Where should my baby chicks be at?

[SurferchickinSB]

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

Probably until they are about six weeks old and also if you have ground squirrels they will also eat baby chicks.

 

[Bill752]

It doesn't matter what the outside temperature is as long as they have a draft-free environment 90-95° the 1st wk & drop it 5° every week but the heat lamp should be more in the center of your brooder & if they bunch up under then lower it a little. If they are around the edges then raise it, when raising & lowering your heat lamp just do a little at a time. You could buy an outdoor thermometer & hang it around head high to them. We had some chicks in a tub similar to yours & made a lid using rabbit wire & 1x2's for the frame to keep predators out & we have an open porch, but they outgrew it quickly. When we first bought our place we found a rabbit hutch in the brush & weeds when we were clearing the land & once fixed up we used it for a brooder for 3 years, but this wasn't the first time I used a cage like a rabbit hutch for brooders for pheasants, quail, chicks, & ducklings. I made 4 such cages in the past but even with a lid on them a snake RIP got into one of them. At the time I had a deal with my bank & they left their shredded paper by the trash dumpster & I'd pick them up. You could ask your bank what day they shred after explaining why you want it & they may accommodate you.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You talk about your porch having "fences" around it, not walls. This worries me. If there are gaps in those fences, then the concerns of some of the posters here are really serious. Your chicks are not only vulnerable to rats that might get in between the slats, but snakes are also a concern. Anything that can get in through those slats is a danger. And raccoons can climb, as can cats. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be negative, but I'm really concerned about the safety of your chicks. I know you're focused on the temperatures of your setup, but I think that's the least of your worries. I wish you luck.

 

[dables1]

View attachment 2578586
The bucket is rectangular and the heat lamp is south of the bucket in this photo. But with the bedding, all I have is puppy pads but I don’t know what else I could use for bedding without buying pine shavings. I think I should rise the lamp up a bit more but they’re still ok. And also the back porch I live at is very large. It’s sorta similar to a regular room and there was refrigerator there once and only took up about one twelfth of the porch.

We have raised many chicks in just such a setup. There is plenty of room in there. Not ideal but they will make it. If you have cats in the neighborhood you have to get some wire netting and put over the top or else they will feast on your chicks. You can't scrimp on that. The wire will also or to keep them in as the grow too.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

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

At least for a few weeks. Rats will eat baby animals and also if you get a really bad infestation they can even chew on your chickens feet when they roost at night.

 

[MrsPeterTHooper]

You talk about your porch having "fences" around it, not walls. This worries me. If there are gaps in those fences, then the concerns of some of the posters here are really serious. Your chicks are not only vulnerable to rats that might get in between the slats, but snakes are also a concern. Anything that can get in through those slats is a danger. And raccoons can climb, as can cats. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be negative, but I'm really concerned about the safety of your chicks. I know you're focused on the temperatures of your setup, but I think that's the least of your worries. I wish you luck.

Agree. Hawks are also a concern if the openings are up high.