Silly Chick behavior

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Our first chicks used their food bowl as a dust bath... we switched to a chick feeder shortly after. We move our chicks to an outside brooder/chick tractor on grass at 3 weeks, weather permitting, with a supplemental 75 watt heat lamp in the coop part.

I throw moths into the brooder starting at one week and the little beasts practice their hunter-killer thing. Skills.

Whats the temp when you take them outside at this age Coops Dad?
I have a little area I can take them outside. I live in CT.
Thanks

 

[Coops Dad]

70's during the day, 60's at night. Since their little chicken hut has a 75 watt incandescent light for heat, they do really well plus they stay up all night eating, drinking and playing.

 

[City Farmer Jim]

I agree it is what ever works for you...they will seek out a place to their liking and dust bath and you can copy the material then. Chickens are WAY smarter than you think or are given credit for...

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Whats the temp when you take them outside at this age Coops Dad?
I have a little area I can take them outside. I live in CT.
Thanks

Day 3 of having them out for 5 hrs at a time. I stay with them the whole time while the coop is being built. I know, I know, Lesson learned, never get chickens without having a proper home for them first. They are doing great except when its time to bring them inside for the night. They are not impressed.

 

[City Farmer Jim]

The method we have developed is treats,feed, scratch...whatever your flock likes. We used a 1.5 cup scoop with scratch in it and sprinkled a line of it in the direction we want them to go. It took a bit before they were really proficient at but now all I have to do is tap even the empty scoop and they come running...consistency is/was a key for our girls.