstairs and downstairs with them twice daily, so we cleaned out a side of the living room and they're tucked in there. Seemed contented with it, and Tybalt who loves watching over them was pleased to see them.

 

[aart]

and an extension cord running to the brooder plate, and a section of moving blanket cut and draped over the brooder box to help keep the heat in better at night.

The brooder plate should keep them warm enough.
What are your overnight low temps...and what kind of plate?

 

[Celticdragonfly]

Brinsea EcoGlow Brooder, 12x8. And Thursday night it went down to 60. Going to be in the 50s the next handful of days.

I figured if they were shivering in the morning, that wasn't good.

 

[aart]

Brinsea EcoGlow Brooder, 12x8. And Thursday night it went down to 60. Going to be in the 50s the next handful of days.

I figured if they were shivering in the morning, that wasn't good.

That should work ok.
How many chicks...and do they know how to use it?
Sometimes they need to be shown how.