Texas

[bnjrob]

Bnjrob, thank you so much for recommending the Brinsea brooder. I love it! The chicks are so quiet, I keep lifting it up to see if they are all alive. They just seem so much happier and less stressed than when they don't have something warm and dark to go hide under. I've always hated heat lamps, but hadn't appreciated how much more natural that little brooder is.

How do you know when to raise it? When they stop crowding under? I think I'm going to get the 50 chick size for my next lot of chicks.

I am so glad that you like it. It has made a complete difference in how fast I get them acclimated to normal temperatures with faster feathering and not worrying about fire or getting too hot and too cold spots in a brooder like with a heat lamp. I have found that they seem to actually run around the brooder more and just play and explore more when they have the EcoGlow. First thing in the mornings I always have to go pick it up and count heads - I wish it was transparent because they get so comfy in there and are too quiet sometimes.

I find that when they are trying to hop up on top of the thing too often, then it's time to raise to the next level.

I have my chicks in an unheated room in the house and I took it out this year when they were about 2 1/2 weeks old and they did fine. On the chilliest nights when the temp in that room was down about 60 degrees, I just partially covered the top of the brooder with a towel to hold in the heat above where they were laying down to sleep and they did great. Last year we had a really cold spell and the chicks were just too cold at a month old to be able to go without the heater, so I got some scrap wood and put it underneath the legs of it to raise it high enough for them at that age.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I am so glad that you like it. It has made a complete difference in how fast I get them acclimated to normal temperatures with faster feathering and not worrying about fire or getting too hot and too cold spots in a brooder like with a heat lamp. I have found that they seem to actually run around the brooder more and just play and explore more when they have the EcoGlow. First thing in the mornings I always have to go pick it up and count heads - I wish it was transparent because they get so comfy in there and are too quiet sometimes.

I find that when they are trying to hop up on top of the thing too often, then it's time to raise to the next level.

I have my chicks in an unheated room in the house and I took it out this year when they were about 2 1/2 weeks old and they did fine. On the chilliest nights when the temp in that room was down about 60 degrees, I just partially covered the top of the brooder with a towel to hold in the heat above where they were laying down to sleep and they did great. Last year we had a really cold spell and the chicks were just too cold at a month old to be able to go without the heater, so I got some scrap wood and put it underneath the legs of it to raise it high enough for them at that age.

You took their heat away at 2.5 weeks? I hadn't thought about them getting used to normal temps more quickly. I just wanted something that would be safe and not have to always be adjusted by the ambient temperature of the room. I am just so surprised at how much happier and relaxed they seem. They are so quiet. I really like it. Like you, I just wish I could see them.

 

[RachaelS]

Wow, I don't you about you guys but I am so happy this week has come to an end. It has been a hard one.

 

[bnjrob]

You took their heat away at 2.5 weeks? I hadn't thought about them getting used to normal temps more quickly. I just wanted something that would be safe and not have to always be adjusted by the ambient temperature of the room. I am just so surprised at how much happier and relaxed they seem. They are so quiet. I really like it. Like you, I just wish I could see them.

I sure did. They are 3 weeks now and no heat. This year was the fastest I have ever weaned chicks off heat. Probably because I am more comfortable now with doing it because I kept watching and they were just spending more and more time out from underneath the heater and I tried it one night with covering over half of the brooder with a towel and they just snuggled together touching and did great and they were more concerned with being on top of the heater instead of underneath it. I figure if they are spending the majority of time using it as a play toy, they didn't need it anymore as a heat source. Did the same thing with the group that is 6 weeks old now - those guys have been fully feathered for a couple weeks and they are outside now.

 

[bnjrob]

Wow, I don't you about you guys but I am so happy this week has come to an end. It has been a hard one. My mom is a kitten foster mom, she is retired, so home all day, the shelter gives her baby kittens to bottle raise. To her credit, she is good about raising them and then getting them adopted. However, one little kitten they trusted her with, had some serious genetic issues, his face was odd, teeth did not form right, heart issues, so mom decided to adopt him since it was not likely anyone else would. On Tuesday night, he was sleeping on her and then just passed on, she was so heartbroken. I bought her a rose bush to plant next to him.

Then my sister took her Boxer in last week to have bladder stones removed, normal enough, they found a lot of them and some odd masses, took it all out, it was more involved than thought so they kept him for 3 days. He was doing great so they were going to release him when his kidneys started to fail, they tried everything and it looked like he would pull through, then he took another turn and on Wednesday she had to put him down, he was only 8.

 

[RRTXCHICKS]

Hi y'all! My chicks are now 12 weeks now. We allegedly purchased 2 black australorpe pullets. One of them (no doubt a hen) has developed faster than the other (suspicious of gender). What do you think? It's the one in front. Thanks for your replies!

 

[bnjrob]

Hi y'all! My chicks are now 12 weeks now. We allegedly purchased 2 black australorpe pullets. One of them (no doubt a hen) has developed faster than the other (suspicious of gender). What do you think? It's the one in front. Thanks for your replies!

I don't have Australorps but in my breed, that would be more consistent with a female - I would be seeing a much redder, larger comb and wattles if it were male.

 

[gameandmore]

I don't have Australorps but in my breed, that would be more consistent with a female - I would be seeing a much redder, larger comb and wattles if it were male. 

X2

My 15 week olds have just a slightly bigger comb. I'd say pullet.

 

[RachaelS]

Hi y'all! My chicks are now 12 weeks now. We allegedly purchased 2 black australorpe pullets. One of them (no doubt a hen) has developed faster than the other (suspicious of gender). What do you think? It's the one in front. Thanks for your replies!

If I was going to be worried, it would be the one in the back on this pic, not the one in the front. Not being super familiar with this breed, I would say they are both pullets.

 

[showbarnmom]

I am so excited I can hardly stand it!!!! I purchased frizzled Americauna hatching eggs!!! Squee!!!