Where to keep them?

[donrae]

Thanks so much! I will set everything up later tonight when my baby goes to bed and see. I was also wondering if there is a specific humidity range that is considered ideal? We have a small thermometer that tells the humidity %. Does anyone know if having a heating/fuel oil tank and furnace down there be any problem for birds? There is a faint smell of fuel oil. I have a Co2 detector though, and it never has gone off.

Sorry to be so question-y.

Oh trust me, we'd far rather you ask questions now than coming on later with dead chicks.

Humidity doesn't seem to matter. I've brooded chicks on both sides of the Cascades--the east is high desert, very dry, and the west is the PNW, nice and moldy

. Not extremes like Death Valley vs Mississippi, but a good variation. No problems with either one.

 

[Peggy O]

I am a little scared to try the basement (even after setting it all up on a folding table just now and getting a 90 degree temp) We live on a creek bank, and when all this snow melts the gravel floor is going to be VERY wet. I forgot how bad it was last spring (I was pregnant and seldom went down there) My other 1/2 just reminded me of the standing water in places...and the sump goes constantly till it's gone. Looks like we'll just be dealing with the dust-mess in the heated upstairs laundry room after all. I am sealing off the one end so my cat will not have access. We are using a plastic tub inside of a large dog crate. How messy will 3 chicks be really? Should I cover the shelves nearby with tarps? I have been reading stuff on line and I am a little worried about the mess now.

 

[JaceAgain]

I am a little scared to try the basement (even after setting it all up on a folding table just now and getting a 90 degree temp)  We live on a creek bank, and when all this snow melts the gravel floor is going to be VERY wet.  I forgot how bad it was last spring (I was pregnant and seldom went down there)  My other 1/2 just reminded me of the standing water in places...and the sump goes constantly till it's gone.  Looks like we'll just be dealing with the dust-mess in the heated upstairs laundry room after all.  I am sealing off the one end so my cat will not have access.  We are using a plastic tub inside of a large dog crate.  How messy will 3 chicks be really? Should I cover the shelves nearby with tarps?  I have been reading stuff on line and I am a little worried about the mess now.

To add to this, would a air purifier help at all?

 

[ten chicks]

I never found my chicks to be any problem at all in home,but i did clean brooder daily. With only three chicks you will be fine. No to basement if damp/wet,use another room. I have had chicks in kitchen.living room,dining room and even have silkies permanently in a mudroom off kitchen during severe cold weather(mudroom has been converted into their coop/run).

 

[Peggy O]

I have definitely decided against my basement. it is really more of a root cellar, has no windows, chilly and damp, plus a fuel oil furnace and hot water tank, in a small space. The whole basement is only 30x15 feet. I don't think it's safe for birds at all. Laundry room it is! I am about to go in and rearrange everything that we store in there (tubs of Christmas decorations and whatnot) , so it can be covered with tarps and then move all my brooder supplies in. It's a nice warm room, and I can easily seal off 1/2 of it from our cat. We'll be using a dog crate anyway, the cat was a concern, but I'll just put her litter box somewhere else for chicken time. Should be great.