Hopping out of the brooder!!

[Imaginethat!]

Well the past few days have been adventurous!!! 8 chicks, 5 keets. All hatched on 8-18.

A while ago the black chick started flapping his wings a getting a bit off the gorund when he/she was startled. A while ago, the black chick and some of his/her compatriots started flapping/hopping out of the brooder. So into a rubbermaid tub for them that had higher sides. Then little black chick began to hop on top of the feeder and start stretching his head up the tub side to look out.

Today, the remaining chicks (all yellowish) began their little hop out of the brooder. When it was apparent that the hopping/flapping wasn't a fluke, they got transferred into a rubermaid tub.

Well the keets huddled together and just would NOT stop this shrill calling. So even though the keets weren't hopping out of the brooder, I divided them in half and put them into the two tubs. Now every one is happily eating and quiet.

Sheesh!! It wasn't like the keets were lonely, there were 5 of them together there.

And our little white chick from the first batch has BLUE feet!! How strange, any ideas?

Imaignethat!

 

[yellowsprings]

It is only a matter of time before they start hopping out of the tubs. Cut a piece of chicken wire and lay it across the top, bending it over the edges. That should keep them in there!

Have fun!

 

[Imaginethat!]

Thank-you Yellow Springs!! Why didn't I think of that??!!!!!! Doh!!!


I was cleaning out one of the tubs, so I transferred them to a square Rubbermaid (I hope square is okay now that they are almost 3 weeks old?). As I'm coming back with hay/straw (don't remember what it is now. And I can't tell since I'm a homestead newbie), there is one of the chicks in the old brooder (which I hadn't cleaned yet) pawing around looking for food.

I'm in northern SC where the temp is usually over 80. Do I have to keep them in tubs with lights the full 6 weeks still? These guys are so much bigger and more active than the chicks I got the first time that I am wondering.

Imaginethat!

 

[yellowsprings]

I would certainly keep them in the tubs but I would put some kind of thermometer in there to check the temperature. If you are keeping them outside, it will get damp and chilly during the night. A slight cool draft can be hard on them.

I had my chicks in a rectangular plastic container with deep sides. I don't think they care what shape it is!

Have fun!

 

[Imaginethat!]

No, they aren't outside, they are in my attached garage in tubs. It is pretty balmy in there, even compared to outside.

Thank-you for your advice. The tubs now have a chicken wire cover. (I bet I know one chick that is now mad at you!!! LOL!! for giving me this advice and ending his free wheeling wandering!)

I'd like to keep both groups in one coop until they are bigger. How do I introduce 13 new chicks hatched 8-18 to 5 chicks hatched 8-6?

Imaginethat!

 

[yellowsprings]

I did this with mine at about the same ages. Probably the best way is to put them together at night, in the dark. Make sure you are up as soon as they get some light to check on them. They may pick at each other for a little while. Don't let them draw blood. They see the color red and keep on picking! Then it is time to get out the pine tar.

I hope you are putting them in a large area as they will be crowded. You can almost watch them grow at this stage!

Have fun!

 

[Kathy in WV]

An old window screen makes a good cover too and also keeps any insects away.

 

[Freeholdfarm]

The problem with corners is that if they get cold or frightened, they will all pile up on top of one another in a corner, and the ones on the bottom won't be able to breathe and will die. The one time we actually had this happen the chicks were several weeks old, perhaps two months (it's been a while), and we had put them into the unheated coop too soon. You really need a thermometer in with the chicks to keep track of the temps -- at two weeks I think they need temps around ninety degrees still. Drop it by five degrees each week. And they will need more space very soon. They grow really fast at this age.

Kathleen