I'm back again- I've got 20 of these little guys/gals that were born yesterday in a large cardboard box, and we've put a lamp with a 55 watt bulb over it for additional warmth.

They're not bunching up, and they're eating and drinking fine, it seems.

Now, I'd like to move them to a cage, but I'm concerned about breezes being too cold for them. It's warm here for people(80 during the day- 60 or so at night) but I'm not sure how warm is warm enough for chicks.

Should Ikeep them in the box for awhile (how long?) or should I go ahead and transfer them so that they can get used to their coop? Thanks in advance from the "new Mother Hen" : )

-- Kristin in La. (positivkharma@aol.com), April 16, 2001

Answers

Kristin, the rule usually is to keep them at 95 deg when they hatch and lower the tempertaure by 5 deg / week until it is equal to the outside temperature and you can move them out. This can take quite a few weeks.

I have seen it actually done many different ways. I remember someone that put theirs chicks out at age 1 week when it was in the 40s and they survived!

I usually keep mine inside for about 2-3 weeks and let them out when the temperature does not go below 60 during the night anymore.

Good luck.

-- Bernd in NC (Bernd001@aol.com), April 16, 2001.

Kristin, If you have a broody hen that is trying to sit on eggs, you can put the chicks under her at night. She thinks they are hers and will care for them. I do this with chicks up to three days old. Just a thought.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), April 16, 2001.

Hello Kristin, If the chicks are too hot they will move to the farthest perimeters from the light. If they are too cold, they will huddle directly under it. Keep a thermometer in the brooder to check temperature. Reduce the temperature 5 degrees every week. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), April 16, 2001.

Hi Kristin! I usually try to keep them free from drafts for the first two weeks. I use a big box and hang the light and do not worry much about moving it up and down. It is true that they will keep themsleves at the proper warmth by moving out away from the light. If you see them away from it then pull the light up some, and vice- versa. When I put them in the coop I usually move the box, and keep them seperate from the big birds until they are bigger. I have heard that large birds will peck younger ones to death, although I have never had that happen. (our coop has two sides) Hope this helps ~ Brenda ~

-- Brenda (brenclark@alltel.net), April 16, 2001.

If the cage is small you can cover the sides with a piece of clear plastic sheeting.and have a light inside it for the chicks to be warm.If you did that you'd need to leave some venting so it doesn't get to hot in the daytime.A light also makes it so the chicks can see mosquitos at night and keep from getting bites thet can get them bad eye infections.

-- SM Steve (A12goat@cs.com), April 17, 2001.

Thanks to all of you who answered my post. I was wondering why I hadn't gotten any responses, and then I came back and re-read what I wrote, saw that I had mistyped my own email address (DUH!) and found all of your answers. You've all been very helpful- I think I've got he temperature right now, and I've moved on to cleaning two chicks' pasted vents. It's a real fun place over here. : )

-- Kristin, in La. (positivekharma@aol.com), April 17, 2001.