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I'm one of the people who put their chicks out early. I have some that are 3-4 weeks old and are out in the coop with the rest of the babies.... no heat. They're fine. Last night was a bit cold but they hunkered down with the rest of them in the coop and were running around today. I did take them off the heat lamp for a few days inside before moving them. Not everyone puts them out this early and if it were winter, I'd have a heat lamp for them. As long as the lamp is secure (we hook, rehook and tie it so it can't fall in the shavings), you should be fine.
Now that I say that.... I lost 5 chicks this weekend. I'm so upset.
I put my babies in the tractor instead of the coop. They were fine for three days. On Saturday morning I went to say good morning and found a chick in the tractor without a head. Just the bloody body. The wire was not torn. Of course I freaked out. We secure the tractor and Sunday morning they were all great. Came back from church and four were missing. I can't figure it out. Nothing is disturbed on the tractor. I'm not sure what happened. We looked everywhere but couldn't find them. I moved the remaining chicks to the coop with the other young ones and they are doing fine. This is the first time I've lost chickens to something other that my old killer dog. It's baffling. We bought a trap today in case it's a fox or possum or something like that. How could four chicks just disappear? So strange. I hate losing chicks.
Loving the rain though! It's been raining since right after lunch.
Joy..... two of the guineas hatched today! I've had twelve guinea eggs under two silkie hens (6 each). I ran out in the rain to collect eggs and just happened to see a little fluff ball by the food in the silkie coop. I looked closer and it was a guinea baby! Just out there shivering all by itself. I guess the silkie mama took it out to show it the food and left it there. I took it in and found another one hatched. I put this one under her and he seemed happy as could be. I put food and water in the coop since the weather was so nasty. My silkie girl kept lifting her bottom and looking under there like "What is this?" I hope more hatch. Today is day 28 so I wasn't really expecting them just yet. They are so cute! Look like little chicks so far. Can't wait to see how many more hatch.
Hey Susanne - great news on the keets hatching! You're gonna love them. I'm glad you were able to save the one outside. As for your chicks, I'd say probably a racoon or owl. Either one will pull the heads off the birds. Owls usually only eat the heads. But in a tractor, racoons will work together to scare the birds into one corner so they can grab them through the wire. Owls are also very good at grabbing birds through wire you wouldn't think they can get through. Sorry about your loss.
Now, I have to say that I do not put my babies out at 4 weeks. I still have some twice that old in the house!
Gotta watch over them. I know others do it successfully but I would just like to point out that maybe it's different if there are bigger birds to help keep the little ones warm. I've witnessed hens AND roosters covering my young chicks with their wings even on warm nights. If I have just babies, they get a brooder box with heat available. I have a group of 12 week olds and older all huddled up under the heat lamp tonight. I just checked on them. The temp is 65 degrees in the brooder house and they are all piled up under the one heat lamp that I have on.
I'm one of the people who put their chicks out early. I have some that are 3-4 weeks old and are out in the coop with the rest of the babies.... no heat. They're fine. Last night was a bit cold but they hunkered down with the rest of them in the coop and were running around today. I did take them off the heat lamp for a few days inside before moving them. Not everyone puts them out this early and if it were winter, I'd have a heat lamp for them. As long as the lamp is secure (we hook, rehook and tie it so it can't fall in the shavings), you should be fine.
Now that I say that.... I lost 5 chicks this weekend. I'm so upset.
Loving the rain though! It's been raining since right after lunch.
Joy..... two of the guineas hatched today! I've had twelve guinea eggs under two silkie hens (6 each). I ran out in the rain to collect eggs and just happened to see a little fluff ball by the food in the silkie coop. I looked closer and it was a guinea baby! Just out there shivering all by itself. I guess the silkie mama took it out to show it the food and left it there. I took it in and found another one hatched. I put this one under her and he seemed happy as could be. I put food and water in the coop since the weather was so nasty. My silkie girl kept lifting her bottom and looking under there like "What is this?" I hope more hatch. Today is day 28 so I wasn't really expecting them just yet. They are so cute! Look like little chicks so far. Can't wait to see how many more hatch.
Hey Susanne - great news on the keets hatching! You're gonna love them. I'm glad you were able to save the one outside. As for your chicks, I'd say probably a racoon or owl. Either one will pull the heads off the birds. Owls usually only eat the heads. But in a tractor, racoons will work together to scare the birds into one corner so they can grab them through the wire. Owls are also very good at grabbing birds through wire you wouldn't think they can get through. Sorry about your loss.
Now, I have to say that I do not put my babies out at 4 weeks. I still have some twice that old in the house!
