What's with all the scrapping? & When can I put them OUTSIDE?!

[Hatrick]

Alright, so we're at three weeks old today and suddenly sibling rivalry has kicked in. One in particular seems to like to "chest bump" the others and stir up...shavings.

Does this mean there is unhappiness in the brooder and something needs to be adjusted or is it just normal?

And what needs to happen temperature wise in order to put them outside day and night with no light? They're so big already...we were thinking at about five weeks? Anyone have any opinions on that?

 

[annanicole18]

sounds like your roos are trying to establish dominance over each other. thats what mine started doing at that age. hope you werent supposed to have all girls

 

[rancher hicks]

Can you really tell by 3 weeks? I know all my Delawares we're girls (trusted the hatchery), but I had one we called "Big Delores". She was a bossy girl. I only had 2 roos, rd. friz. and at 10 weeks one of them took over the town. The 2 of them are having a field day chasing the girls. All (23) except for two bigger than they are. I forgot to add, I don't see what you've got going on as a problem, unless the brooder is too small.

 

[gritsar]

All chicks spar, male and female. It's part of setting up the pecking order. That's not to say you don't have a roo. Just that sparring doesn't automatically mean roo.
They can be outside in a draft free coop at any time the coop can be kept to the temp. needed per their age:
90 to 95 the first week, decreasing by five degrees a week until you are down to 70 degrees; at which time they should not need heat as long as the coop is dry and draft free.

 

[Spunky~Chick~Mom]

I am not that experienced... but,

i have a 4' by 4' brooder that is 18" tall.
I only have 8 chicks in it all hens.... and they act like that. I think sometimes they are just board and behave that way just to do it.

They are hilarious to watch!!

 

[Hatrick]

Nah, we've got an 80 gallon tank. Although the one doing all the "disturbing" definitely has roo markings, s/he's been suspicious from the start.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

I had 11 in a very large rubbermaid tub. VERY large. I put them out in the coop at 4 weeks and you should have seen the sparring going on the first few days. It was hilarious. Now they've all settled down and the pecking order is established. At 7 weeks now, it's about time for me to post pics again so I can determine how many roos I have

 

[speckledhen]

Mine are usually in a grow-out coop with a heatlamp by three weeks old. If it's really hot out, you may only need that heat during the night.

 

[roche477]

I think it is warm enough here to put in a grow out pen at 3 weeks, but we had some wacky weather in April with a few nights that were below freezing. My Delawares were only 3 and 4 weeks old then. I had them in a shed with lights to keep them warm, but when it got cold I brought them inside the house. They spent 3 days in my bath tub!

As for the sparring, my Delawares started doing that at about 5 weeks. They are still doing it at 9-10 weeks. I've think I've got 8 boys and 8 girls, so it is going to be chicken tractor time for some of my roos.