First chicken question

[MontyJ]

I posted a pic of the brooder in the "oh boy" thread. I have 10 layers and 10 cornish X in there right now. I know the meaties will soon be way to big to keep in there. My options are to 1) build a seperate brooder to move them into, 2) finish the outside run and build a weather shelter 3) build a smaller run within the run. The coop has to be remodeled. It was on my list of spring activities, but only recently shot to the top of the list
I figure I only have a week or two to sort this out before the giants start hurting the smaller chicks. How long will it take the crosses to feather out enough to go outside? Overnight lows will still be in the low 30's upper 20's. Looking for some suggestions here folks.

 

[seedcorn]

By the time they are able to take those temps, they should have been finished. Commercial fryers are 28-42 days.

 

[catjac1975]

If you already have a coop you can hang heat lamp rather low to the ground and they should be fine unless it gets really cold. We have done this simply, put some temporary walls to make the area smaller. They need enough space to get away from the heat. They will stay in the appropriate temp by moving away if it is too warm or moving closer. Just the first 2 weeks are the most important.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know what age they can go withut heat. I've turned the heat off at 5 days in the heat of summer and seen 2 week olds sleep on the roost pretty much by themselves when they could not all fit under the broody. It actually slept on the narrow part of a 2x4 brace along the wall. I've had 5 week olds survive the mid-20's Fahrenheit overnight lows. I think part of that is how much they get acclimated to the cold and part of it is how well they can get out of the wind. A simple protected corner to snuggle in can make a lot of difference. Bedding to snuggle down in helps too.

I think Catjac is pretty much with it. Provide heat with plenty of room for them to get away if they wish. With freezing temperatures I'd be really nervous about two weeks, but watch them and see if they tell you they don't need heat any more.

 

[MontyJ]

Thanks folks. I can wall off part of the coop without remodeling the whole thing right away.

 

[Mickey328]

That's what I would do. Once they have their feathers, they should be fine without much extra heat as long as it doesn't get below freezing and if they have a small enclosure to protect them from the elements that will hold their body heat for them.

 

[baymule]

Or you could brood them in the basement/utility room.............then butchering them would be the revenge of a mad man........

 

[MontyJ]

Or you could brood them in the basement/utility room.............then butchering them would be the revenge of a mad man........

No basement or utility room. And there is no way I'll put them in the house next door. It's costing me a fortune just gut and remodel that place to get rid of the stink of 9 cats and 2 dogs. How can people live like that?

 

[catjac1975]

Once they are 2-3 weeks old you can switch to a 100 watt light bulb. In the warmer weather we only use a 100 watt bulb.