The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

Question time for me.

I have a bunch of 8 week old chicks outside in the brooder. They are fully feathered, and all that good stuff - but it is ridiculously cold out this week.

​

Wednesday
January 23​

Thursday
January 24​

Friday
January 25​

Saturday
January 26​

Sunday
January 27​

Monday
January 28​

Conditions
6am - 6pm​

​

Sunny Variable cloudiness Sunny Light snow Variable cloudiness Cloudy periods

P.O.P.​

10 % 20 % 10 % 80 % 20 % 20 %

High​

1 °F 3 °F 9 °F 14 °F 9 °F 16 °F

Feels Like​

-22 -18 -11 -6 -11 -4

Low​

-6 °F -6 °F -4 °F 1 °F -2 °F -2 °F

Wind​

W 16 mph W 9 mph W 6 mph N 12 mph NW 9 mph W 6 mph

24-Hr Snow​

- - close to 1 in close to 2 in - -​

Trying to figure out how to get these guys acclimated so I can remove heat lamps, but is it just too cold to do so this week?

I have some valuable bantam Ameraucanas in there, so I'm hesitant to risk it. I know a few of them would do just fine (barred rock, EE, NN). Advice.. Should I wait until Saturday when it seems to be the least cold?

Give them a place in the barn with a heat lamp. See how they do. If they just huddle, put them back. I think they will be fine, but, it is better to test first. It is -22 this morning here. You have a heat wave!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: I have a red worms too. Much easier and more prolific than the meal worms.
ETA: I got my first worms from Big Tex Worms. I just liked her demeanor, the way she packages, and her informational videos. (Also has quite a lot of info on her youtube channel.

So decided to purchase from her.

Sometimes I respond to medical problems with what I would do if it were happening with one of my birds.

I have VERY little knowledge in this arena and tell people this up front and try to give a short answer. The reason I do this is to attract attention. Not to me, but to the issue of the OP. If someone sees a response and does not like my answer or does but can expound on it then it helps the OP.

One of the places I try to go daily is to the unanswered posts. We are all friendly here but have been here for a while too, it's almost extended family. However, when you first come, it can be a lonely experience, especially if no one answers you.... even if the information is in the search or learning center, or been answered 100 million times.

Kind of a duty to pay it forward for my absorption of the wealth of free information I have found here.

Shawn

Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to look for and help folks that are new and posting. That's a good thing and I appreciate it!

Wow...you KNOW I don't have any experience so.....

If it were me I'd sure wait. I keep trying to think what the temps would be like if they were in a "natural" setting - in the wild if you will. I'm guessing they wouldn't probably have a hatch in that setting until at least late March or in April sometime. I try to imagine what the weather would be like under those circumstances and do accordingly.

Maybe that's not necessary...but it just seem to make sense?

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

It's true. There are many on this thread with a combined and vast store of knowledge. I would say most that follow this thread are also keenly interested in treating their flock with more natural methodology. It can be a real challenge.
Many times with chickens there are just no easy answers. I personally can only offer comment or give suggestions if I feel I have first hand knowledge that might help. People can take it or leave it of course. It was certainly not my intent to single any one post out. I'm truly sorry if you felt that way.
An egg breaking inside a hen is out of my realm of experience.

Nah..we're good. I was just trying to keep things low key, as it was just a question, and not a bonafide emergency. I was just curious, as I thought I had read that sometimes an egg will break in the hen on the way out. So far, none of my 3 game hens is showing any distress, so I won't put them under anymore stress trying to figure out which one it might be. I just watch and monitor them mostly. As of this morning, I still can't tell. I have one up in the nest box right now. Now sure if she is trying to go broody, or just wanting to lay another egg. She has 3 fake eggs under her right now.

 

[aoxa]

Where are they now? Where will they be? If you have a place sheltered by the wind, I would go ahead and turn them out during the day and have the heat lamp with an extesion cord for them to use if they want. Funny thing for me is, when I turn them out it is usually when it is most comfortable for me. My brooder is a trailer and unless they are crowded, what's another week or 2?

I though I was cold this morning when I got up and it was 5 degrees.

Shawn

Our wind chill is horrendous. I hate it lol.

They are in the barn, in a 8 x 4 brooder. With heat lamps, one hardly allows heat at all (must be low watt light, because directly under it, it's not warm to my hand). and the other is over the FF to keep it from freezing.

I want to remove the heat lamps and put chicks outside within a week with the other birds, but don't want to shock their systems. I should have done this Sunday when our temps were really nice, but things change so quickly here..

I'm very happy to say that not a single one of my older birds have shown any signs at all of frost bite. No heat. Lots of drafts (as I have windows open for fresh air).

I think I will turn all chicks loose on Saturday. In with the flock. They'll be one day shy of 9 weeks. It's probably 40F in their brooder right now.

 

[delisha]

Quote: Great advise..
I do not use layer for this simple reason. I have cockerels. Layer is specially mixed for backyard flocks that have just egg layers.It is a perfect blend that you do not have to add anything. No chicks and no cockerels the additives can kill and cause long term issues. It even spacifically states on the bag to start using it after a pullet starts to lay.

 

[aoxa]

Give them a place in the barn with a heat lamp. See how they do. If they just huddle, put them back. I think they will be fine, but, it is better to test first. It is -22 this morning here. You have a heat wave!

-22 without wind chill?

Our wind chill makes it feel way colder than it is.

They are already in the barn with heat lamps, I just want to remove the heat lamps altogether

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Yes, stony, that was an egg-sellant article!

I am soaking up all the chicken edumacation I can get.

 

[SandBsmom]

Holy c***p! that is COLD!!! How do you all take that????? Its been 30 during the day here and I am freezing!!!!!!!!!!

 

[aoxa]

Holy c***p! that is COLD!!! How do you all take that????? Its been 30 during the day here and I am freezing!!!!!!!!!!

Lots and LOTS of layers.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Okay...and may "always" question...

HOW IN THE HECK DO THOSE BIRDS KEEP THOSE SKINNY LITTLE TOES WARM?