Slightly panicked: Starting to build our Coop...just got 13 Chicks!!!

[CrazyTownChick]

You can keep them in the tub and put a cover on it for the full time or you can move them out to the barn in a few weeks. They’ll be happy either way!

Thanks! I just feel so ignorant when it comes to making baby chicks happy and then, hens, happy. Have had dogs, cats, horses, various birds including a cockatiel, but never have had chickens before.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

Ameraucana is a specific breed with show standards. Easter Egger is any crossbred chicken with a good genetic chance of laying a blue or green egg.

Some people say that all hatchery Ameraucanas are actually "just" Easter Eggers but that's not necessarily true -- some hatcheries sell both kinds even if their Ameraucanas aren't necessarily show quality.

For backyard purposes, Easter Eggers can be better because true Ameraucanas lay smaller eggs less often.

Awesome, thanks for the information. Good to know.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Yes! Your point about building a temporary brooder custom size is exactly right, that's what we did. Since we are in the process of building the coop we have extra 2 x 4's and OSB panels, and hardware cloth laying around.
So yesterday Matt went into the shop and built a 3 x 5 ft frame 3+ ft tall, for a brooder, which we're going to cover with hardware cloth and put in the garage. He's putting a door on one end so we can get in (crawl) to change feed water and shavings. I have misgivings about putting it in the garage, but it's an almost 3 car garage with only one car using it, plus lawnmower and Mule. It's got two windows with screens. we're putting a security camera in there because we do have raccoons, foxes, hawks, and other chicken eating varmints around here. Anyway, yes, they need more space already. So we figured 15 square feet should last them a little while until the coop is done and they are ready to graduate. We've got one that already flies to the top of the water container and feed container. She's hilarious. We call her Amelia (first flight).
Anybody know the "rule of thumb" on when they should be transferred from a brooder into a full blown coop? We could also put the familiar brooder inside the coop for a week when the time comes? What age is good for putting in coop? *crossing fingers we'll have it done by then*

Normally I brood directly in the coop.....that pic of my starter brooder was in the house for ducklings arriving very early in the season. They moved out after just 2 weeks.

This time of year they can move to the coop as soon as the coop is secure from predators.

 

[3KillerBs]

Anybody know the "rule of thumb" on when they should be transferred from a brooder into a full blown coop?

I'm brooding my chicks in my coop with a heat lamp temporarily installed.

When we build the new coop we'll include a brooder section. DH thinks the chicks are cute but doesn't want them in the house.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

Anybody know the "rule of thumb" on when baby chicks should be transferred from a brooder into a full blown coop? 6 weeks, 8? 10 weeks? Or sooner? A few of ours are very active and flying up to the top of the water container and feeder. We were told they were 2 weeks last week, so this should be their 3rd week. They seem older. We could also put the familiar brooder inside the coop for a week when the time comes? What age is good for putting them in coop? *crossing fingers we'll have it done by then*

 

[CrazyTownChick]

Normally I brood directly in the coop.....that pic of my starter brooder was in the house for ducklings arriving very early in the season. They moved out after just 2 weeks.

This time of year they can move to the coop as soon as the coop is secure from predators.

Ahhhh, thank you for that! It seems they will be ready soon, especially if the weather stays warm. It's been in upper 80s and lower 90's. YES, the coop absolutely has to be predator proof - we are very determined on that and are willing to go overboard to protect them for the many predators we have.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

I'm brooding my chicks in my coop with a heat lamp temporarily installed.

When we build the new coop we'll include a brooder section. DH thinks the chicks are cute but doesn't want them in the house.

That is also a great idea! So this temporary brooder we're building will easily fit in the 8 x 8 foot coop. Then when we have a new brood, we can use it inside the coop.
Agree, having baby chicks even in an extra room in the house in not ideal. Not at all. Even keeping it clean every day is a challenge. Lesson learned.

 

[electrycmonk]

Yes, we know this is bass-ackwards; we got the cart before the horse or the chicks before the coop. Whatever. But Friday afternoon we brought home from Tractor Supply, 13 two-weekish old chicks and set them up all happy in the brooder (4 x 2.5 ft metal trough). Oh are they hilarious to watch. Such personalities!

We had watched a gazillion videos on coop building and read as many articles, so we have been developing and planning for about 7-9 months. Dear Hubby is an engineer, so he does a lot more planning and thinking and planning and thinking before picking up a hammer and saw. We purchased lots of lumber and OSBs. And more saws and tools. We have the initial coop frame in placed, leveled and ready for the build. Now we are MOTIVATED.

Coop will be 8 x 8, with a 8 x 20 foot run. We live in the country on a 20 acre farm (no livestock), so space and zoning is not an issue.

We figure we have about 6 weeks before we NEED to get them into the coop, even if still in the brooder within the coop. Maybe that's not an accurate guesstimate. ??One concern I have -- will 13 chicks outgrow the brooder before 6 weeks is up? I'm thinking yes. They're already very active, flap around, and cuddle a lot, but I know they grow fast. I could see them growing so fast they'll need to be separated or something before the coop's ready. We might have to make a 2nd makeshift brooder. I don't know what do you think? All pullets allegedly.
We have:

• 1 Rhode Island Red
• 1 Production Red (similar to RI Red? Not sure)
• 2 Amauracanas
• 3 CA white leghorns
• 3 Isa Browns
• 3 Golden Sexlinks (cross of Golden Campine? Not sure)

So that's our little flock. They are adorable, of course. Funny as heck. Hopefully I can attach some pix. Thoughts? Advice? Back in May I introduced myself as a newby in KY, new farm owners & retirees, with hopes and dreams of getting chickens. And here we are.

Okay first of welcome to both y'all.
2nd I see there is already 4+ pages of dialogue & help....
3rd I'm gonna share a link to our build thread with the backstory and pictures of chicks in dog crates while we struggled with the coop & run build.

4th a simple bandaige for time that may already be in place is to have a form of temp. Netting over the trough to keep them from needing an air traffic control tower near by.

Best of luck. Hang in there. It all works out.

 

[jreardon1918]

That is also a great idea! So this temporary brooder we're building will easily fit in the 8 x 8 foot coop. Then when we have a new brood, we can use it inside the coop.
Agree, having baby chicks even in an extra room in the house in not ideal. Not at all. Even keeping it clean every day is a challenge. Lesson learned.

Build. build. build. Your chicks are already ready for the great outdoors. We are north of you. SE Mass. Our chicks went outside at 5 days old. Turned off the heating pad at about 3 weeks. By then they had pretty much stopped using it. If anything you will need to plan for the heat.
Good luck.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

Okay first of welcome to both y'all.
2nd I see there is already 4+ pages of dialogue & help....
3rd I'm gonna share a link to our build thread with the backstory and pictures of chicks in dog crates while we struggled with the coop & run build.

4th a simple bandaige for time that may already be in place is to have a form of temp. Netting over the trough to keep them from needing an air traffic control tower near by.

Best of luck. Hang in there. It all works out.

Thanks so much! Great advice! Yes, we did put a window screen over the top of the trough just to keep her from flying out! She's our Flight Risk Chickie!