Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[saxgoddess25]

I moved mine out to my shed about a month ago when they were around six weeks old. They did fine. There were five of them so they cuddled up together in the straw at night. I think yours should do fine at around the same age. Our nights are getting warmer.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Have 4, 5 week olds in my big brooder the rotten 3 I hatched in the little one a week old now 2 pullets 1 cockerel.. the Cockerel is grey bet it will be striking but if I raise will sell it or be our dinner

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hi fellow Washingtonians! My girls are 4-5 weeks old. Their brooder is currently in our garage with temps between 50-60 degrees. They have a MHP but only use it at night right now. I have a couple questions:

1. I'd love to let them experience the outdoors since our garage feels so dark and gloomy. Is it okay to bring them outside temporarily?
2. Would it be okay to move them out to the coop without a heat source in about 2-3 weeks given our weather (near Seattle)?

Thank you!

My girls are off heat by that age (but I raise them outdoors, so they harden up to the temperatures faster that way). So yes it's safe to take them out, as long as you have a secure place for them to explore, with something to serve as shade & windblock (a box turned on its side works well).

You absolutely can have them moved out in 2-3 weeks provided you get them acclimated to the temperatures, which shouldn't be hard. You can start by turning off the MHP (but you can leave it in for a few more days, so they have the security of having it around, even if it's not heating up) and taking them outside for increasing periods of time.

 

[GoldieOrpington]

My girls are off heat by that age (but I raise them outdoors, so they harden up to the temperatures faster that way). So yes it's safe to take them out, as long as you have a secure place for them to explore, with something to serve as shade & windblock (a box turned on its side works well).

You absolutely can have them moved out in 2-3 weeks provided you get them acclimated to the temperatures, which shouldn't be hard. You can start by turning off the MHP (but you can leave it in for a few more days, so they have the security of having it around, even if it's not heating up) and taking them outside for increasing periods of time.

Thanks! I let them out in their run for a few hours at the warmest part of the day today. It took a bit for them to warm up to it but then they were loving scratching around and dust bathing. I think they were sad to go back to the brooder! I’ll keep taking them out (with a windblock), even once the temps start to cool off. Your advice is very helpful!

 

[danielv]

I'm in the Seattle area. Where can I find fertilized chicken eggs? Thanks!!!!

 

[TeePants]

I'm in the Seattle area. Where can I find fertilized chicken eggs? Thanks!!!!

I see them on Craigslist all the time. Lav Orphington, sexlink, RIR, you name it.

 

[TeePants]

Is Mareks a problem in the Seattle area? We are picking up coturnix quail hatching eggs Monday and building a pen for them, and I’m trying to make sure we are aware of everything that can possibly go wrong

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Is Mareks a problem in the Seattle area? We are picking up coturnix quail hatching eggs Monday and building a pen for them, and I’m trying to make sure we are aware of everything that can possibly go wrong

I haven’t ever had problems with mareks... although I believe all my chicks have been vaccinated for it.

 

[TeePants]

Dang, yeah, I know MPC vaccinated for mareks, but I’m not even sure you can vaccinate quail? Time to google!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Mareks is not the huge problem in Seattle or down my way wild birds carry it do not feed your birds outside