warm weather/broody box outside?

[blueridgefarmer]

Ok, this is the first time I have had chicks in the summer and I was wondering with it being so warm out if I can move the broody box outside on our back porch. I have 25 Cornish rock chicks that are 5 days old. It just seems pointless to keep them in the basement with it being close to 90 during the day and upper 60's at night. I don't have to worry about predators and the box is very safe. I could even keep a light on them at night if need be. What do you think?

 

[babyjaycol]

I kind of have the same question, 90 degree days, 70 nights and mine are older, most have wing and some back feathers. Is 70 too low for this age? There are lots of shavings in there to nestle in. I'm afraid of a light, could burn the whole barn down.

 

[henless]

Ok, this is the first time I have had chicks in the summer and I was wondering with it being so warm out if I can move the broody box outside on our back porch. I have 25 Cornish rock chicks that are 5 days old. It just seems pointless to keep them in the basement with it being close to 90 during the day and upper 60's at night. I don't have to worry about predators and the box is very safe. I could even keep a light on them at night if need be. What do you think?

They will probably be fine during the day, but will probably need something at night. If you go to this thread: Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder, it will give you lots of good info about brooding without a heat lamp and without having to buy an expensive heat plate.

I kind of have the same question, 90 degree days, 70 nights and mine are older, most have wing and some back feathers. Is 70 too low for this age? There are lots of shavings in there to nestle in. I'm afraid of a light, could burn the whole barn down.

Yours should be fine since they have more feathers. How old are they and how many chicks do you have? You could always get a heating pad and set it up per the above thread just to give them some overnight comfort if you wish.

I never brooded my chicks in the house. I kept mine outside in a brooder in the coop and the temps would get down into the upper 20's to low 30's overnight. I used a Premier heat plate and love it. I will be using the heating pad for my future babies. I like how you can lower the temp as they get older, which you can't do with the heat plate unless you buy a separate dimmer switch.

 

[babyjaycol]

Oh thanks for answering!! I use the heating pad indoors for the same reason. Also so I can put a little bit of it under part of the box and see if they go to it or away from it. It would be hard to power it out in the barn. I put them in the barn last night, and checked on them well after dark, all was well. You know how they peep really loud when they are cold? They were silent and cuddled up but not too tight. I have 6. And all are great today!!

 

[babyjaycol]

PS - I love the mama heating pad. Doing this next time!!

 

[blueridgefarmer]

I am still wondering about the chicks, thanks to all that have replied. I have been moving them outside during the day and inside at night with a light. I would love to put them out in a chicken tractor right now. I am wondering how big before they can be on chicken wire? The bottom of our is line with it. It's funny I have 25 Cornish X that I am so worried about and then have one lone baby chick living with it's mama outside with no help from me. I know that the chick has it's mom to keep it warm, but I was thinking, wouldn't the meat chickens just keep each other warm. I can always run a lamp out there at night, but would it be alright for their feet. They are a week old.

 

[BlackBriars]

My 31 chicks are in an outdoor, 4x8 broody box. I unplug the lamp when outdoor temps reach around 85 and plug it back in before I go to bed at night.

The chicks are 5 days old today and have been outside since they arrived last Wednesday. They survived tropical depression Bill seemingly unnoticed with highs in the low 70's, wind and heavy rain.

Overall, they seem to be thriving so far and haven't peeped since the first day..

 

[MrsBachbach]

I am still wondering about the chicks, thanks to all that have replied. I have been moving them outside during the day and inside at night with a light. I would love to put them out in a chicken tractor right now. I am wondering how big before they can be on chicken wire? The bottom of our is line with it. It's funny I have 25 Cornish X that I am so worried about and then have one lone baby chick living with it's mama outside with no help from me. I know that the chick has it's mom to keep it warm, but I was thinking, wouldn't the meat chickens just keep each other warm. I can always run a lamp out there at night, but would it be alright for their feet. They are a week old.

I think the wire under them would allow for the cold of the ground to get up under them. Also, if you do have predators that would likely be how they would try to access the chicks. I would put some kitchen shelf liner, (not the paper kind), on the wire and maybe some shavings on top of that. Then I would get about a 75watt infared(puts out heat better) red heat bulb from a pet store (or shop online) and put that on a cheap $5 timer from wallyworld and that problem is solved! I don't know if your tractor is close enough to the house an outdoor extension cord could supple the power. If that's not an option, maybe an old fashion hot water bottle? If you can find them. Also, chicks need a draft free area especially on cool nights. So if your tractor is completely open on all sides, you may have to temporarily enclose an area of it for them at night. Three sides at least with the light above that area. They will go to that area at night.

Btw, the wattage of bulb you choose would be dependent on how far above you are suspending it from the chicks and how large an area you are trying to keep warm. If all sides are open to the elements, you would need a higher wattage. If you are trying to keep a small area warm, like a 2 x3, that has some enclosure, that 75 watt should work fine about two feet above it.