The Old Folks Home

[Wisher1000]

My lovely SIL ordered this for us last night. My nice UPS man should be bringing it next week. My whole family have been living vicariously through my chickens, with daily updates on facebook, and she said she wanted Dottie and Cricket to have their own house instead of the plastic tote they are in now. So I guess this will be turned in my new chick home. Now if only I can figure out how I'm going to add a heat source.

I think we often provide too much heat for too long. They need a place to get warm, but keeping them warm all the time is not best. I have noticed that chicks that are in the weather (rain, wind, cold) with their mother feather out much faster and seem to be stronger,healthier, and better able to deal with weather extremes. I have made it my practice to provide a warm sheltered "hen box" that they can use to warm up, but I leave their food and water outside of that so that they learn to regulate their own body's heat. All of this, of course after about 2 weeks of 24/7 warmth (if I'm raising them without a hen.) Here's how I do it. I take a fairly large (say, 2' x 2') cardboard box and suspend a light bulb inside. The bulb should be well away from the sides so as not to be a fire hazard. The wattage of the bulb will depend on what size box you are using, but a 25 to 40 watt is usually enough. Put a thermometer up on the wall of the box (inside close to the bedding) to make sure it stays around 90 degrees. I use a brooder lamp with a wire guard in case it falls. I also wrap the lamp and guard in chicken wire so the little darlings won't try to roost on the guard. I cut several doors in the side of the box, close to the floor, and one or two in the top of each side for ventilation. then I line the bottom with a feed sack and bedding to make cleaning it out easy. The chicks will go in here to sleep and warm up but will go out to eat, drink, and explore. I have raised many chicks in a non-insulated coop in the winter using this set-up and they did great! They will grow thier feathers faster this way than they will if you keep them in a totally warm environment while they are feathering out. Depending on how many chicks there are, and how cold it is outside, you will remove the light and leave the box when they have completely feathered out. This could be as early as five weeks, but no longer than eight weeks even in very cold weather. If I didn't explain this well enough, any one, PM me and I will try to do a better job!

 

[ronott1]

I think we often provide too much heat for too long. They need a place to get warm, but keeping them warm all the time is not best. I have noticed that chicks that are in the weather (rain, wind, cold) with their mother feather out much faster and seem to be stronger,healthier, and better able to deal with weather extremes. I have made it my practice to provide a warm sheltered "hen box" that they can use to warm up, but I leave their food and water outside of that so that they learn to regulate their own body's heat. All of this, of course after about 2 weeks of 24/7 warmth (if I'm raising them without a hen.)

Here's how I do it. I take a fairly large (say, 2' x 2') cardboard box and suspend a light bulb inside. The bulb should be well away from the sides so as not to be a fire hazard. The wattage of the bulb will depend on what size box you are using, but a 25 to 40 watt is usually enough. Put a thermometer up on the wall of the box (inside close to the bedding) to make sure it stays around 90 degrees. I use a brooder lamp with a wire guard in case it falls. I also wrap the lamp and guard in chicken wire so the little darlings won't try to roost on the guard. I cut several doors in the side of the box, close to the floor, and one or two in the top of each side for ventilation. then I line the bottom with a feed sack and bedding to make cleaning it out easy. The chicks will go in here to sleep and warm up but will go out to eat, drink, and explore. I have raised many chicks in a non-insulated coop in the winter using this set-up and they did great! They will grow thier feathers faster this way than they will if you keep them in a totally warm environment while they are feathering out. Depending on how many chicks there are, and how cold it is outside, you will remove the light and leave the box when they have completely feathered out. This could be as early as five weeks, but no longer than eight weeks even in very cold weather.

If I didn't explain this well enough, any one, PM me and I will try to do a better job!

ecoglow!

I hope you win one Wisher, in the contest.

 

[tnspursfan09]

You explained it quite well, I think. But after they come out of the incubator, should I keep them inside for a week or so or can I move them directly to the new coop like it's a brooder? I also want to have the cuddles and holding time with them when they are "newborns."


Oh...and I'll be sending you a package next week. I want you to have time to get them in the ground before the first frost. Sending daffodils, too. I expect lots of pics when they are blooming next year, too.

 

[chickadoodles]

My lovely SIL ordered this for us last night.


My nice UPS man should be bringing it next week. My whole family have been living vicariously through my chickens, with daily updates on facebook, and she said she wanted Dottie and Cricket to have their own house instead of the plastic tote they are in now. So I guess this will be turned in my new chick home. Now if only I can figure out how I'm going to add a heat source.

Very nice! I'm sure your chickies will love it!

 

[ronott1]

You explained it quite well, I think. But after they come out of the incubator, should I keep them inside for a week or so or can I move them directly to the new coop like it's a brooder? I also want to have the cuddles and holding time with them when they are "newborns."


Oh...and I'll be sending you a package next week. I want you to have time to get them in the ground before the first frost. Sending daffodils, too. I expect lots of pics when they are blooming next year, too.

I would keep them in a brooder until they were older. The new coop can be set up as a brooder but I like to keep an eye on them for a while; three or four weeks.

I have set up the ecoglow in an outside coop for them to make sure they had a place to warm up if they needed it. They usually just slept on the top of it though. Silly Chickens!

 

[tnspursfan09]

I would keep them in a brooder until they were older. The new coop can be set up as a brooder but I like to keep an eye on them for a while; three or four weeks.

I have set up the ecoglow in an outside coop for them to make sure they had a place to warm up if they needed it. They usually just slept on the top of it though. Silly Chickens!

Dottie and Cricket are starting to feather out, and I love that this coop will give them a plce to try out their new wings without knocking something over or scaring my great dane half to death.

 

[tnspursfan09]

They are also doing what I call the "running chest bump." What is up with that?

 

[superchemicalgirl]

My lovely SIL ordered this for us last night.


My nice UPS man should be bringing it next week. My whole family have been living vicariously through my chickens, with daily updates on facebook, and she said she wanted Dottie and Cricket to have their own house instead of the plastic tote they are in now. So I guess this will be turned in my new chick home. Now if only I can figure out how I'm going to add a heat source.

I completely agree with Wisher. Heat only when they're chicks and only when they're really young chicks. I used to follow the 95 degrees for a week and then reduce by 5 degrees a week until you hit ambient temp. That is way too long with a heat lamp! And I changed the instant I saw my broodies and their chicks running around in freezing temps, enjoying life. I have to say I think they do feather out faster, and are healthier when handled like that. I make sure to watch them of course and adjust the heat as needed based on their behavior, but mine are usually off the heat by about 2 weeks, when they have all their wing feathers and their chest and back are starting to come in. I also move mine out to the coop around 4-6 weeks, regardless of temp, and I generally hatch in January, and obviously live in Maine.

Oh...and I'll be sending you a package next week. I want you to have time to get them in the ground before the first frost. Sending daffodils, too. I expect lots of pics when they are blooming next year, too.

This is so awesome! I can't wait to see the pictures, also.

And you haven't had a frost, yet?

 

[dsqard]

They are also doing what I call the "running chest bump." What is up with that?

This is how they figure out the pecking order in the flock. They are figuring who is in charge. It is really cute!

 

[scottcaddy]

Quote: Only somebody from the Great White North would think that!!

Here, I don't look for a frost for about 2 maybe 3 weeks yet.

Scott