Winter brooding in basement?

[Olive Hill]

You don't have to wait until they're fully feathered to move them outside. If you can provide a warm, draft-free area outside they will thrive there just as they would inside. So, lets say you've weaned them down to a 60 degree atmosphere inside, if you can put a heat lamp in the coop and keep one corner 60 degrees and it's not very drafty out there, you can move them out, regardless of their feathering.

 

[BookWorm243]

Quote:

If you can provide a draft free area outside with a heat lamp then yes they can go outside sooner. You have to be carful and keep in mind that if you move them outside and the power go's out for some reason their little bodies may not be able to handle the temp difference. A couple days ago are power went out for no reason for 5 hours and a clear sunny day. If you would rather wait till they are 6 weeks old then their feathers should be in and they can go out. We had a horrible storm and my coop was folded in two, so I know have a kennel set up in my garage with chickens and chicks in it. I cant go a day without cleaning it or the smell gets horrible. I moved mine out at 4 weeks old, I put a dog crate in the coop so the chicks could have a place to hide from the hens. They did fine but I did wrap the dog crate to keep out drafts and whatnot. That might be the the best way for you since you have so many.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I use a deep freeze as a brooder outside. There is a pipe with Christmas lights in it on a thermostat. The pipe heats to 100 degrees but the brooder stays cool an the chicks can stand on or snuggle up to the pipe to warm up but the air is cold.

You can see it here. http://cmfarm.us/cam_1.html

 

[Rozzie]

Honestly? Any chicks in my basement are too many! I have to go out to my garage to get to my basement, which means putting on shoes & a jacket in the winter. It also means my poor knees and back have to take the steps 20 times a day. It also gets pretty disgusting smelling down there FAST.

However, I have 20 eggs in the incubator. By the time they hatch it'll be in the low 20s outside at night. I will have 20 quail chicks in my basement, most likely. May all the powers that be help me...