I will be getting a blue ameraucana, dark brahma, blue laced red Wyandotte, and white silkie. At what age should I take them out of the brooder? I have never ordered from hatcheries before.
4 chicks. Brooder--- about 3 x 2 feet. Ill be getting them next month (October) and i live in Atlanta Georgia. Even when they're in the brooder they'll spend a few hours outside in the run with me everyday. I think I'll house them in the garage in winter.
I waited until mine were fully feathered, so about 7 or 8 weeks? although I continued to expand my brooder as they grew. You'll be able to tell when they get too big for the brooder! For one that small I'd say maybe 4-5 weeks?
I had 3 chicks in a 3x4x2 brooder until they were 4-5 weeks in sunny california...they are now almost 9 weeks and are in the coop and run full-time.
I have 4 four week old chicks (RIRs, Delaware, Gold Lace Wyandotte) in a 2x4x2 brooder whch I can expand to 2x6x2. From the looks of it, they should be OK in there until I can get them into the coop. They can and do fly out every now and then, but I have them out everyday, so it doesn't seem to be that interesting. I also have a piece of 2x4 in there as a roost. It's about 5" off the bottom. They are feathering in really well...almost past the scraggly stage. I figure another 3 weeks(?), 4 may be pushing it, until they are pretty well fully feathered and then they'll be out. This is my first time, so I might be dreaming that that brooder will be large enough until they go out....but I am hoping!