You posted an answer to one of my questions about chicks and now I can't find the thread. We were heading out and I thought I'll answer her later . Wanted to say thank you.
I've been wondering at what temp to put them out. They won't arrive here till just after 5/5 (shipping date) so I should have some really nice temperatures by the time they're 3 weeks old. If I'm real lucky it should be very warm by then otherwise nights in May are generally 45 +. A heat lamp on a thermostat should do the trick for them.
Thank you,
MollyD
Granny
Ok, here's what I said. If you can sit outside at night for a while, it is okay to put them out if they are FULLY FEATHERED. (that is without heat). But a light on a thermostat should work. I have to guess if it is too hot or cold for them by where they stay under the light. I only have a 100watt bulb going. It is about 4 to 5 inches above them and as they get more feathers on them, I will raise it till it is resting on the top of the pen which is two feet high. Right now they seem to be comfortable with it where it is. So that is where it will be until they move out from it and rest outside of the light. They usually tell you when they are cold or hot.
Hope this helps you.
Granny is that 100 watt bulb a red heat one or a regular? My Paul would be thrilled if I didn't have to run a 250 watt bulb! Till they're ready and the weather is right they're being housed inside our house. Night temp is 64.
MollyD
ps do you have goats?
Molly, it is just a regular household 100watt bulb. That's all I ever used for new chicks. I remember my dad doing that, and decided since it worked for him, it would work for me. And it did. ^_^
Granny do you keep it on all night?
MollyD
yes. The area they are in now is about 3 x 4 and is not totally enclosed. It has chicken wire sides and I have cardboard fastened at one end to keep drafts pretty much off them.
If I remember tomorrow, I will take a picture and post it.
Thanks Granny. It would make Paul very happy and things easier on me (you know the grief men can give you if they think you are spending a lot of Their money Unnecessarily!).
MollyD
Molly, here is a picture of the pen we have the chicks in now. If you look closely, you can see where I put the other wire to keep them separate from the new ones when we get them.
The pen comes apart when we are through using it and goes into the shed for the next time. Pretty inexpensive using 1 x 2s and 2ft chicken wire. I am going to make a better divider as I intend to hatch successive clutches next year. That too will be done the same way.
Here is a picture from another angle. The box in the front is the "brooder box" that we used right at first from the hatch. It will be used for the new ones when we get them for the first week also. Then we will open it up like these have it so they can see each other until they are big enough to be together.
The panel on the top is because we had "flyers" in the first group of chicks. And we would probably have them again if we didn't use something to keep them in the mini-coop.
