The Fraggles

[sean_wonder]

yes I do, here
View attachment 1730744
this is baby, she was sitting on a couple of duckie eggs, and she was not happy about the cameraView attachment 1730745
and this is her soulmate batman, sleeping on my stomach while sun bathing

maybe it’s a silkie thing?

 

[sean_wonder]

3 week photo shoot today folks!

 

[silkiemother]

I don't know ,with him, anything is possible

 

[sean_wonder]

I've been trying to get the girls outside by four weeks sharp. I'd seen my grandparents, experienced farmers, do it with their broilers. Why couldn't I do it with my gals? So I made a post asking how to do it, and now I've gotten to the point where I am nearly sure putting them out so soon would be the wrong decision. I've done more reading and more worrying and I know now it's not the best and I know it's stressful for them and I know I'm making a risky decision. But these chickens mean everything to me, and if I want to keep them I have to make them as little of a hassle for everyone else in the house. If I were on my own, I would've waited until five weeks but I simply can't. They're either out at four weeks or I give them up. I'm allowed to make them a structure in the garage for night times when they turn four weeks but otherwise the chicks will be outside. A heat plate at this point would be useless. I certainly can't afford an air cleaner and the dust has already covered everything in my room at this point. I don't know what to do. I just want them to have a great life and I want them to grow up into strong and healthy chickens but I'm just so horribly nervous. Everything shows that I messed up and I overlooked an important detail. I know I messed up. But I can't just say "Sorry everyone, endure the dust and noise for another whole week!" because I've already made some risky choices! I was sure my mom wouldn't have liked the Deep Litter Method so I did it without asking and she thought I was being a lazy pet owner (before I explained, now she's okay with it.) I can't make another mistake so soon. I have to prove I am one hundred percent independent, that they have nothing to worry about. But the transition is going to be absurdly difficult and stressful for them, and I have no idea what the best way is to do it. (By best I mean least stressful.) My poor baby girls are relying on me and I'm floundering. I'd be grateful for any more advice. I'll start fixing up the 3 week pictures for y'all. Hope you guys are having a better day than I am.

 

[WhoDatChick]

If you can put the heat source for them outside then I don’t think you’ll have any problem... what does your outside setup look like? If they have grass to run around on then I don’t believe they’d get stressed at all! More like they will LOVE it! Plus, I think you may only need heat at night.. so I wouldn’t worry too much.. also, if you said you can put them in garage at night then do that.. leave them out for the day and put up at night.. I move mine around so much! One place for day.. one for night.. one for when it rains.. so, whatever works.. I had mine on the porch at night with heat lamp.. and last week moved them to the big coop/run in a dog crate without heat.. they were just about five weeks at the time.. and now they are running free in the addition until time to integrate.. they will be six weeks Thursday...

 

[BY Bob]

You really only need to convert two weeks. How cold does it get at night where you are? My 6 week old pullets were outside with no heat and the temps dropped to 28° several nights. They were just fine. They had frozen water but they were fine.

I would bring them in each night and take them out in the morning until they are fully feathered (6 weeks or so). Then stop worrying. Unless for some reason it goes down to something ridiculous at night.

 

[rjohns39]

Sean, what state are you in? Trying to get a feel for temps where you are. If you want just tell us what the lows are in your 10 forecast.

 

[jsr5]

Broilers such as cornish crosses are genetically modified to grow super fast is one reason your grandparents had an easier time with the broilers. But mine go out to the garage brooder I built at or by 4 weeks of age in the brooder is a heat lamp (could be two if it gets real cold) it has a plastic mesh floor so poops drop free and easy clean. then we move them depending mostly on how dependend they are on the lamp for heat and their size then they go out to the big coop usually at 8 weeks or so where they have a separate area where they can get to know the flock a bit but are still safe until they get big enough to fend for themselves amongst the flock. All this being to show different things for different chicken folks if yours can get out of the wind, get plenty of water and food, and are safely penned up from predators I'd thing they will be fine oh and a safe warmer place to roost at night such as the mentioned garage space. Just keep up with the poops in the garage to keep your family happy with you. I'm sure you are worried enough they will be checked on often and you are familliar enough with them to notice signs of distress so you can figure out and deal with problems. Good luck my friend.

 

[jsr5]

Dont forget the chick grit to help with the "real" food they will find outside. wouldnt hurt to give em some of the electrolyte type stuff that helps with stres during the transition period. You can now enjoy sprinkling a bit of scratch out for them and watch them scratch around hunting for it. I can sit and watch them scratch for scratch or normal goodies for hours. love to move boards and what not that has been sitting for a while so they can excitedly come find all the tender morsels that have been hiding under them.

 

[WickedChicksNH]

Aww you are such a lucky gal. Those little ones are so cute
Chickens are addicting
They are wonderful stress relievers
And are alway good for a laugh

Congrats on your new flock