They're trying to escape!

[RJSchaefer]

I didn't have this problem with the meaties I got in March!!

My 20 broilers are 12 days old. I have them in a footlocker turned brooder.

Welllll sitting out here, and they're trying to ESCAPE! They're flying up (about 18 inches) and sticking their heads through the wire.

Umm....help? Advice? They're nowhere near ready to go into the tractor (which, itself, is nowhere near ready). The brooder is big enough for all of them.

 

[Judy]

It sounds like they don't agree it's big enough, and they want to explore and find forage. They are about old enough that one sq ft per chick is the smallest they will be comfortable in. In a couple of weeks it willl be more like 2.5 sq ft each.

 

[RJSchaefer]

1 sq ft already? Hmm...hatchery lied! =)

I guess I know what I'll be doing tomorrow. A week sooner than expected.

Do they still need a heat lamp at this age? We're consistently about 60F, and they'll be indoors. The box I'll be moving them to is a lot larger and taller. I hate to spend the money running the heat lamp if it's not totally necessary. My layers used the same box but it was early March (about 40 degrees colder) and they needed 2 lamps until 4 weeks to stay warm.

 

[3riverschick]

Quote: I think they need lights until they are feathered out. About 4-5 weeks? Check your breed and see how fast they feather out. Honestly, you have broilers and I don't know how fast they feather out.
Best,
Karen

 

[my sunwolf]

Try to wean them off the lamp slowly rather than all at once, and they should be fine. Meaties produce more heat and can generally deal with cooler temps than regular chicks. Definitely move them to a bigger brooder, maybe this time with a screen top, and raise the heat lamp a little very day until they can handle being without it. Good luck!