Where to keep chicks?

[swift081702]

Ok, so this is a pretty stupid questions but where do you all keep your chicks? I have 4 wk old chicks that are probably too young to keep outside at night or at least not when it's storming. So, where do I put them if not in the coop? We have no basement and they are currently in a rubbermaid container in our downstairs master bath. They have completely outgrown their current living situation, trashing their box constantly. What to do? Suggestions?

 

[annek]

I kept mine in the study for 8 weeks. After the first few weeks I expanded the cage from 3x3 to 7x3 for 11 chicks. I had to, my coop wasn't ready. You can just get a large box like an appliance box and put a screen over the top to keep from flying out.

 

[annek]

I see you are in SC too. Our weather is pretty warm right now so maybe you can keep them in the coop. Just give them a light at night to keep them warm. I am assuming you don't have other birds out there. At this age I think they are around the 75 degree point. Our nights aren't even below 60 anymore so just a little warmth and they would be fine.

You could move their brooder out there and let them run in and out of it there. I was so happy to get mine out of the house! It takes me just a minute now to clean them up, put in food, water and they are so much happier.

 

[noitulover]

how many chicks do you have?

i would get a big cardboard box around 3+ ft tall. the length/width really depends how many chicks... i would definitely go with cardboard though, as they are already four weeks old and won't need it for too much longer. (no sense going out and buying some giant contraption for them to stay in for 2 weeks)

if you can't find a "really big" cardboard box, get creative. cut up some other cardboard boxes, duct tape the to make the sides taller and longer. (doesn't matter if it isn't too attractive; you get to trash it in a few weeks!)

i had only 3 chicks in a box that was about around 2 ft high, 3ft long, 18" wide, and i didn't feel like it was tall enough or big enough in general. it sufficed.

it really all depends on how many chicks (and standard or bantam sized!)

 

[Karrie13]

I have had to create another brooder for my chicks because I ran out of room. I am using a giant sized dog kennel (54”L x 35”W x 45”H) for some and a big rubber maid for others. In the kennel I added some 2 x 4 roosts to give them some more room but it is still crowded. They get to go outside for playtime every evening to allow them some exercise.

We have not had any issues yet but I keep a close eye on them. (edited to add this line)

We hope to get our coop finished enough this weekend to allow the chicks to go outside during the day.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

You have a really nice coop you built. Put them in there with a heat lamp if the night temps get too low. They don't need to go out to the run part yet if you don't have that finished.

I had my ten in a HUGE stock tank brooder with hardware cloth on top.

At 6 wks, I finally got my horsestall turned chicken coop done. I moved them out with the stock tank and red heat lamp. They chose to sleep in the brooder for another month. Now they use the roost.

I didn't get my run done for another 2 wks. At 8 wks of age, they weren't affraid to go out or come back in from the run.

If the coop isn't yet totally preditor proof, then get a HUGE box to put them in.

Good luck with your little ones.

 

[quiltnchik]

My 8 were out of the house by the time they were 3-4 weeks old and have done great in the coop with their heat lamp. Your babies will be fine, though you might have a nervous breakdown worrying about them! Ask me how I know...

 

[CKMom]

I'm right there with ya. I thought my brooder was plenty big, but now that they are close to 3 wks. old, nope they need room. I found myself dumpster diving(actually just poking around the supermarket last night) and found a huge box. Asked and they said sure. It had 2 watermelons in it, is double walled, and very sturdy. I'm going to put a piece of plywood on the bottom, then add the chips. My coop should be done by next weekend if the rain holds off, it has been very rainy here on the east coast.

Hopefully my birds will get their first taste of sunshine/grass very soon.

 

[m2wandc]

I started with a rubbermaid container and that seemed to work for us until about 5.5 weeks...and now (they are going to be 7 weeks old tomorrow) we have them in the coop/run during the day and bring them into the rubbermaid container at night, which they just huddle up and go to sleep for the night...I will be putting them in the coop full time (at night) as soon as this current rain storm passes...

...my other chicks are 4 weeks old and I've been putting them outside in their mini-coop during the day as well if the weather is 70 degrees F or higher.

but as of now, everyone comes back inside and goes into their respective rubbermaid containers at night...(cramped, yes, but they seem to cuddle up and go to sleep...purring their little purrrr.

 

[m2wandc]

You can always build a fairly large brooder if you duct tape a bunch of boxes together