Where should my baby chicks be at?

[Justicedog]

I would like to put them in one of the old coops I have but there’s no outlet to plug the heat lamp in and they’re not as high elevated as the porch is. And maybe the porch may be like a chicken coop itself. And also, the porch is the only outdoor place with an outlet and it’s connected to the house which is also highly elevated. But with the predators, I haven’t seen any evidence left behind from them.

We have run outdoor extension cords to our coop - winter, rain, without a problem.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Just FYI: I used puppy pads with one set I brooded, and they worked great for a couple of weeks. I changed them out 2x a day. If you consistently clean the brooder, puppy pads are fine. But if you leave them for too long, they get slick.

 

[Aunt Angus]

It’s almost enclosed and on a very high area. And the fences are very tall, the fences are more like walls instead because the material is just plain wood and there’s nothing to grab onto on the wooden walls so it would be a bit difficult for any predators to climb up unless if they can fly or jump really high.

You do what you think is best. I brood mine in my house or in my coop because I've seen coyotes clear 6 ft fences and raccoons that can climb anything.

Best of luck to you!

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Just FYI: I used puppy pads with one set I brooded, and they worked great for a couple of weeks. I changed them out 2x a day. If you consistently clean the brooder, puppy pads are fine. But if you leave them for too long, they get slick.

I used paper towels when I brooded my first chicks and I switched them out two times a day also and it worked great! I bought a mega pack of paper towels from Costco and they lasted me about 2 1/2 months until I let them be outside in their coop.

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

How is it going today OP? Did you get them in a safe spot last night?

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

I would like to put them in one of the old coops I have but there’s no outlet to plug the heat lamp in and they’re not as high elevated as the porch is. And maybe the porch may be like a chicken coop itself. And also, the porch is the only outdoor place with an outlet and it’s connected to the house which is also highly elevated. But with the predators, I haven’t seen any evidence left behind from them.

I agree with others in this thread as well, having a few extension cords can be really helpful for a situation like this. Most dads have a few lying around their workshop ( if you have a dad or stepdad you could ask them to dig around for one for you to use )

 

[The Sheperds Wife]

What little cuties! By your picture they look good. Here's the test to see if they are warm enough- if they are huddled together under the lamp and peeping, they are cold. Lower the lamp. If they are at the edges of the bucket trying to get away from the heat, they are too hot. Raise the lamp. If you are confident the porch is safe then keep them there.

 

[Pegmlee]

Rats can be awful predators of baby chicks. If you are looking for an inexpensive way to make a bigger brooder, you can get cardboard boxes and tape them together to make a really big brooder. Hopefully you have a chicken coop and run set up for them because they will need that in a few weeks.

How long do I have to worry about rats getting my chicks?

 

[Kellow1]

I suggest you get a very large cardboard box (refrigerator size) and cut off one side. Laid out on the long way with the heat lamp on one end, the feed and water on the other end, and pine shavings on the bottom. Then as they grow, you will need to add a screen top on it to keep them from flying out. Good luck.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How long do I have to worry about rats getting my chicks?

Rats are an issue for adults too. If they're aggressive enough, they can even attack adults by biting their feet, though generally they're just after food. They can steal quite a lot of feed, plus carry in pests and maybe some diseases.