Second guessing my brooding pen / integration plans

[aart]

Got the call from the post office about 6:15 this morning.

They're using the heating pad well. They come out to eat/drink, then dash back under to get warm.

Had to pile a lot of bedding underneath so it was close enough for them to be able to press their backs against it.

Right now I have a heat lamp (securely) working above the pen also, trying to warm up the area a little. It was 40-something this morning, low 50's now. So far it's making it about 5 degrees warmer in their pen than it is outside of it. 61.5 degrees at their food at last check.

Will be warm today and tomorrow (low 60's), then cool for a while (40's - 50's daytime highs).

Hoping to keep it warmer in their pen the next couple days at least, so they don't have to spend ALL their time under the pad.

I use heat lamp over feed/water station for the first couple days(only during the day), just to make sure they are all eating, drinking, and mobile.
After that it's not necessary...after seeing 3 day olds come out from under broody to romp around in below freezing temps, I quit worry about it.

 

[Mutleycrew35]

Quick question, we've been using a Tupperware made at home for the brooder but are quickly learning they going to outgrow it. Can we use this old play pen we have inside? If so how would/should it be modified to keep in heat? Or would the heat lamps be enough?

 

[lazy gardener]

You only need a small area in your brooder that is heated. It's not healthy for the whole brooder to be warm. The bigger issue might be them scratching all of the savings out onto the floor.

 

[Mutleycrew35]

Ok, I was worried about it not being warm enough because the sides are open but as long as they have lamp to warm themselves under they'll be fine? They're a week or so in age.

The mesh is pretty finely knitted. Thinking maybe I should add a bit of a wall around the base to keep the mess down to a minimum and perhaps some plastic tarp type material for easier cleaning.

 

[lazy gardener]

Where are you brooding them? In your house? Shed? Garage? Coop? A lot depends on that. If not in the living space of your house, you will need a bit of a draft screen around the bottom, perhaps cardboard about 12" high and zip tied to the mesh. You will also need to cover it. By the time they are 10 days to 2 weeks old, they will be able to fly out of it.

 

[Mutleycrew35]

We're brooding them in our home. Currently they are in the living room area, this is where we'd like to keep them until they're ready to go outside. We live in Florida so the weather is already extremely warm out so were running the A.C., we keep it around 75-78.

 

[3riverschick]

We're brooding them in our home. Currently they are in the living room area, this is where we'd like to keep them until they're ready to go outside. We live in Florida so the weather is already extremely warm out so were running the A.C., we keep it around 75-78.

_____________

Okay, take a look around at all of your furniture .see that dust which covers every nook and cranny ?that's not dust, that's chick down!! you just turned your living room into a chicken coop . it can't be dusted off, it must be carefully wiped off with something little bit damp otherwise it just flies in the air and lands someplace else. every nook and cranny in your living room is covered with chick down
just get them out of your house.
Karen

 

[Mutleycrew35]

Ok, so there is NO chick down covering my living room. They are currently in a Tupperware that I clean daily. They are all a week or less old. 3 are Bantams. I do not want to put them outside until they're ready. These are our first and only chickens.
I was simply looking for ideas on how to expand their space safely.

 

[aart]

Ok, so there is NO chick down covering my living room. They are currently in a Tupperware that I clean daily. They are all a week or less old. 3 are Bantams. I do not want to put them outside until they're ready. These are our first and only chickens.
I was simply looking for ideas on how to expand their space safely.

Welcome to BYC @Mutleycrew35 .
The dust doesn't start until they are a couple weeks old.



NOW back to the regularly scheduled thread started by @WesleyBeal .......How are your chicks doing, having fun yet??

 

[WesleyBeal]

Welcome to BYC @Mutleycrew35
.
The dust doesn't start until they are a couple weeks old.



NOW back to the regularly scheduled thread started by @WesleyBeal
.......How are your chicks doing, having fun yet??

Yep, they're doing well. Warm enough now that I've turned off the heat lamp.They still spend most of their time under the heating pad, coming out to eat and drink.

Hens occasionally come over and look in, all curious. Act like they think they're supposed to know something about these things, just not sure what.