Too early to be outside?

[saintbee]

I think you'll be fine...the heat mat may be perfect. 30 chicks can help keep each other warm too. After 2 - 3 more weeks, you'll be done with heat.
I have a broody hen who took her chicks outside at 2 days old. They spent much time not under her that first week, even running around with temps in the 60's.

Thanks! That makes me feel a lot better!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Look at what @NNYchick posted I used hardware cloth bent in a horseshoe

 

[saintbee]

As long as they have the heat source, they should be fine outside. I received new birds in early May (and we had an extremely mild spring) and was mostly fine. For many years, I would receive new birds and never lost one. I had and order last year in which I lost ~80% of the order, and the order in May I lost ~10%. Sometimes, that's just the way it goes. But as long as the birds have a heat source, and access to food and water, you should be OK.

I haven’t had a shipment in years but a raccoon got all my “special breeds” I splurged for this year. The raccoon is gone now I’m so I decided to try an order. Hoping not to loose many more, they all seem very healthy ‍

 

[saintbee]

Look at what @NNYchick posted I used hardware cloth bent in a horseshoe

Yes! I can do the same. Really like that idea, never heard of it before.

 

[pennyJo1960]

keep us posted would love a photo when your done

 

[AZWhiteKnight]

I haven’t had a shipment in years but a raccoon got all my “special breeds” I splurged for this year. The raccoon is gone now I’m so I decided to try an order. Hoping not to loose many more, they all seem very healthy ‍

We had coyotes break into one of our coops and make off with every single bird late last year (hence why I had an order arrive in May), so I feel for ya. Good luck with your latest batch.

 

[NNYchick]

I’m not sure where you are in NY but I’m in the foothills of the Adirondacks and we are supposed to be in the 80’s during the day and 60’s at night. I’ve never measured brooder temperatures before because I use Mama heating pad system and they self regulate. I think the the heat mats will work they are only going to need a little supplemental heat at night for a few weeks. Could you make simple frame with wood to staple the mats to then suspend from the ceiling so it’s just above them to snuggle under at night?

 

[saintbee]

Igh so sorry for your loss! We have coyotes into one of our coops and make off with every single bird late last year (hence why I had an order arrive in May), so I feel for ya. Good luck with your latest batch.

So sorry! We have coyotes here too - they howl each night and I lost a cat last year- I have Nigerian dwarf goats so I make sure they’re secure in a room I built every night. I also live on a stream so raccoons just seem to love scoping out my coop. I went out of town for the night and my husband didn’t close the coop until an hour after dark. The chicks were about 6 weeks and roosting on the floor on my coop which wasn’t a problem when I closed them up but... yeah. It was this night. My husband felt so bad I was “allowed” to spend $100 on an order lol. Hoping for the best this round *fingers crossed*

 

[saintbee]

I’m not sure where you are in NY but I’m in the foothills of the Adirondacks and we are supposed to be in the 80’s during the day and 60’s at night. I’ve never measured brooder temperatures before because I use Mama heating pad system and they self regulate. I think the the heat mats will work they are only going to need a little supplemental heat at night for a few weeks. Could you make simple frame with wood to staple the mats to then suspend from the ceiling so it’s just above them to snuggle under at night?

I’m in the finger lakes - same forecast- Where are you? I grew up in Johnstown! I plan to do just that, never heard of it before but LOVE the idea! I think I’ll do a hardwire fence frame to drape the heat mats over because the coop ceiling is probably 5 ft tall though.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I absolutely wouldn't have them in the house, there's no tubs big enough to hold this number of chicks and honestly your temps are pretty good right now.

While I liked using a heating pad since this is a large number of chicks I'd probably stick with the heat lamp, as pads don't work as well for larger groups (they simply don't fit).

Is there a plan for where they're moving to after this? They're going to outgrow that 4x4 coop in a few weeks.