What Next??

[Huntmaster]

Everything. Thank you.

Totally understand, you must be a first time chicken owner (not a bad thing at all actually a good thing) I know you just want to do the best by your new chicks, and everything is new and scary to you. It will get much less worrisome the longer you have and get to know your chickens. Until then there are many very knowledgeable and experienced folks here on BYC to get very good info from and try to help with your worries. So don't be afraid to ask no matter how dumb (no such thing as a dumb question just inexperienced ones) you think the question might or might not be. So, enjoy your new chicks and GOOD LUCK

 

[PVILLAGO]

Totally understand, you must be a first time chicken owner (not a bad thing at all actually a good thing) I know you just want to do the best by your new chicks, and everything is new and scary to you. It will get much less worrisome the longer you have and get to know your chickens. Until then there are many very knowledgeable and experienced folks here on BYC to get very good info from and try to help with your worries. So don't be afraid to ask no matter how dumb (no such thing as a dumb question just inexperienced ones) you think the question might or might not be. So, enjoy your new chicks and GOOD LUCK

Thank you. I just want to take care of them and give them the best life.

 

[Huntmaster]

Thank you. I just want to take care of them and give them the best life.

Looks like your doing a fine job so far everything looks good with your brooder set up and chicks look happy and healthy Just as long as they have draft free spot with heat for all to utilize at same time huddled together and enough room (the more the better) to be able to get away from it, they will do the rest. Moving as close to heat as they need. Just be very carful with heat lamp as they can be very dangerous causing fires make sure if using it you secure it well

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes. Its just for them. I was scared they're too young to roam around coop.

They're not. I let 2 week old chicks have full access to 525 sq ft.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes. Its just for them. I was scared they're too young to roam around coop. I thought they could hurt themselves or break their necks trying to walk up to the roost or trying to fly?

My brooder is 4x8.

I gave them half of it for the first two weeks, took down the barrier, and they used every inch of it from the moment I gave them access.

If it makes you feel better you can "tuck them in" at night -- scooting them into their heated area.

I liked to sit in the doorway observing them. It was fun to see how they would go exploring, come back to the food and water, go exploring, nap under the heat, etc. They learn quickly where the good stuff is.

 

[PVILLAGO]

My brooder is 4x8.

I gave them half of it for the first two weeks, took down the barrier, and they used every inch of it from the moment I gave them access.

If it makes you feel better you can "tuck them in" at night -- scooting them into their heated area.

I liked to sit in the doorway observing them. It was fun to see how they would go exploring, come back to the food and water, go exploring, nap under the heat, etc. They learn quickly where the good stuff is.

Thank you.. I have 10 chicks a brooder plate in a 3x4 space and another 3x4 space with a heat lamp with another box that has their food and water. All of this is inside their 8x12 coop. MONDAY they'll be 3wks old. I was thinking I need to keep them contained until about 4-6wks old.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you.. I have 10 chicks a brooder plate in a 3x4 space and another 3x4 space with a heat lamp with another box that has their food and water. All of this is inside their 8x12 coop. MONDAY they'll be 3wks old. I was thinking I need to keep them contained until about 4-6wks old.

As long as they can find their food, water, and heat they should be fine roaming around

Have a look at my chicks integrating in with the adults at 5 weeks in the 16x16 coop: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/25-from-welp.1494343/page-8#post-25051728

They had no trouble finding their way in and out of their safe space (they'd been off heat at 4 weeks and were kept in the integration pen for a week or less before I opened it).

It is, however, important to make sure that they can't get trapped in a corner away from the things that they need.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Thank you.. I have 10 chicks a brooder plate in a 3x4 space and another 3x4 space with a heat lamp with another box that has their food and water. All of this is inside their 8x12 coop. MONDAY they'll be 3wks old. I was thinking I need to keep them contained until about 4-6wks old.

There is nothing wrong with being cautious as long as you don't trap them into too small of a space. You don't want to injure them by being too cautious.

Two different times I had a broody hen wean her chicks when they were 3 weeks old. She totally left them alone to find their food and water, deal with the other adults (she spent three weeks teaching the others to leave her babies alone), put themselves to bed in my 8' x 12' coop, and use my 12' x 32' main run and roughly 3,000 square feet inside electric netting during the day. At three weeks old.

Again, nothing wrong with being cautious. You need to be comfortable too, you are important. But I don't think you give your chicks enough credit for what they can do.