transitional housing for 2 week old chicks

[redinator]

I have 5, 2 week old chicks that need to be transitioned outdoors. I plan to build a large enclosure with a coop in it, but they are still too small for anything I can find online. The biggest problem is the weather isn't cooperating. I wouldn't be comfortable leaving them out at night until night time temperatures stay above 60 F, or they are fully feathered. I need something temporary and inexpensive where I can bring them out a few hours a day and slowly progress to leaving them out at night.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What's your current brooder? Can you just take that outside?

Other possibilities: a rabbit cage, a pack and play turned upside down...

None of the above are predator proof at all but it would at least let the chicks get some time outside.

 

[redinator]

What's your current brooder? Can you just take that outside?

Other possibilities: a rabbit cage, a pack and play turned upside down...

None of the above are predator proof at all but it would at least let the chicks get some time outside.

I had to move them from overpriced brooder that got too small too quick. They are currently in a "run" that I set up as a pen in my room. The main reason I did this was to observe the behavior of my two dogs, when they're at eye level, to help decide if I can free range or not. One doesn't care, the other is a little too interested when she thinks I'm not looking, but runs and hides when I bring a chick out of the pen.
I really like this pen/run so I might get another (it's too big to move back and forth) for outside and put an inexpensive dog house at the open end for their "coop" until they're big enough to use the roosts and such in an adult coop.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I really like this pen/run so I might get another (it's too big to move back and forth) for outside and put an inexpensive dog house at the open end for their "coop" until they're big enough to use the roosts and such in an adult coop.

Doesn't sound like a bad plan and if it's hard to move around, makes sense to get another one if you don't mind buying a second pen. A dog house should work fine as temporary housing as well.

 

[redinator]

Doesn't sound like a bad plan and if it's hard to move around, makes sense to get another one if you don't mind buying a second pen. A dog house should work fine as temporary housing as well.

The run/pen was only about $70 and should keep them contained until they're fully feathered, I hope, they're getting big fast, lol. They can nearly fly the length of the pen already which is 45.25 x 28.25 x 26.75 inches.

When they go outside permentanly I can attach both together to give them more space; or keep the pens separate and use them for temporary holding if a bird gets sick or I get more and need to quarantine.

Or maybe I'll use it to give my "too interested" dog a time out while the chickens free range from time to time. I'm kind of kidding, she can stay in the house, lol.

Would you happen to know how much a standard chick should weigh at two weeks, compared to a bantam? The hatchery I got the eggs from carry both and they're all roughly the same size, so I either have all bantams, or all standards . . .but I don't know which.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The run/pen was only about $70 and should keep them contained until they're fully feathered, I hope, they're getting big fast, lol. They can nearly fly the length of the pen already which is 45.25 x 28.25 x 26.75 inches.

When they go outside permentanly I can attach both together to give them more space; or keep the pens separate and use them for temporary holding if a bird gets sick or I get more and need to quarantine.

Sounds like they can be possibly be used for isolation, broody breaking, or future chicks. I keep accumulating various cages and crates, never know when you might need one.

Would you happen to know how much a standard chick should weigh at two weeks, compared to a bantam? The hatchery I got the eggs from carry both and they're all roughly the same size, so I either have all bantams, or all standards . . .but I don't know which.

Not a clue, I've never tried weighing chicks, only adults. Some standard chicks run small anyhow, so it might be hard to tell even as they start growing.