Rits
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LOL, yep. Even when you try to avoid it you can't...if I could have only bought one or two just to give the other chick friends I would have. Dang minimum requirements!
Backyard Chickens?
- Thread starter Dragonborn
- Start date
Oh for sure! I know I am! Look at that face! Oh my goodness.. adorable!
Rits
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Yes, my Ameraucana chick is sleeping with her head straight down
Her dad sleeps just like that. Theres 5 here but one is sleeping under the others 
Also, I was quite surprised when these 5 week old chicks said they were done with their heat plate (they hide under it like a momma hen) and I found them on the roosts at dusk like the big chickens! That's the earliest I've had them figure out the roost on their own.
You sure have! Really coming together now!
Coop is 90% completed.
6 chicks coming this Thursday
5 on Aug 2.
Fricking 1/2” hardware cloth kicked my arse for the longest time. Then I figured out a way to make cinch it down and tighten it.
Just have to becareful not to apply too much pressure and start popping wire.
6 chicks coming this Thursday
5 on Aug 2.
Fricking 1/2” hardware cloth kicked my arse for the longest time. Then I figured out a way to make cinch it down and tighten it.
Just have to becareful not to apply too much pressure and start popping wire.
I did not necessarily want the chicks as early as this Thursday- that really puts me in a bind and I’m gonna have to beat arse to have the coop finished. I know I will have some time because the chicks stay in the brooder for ~6weeks. But still, I don’t feel ready nor prepared.
I placed the order and the lady at store said half this Thursday and half Aug 2. I tried to push them all to Aug 2 but she said she is having to order from different hatcheries and this was the best she could do. Something about the hatcheries pulling birds for some reason, I don’t really remember. I was trying to wrap my head around getting 6 chicks this Thursday.
Was really excited to snag up these pallet crates from on side of road from cabinet shop. This will help me finished the coop.
I placed the order and the lady at store said half this Thursday and half Aug 2. I tried to push them all to Aug 2 but she said she is having to order from different hatcheries and this was the best she could do. Something about the hatcheries pulling birds for some reason, I don’t really remember. I was trying to wrap my head around getting 6 chicks this Thursday.
Was really excited to snag up these pallet crates from on side of road from cabinet shop. This will help me finished the coop.
It looks great!
Rits
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How exciting! Yes you have some time. The real question now is, is your brooder ready?
Built the brooder today.
These are the final chosen warriors:
Black Copper Maran
Welsummer
Buckeye
Spec Sussex
Blue laced Wyandotte
Golden laced Wyandotte
Silver laced Wyandotte
Starlight green Egger
Blue Andalusian
Easter Egger
Prairie blue Egger
Okay…
So I am getting 6 this Thursday and then the other 5 on Aug 2nd.
40”x30” brooder with 1/2 hardwarecloth for predator proof. Brooder will be on back porch. I am using a XL Sunbeam heating pad for heat- with the ability to turn off the 2hr auto off. Using doggie pads on the bottom.
There is a 3 week difference of time of arrival of the first batch and the second. I will have 6 already here for 3 weeks.
My question is:
So when I get the second batch of 5, do I put them in the same brooder with the 3 weekers? Will the 3 weekers already established a pecking order and bully the new 5 recruits?
These are the final chosen warriors:
Black Copper Maran
Welsummer
Buckeye
Spec Sussex
Blue laced Wyandotte
Golden laced Wyandotte
Silver laced Wyandotte
Starlight green Egger
Blue Andalusian
Easter Egger
Prairie blue Egger
Okay…
So I am getting 6 this Thursday and then the other 5 on Aug 2nd.
40”x30” brooder with 1/2 hardwarecloth for predator proof. Brooder will be on back porch. I am using a XL Sunbeam heating pad for heat- with the ability to turn off the 2hr auto off. Using doggie pads on the bottom.
There is a 3 week difference of time of arrival of the first batch and the second. I will have 6 already here for 3 weeks.
My question is:
So when I get the second batch of 5, do I put them in the same brooder with the 3 weekers? Will the 3 weekers already established a pecking order and bully the new 5 recruits?
That, I don't know. One thing I'll tell you is that chickens are really fluffy dinosaurs and mean as snakes to each other when establishing order. Maybe at this age they will just re-sort themselves in pecking order. Kinda like two dominant dogs will keep going at each other, but if one is dominant and one is submissive there is no reason to keep bullying and peace happens because order is established quickly. If you are getting 2 day old chicks they aren't old enough to defend themselves so should just huddle and submit. I don't think you'll have nasty bully at 3 weeks of age, but if you do, you'll have to make a divider. I'm thinking they'll all be young enough to not be ugly but my whole answer here is a big uneducated hypothesis.
When we got baby chicks we used a plastic kiddie pool inside the coop. Your cardboard will suffer from water spills, and chick poop and bedding pretty quick, the plastic bottom of the pool was the answer to that. But they came over the sides pretty quick too. Can't remember what age.
Once you get over the stress of all the newness and "wtf am I doing"s, you will have a blast. It all works out, it really does.
Can't wait for pictures!!!
Rits
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I think you may need to look into a different heating source? They are gonna peck and poop all over that. Can you control the temperature of a heating pad that much? They need it to be 95 for the first week then drop by 5 degrees each week. I'd think it may struggle maintaining temp being outside. Definitely leave a thermometer in your brooder wherever the heat source is to check.
You can buy / use a large plastic tote to put them in with hardware cloth on the top. Can you put them in the garage? If it rains, they will be dead. Chicks down fluff is not waterproof or even water resistant. They easily get chilled with drafts which is why I personally prefer a heat source from above. I'd worry about predators too. Think box of mcnuggets
I would most certainly use a different brooder for that big of an age gap. The day olds are going to be vulnerable in size. They can get squished. They will get beat up easily. Wait until they are both similar in size before combining the two. Probably once the youngest are feathered around 6 weeks it would be more safe. Chickens use their beaks to peck the world out of curiosity. Like a puppy that bites. <1 week old chicks will likely stand there and take the beating... they are too young to run away much and wont be able to defend themselves due to size. Chickens will peck peck peck peck until dead; especially if it doesn't run away or peck back... they are ruthless.
Here's an article about using heat pads instead of a heat lamp. Also, if your weather is in the high 90's they may not even use it except at night? They will gather where they get the temperature they need. If they are too hot, they will be way away from the heat source, if they are too cold they gather together in a huddle.
Chick Brooder: What every chick needs - The American Poultry Association (APA)
This article provides an illustrated guide to putting together a chick brooder, and provides tips and tricks to keep your chicks healthy!
amerpoultryassn.com
Rits
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I like the idea of using it as a brooder plate much more than them standing on it! Mimics momma hen more with the heat coming from above. I have a brooder plate and absolutely love it! I don't have to worry about a fire as much like I would with a red lamp.Here's an article about using heat pads instead of a heat lamp. Also, if your weather is in the high 90's they may not even use it except at night? They will gather where they get the temperature they need. If they are too hot, they will be way away from the heat source, if they are too cold they gather together in a huddle.
Chick Brooder: What every chick needs - The American Poultry Association (APA)
This article provides an illustrated guide to putting together a chick brooder, and provides tips and tricks to keep your chicks healthy!amerpoultryassn.com
Kswoodssue
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I just use a thermometer on the floor of the box, and yes you have to clean it. I use a red bulb heat light and adjust the height according to heat in the box. I haven’t caught anything on fire in 65 yrs. I also put chick electrolytes in their water for a week or 2.
Kswoodssue
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Note, in this hot weather, the box may bake them. They might do fine running in a larger area with the heat light.
Rits
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Oh I know! I have always used a heat lamp too. Didn't have issues because my husband secured it not only by the clamp it comes with but also the cord and an additional measure on top of that. So the lamp was held in by 3 different ways. The only thing I worry is I hear of the bulbs exploding too often and then burning the coop down or worse. I wouldn't worry as much with a heat lamp on a concrete floor in an empty barn or a garage where it may be a bit isolated to just burning itself if it were to explode or fall?
Kswoodssue
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Little fried chickens
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