What to do about space as chicks get bigger?

[Courtney1978]

So we are first time Chicken people, and we got 6 baby chicks this week. They are all doing great, growing fast! So my question is: what is best for them as they start really growing in the next few weeks and until the coop is built and they then can move in there?We were thinking an old playpen or something similar. I know what we are using now will quickly become to small. Thanks!

 

[azygous]

Chicks DOUBLE in size every week, so you are correct in assuming you'll need a larger brooder for the six chicks.

I recommend going to Lowe's or an appliance shop and picking up a large cardboard box. You can even get two and tape them together and cut a pass-through into the common wall, creating a two bedroom chick condo.

But when you do it, I urge you to find a table, a picnic table or two card tables, and place the boxe(s) on it. You can cut a door into the side of the brooder, and by accessing the chicks from the side, rather from up above, they will be far more trusting, calm and friendly.

Also, they will be ready to move into a coop far sooner than you probably imagine. At six weeks they will no longer need heat, so that's when most people move their chicks out of the brooder.

You can do it even sooner if you use the "chick cave" with 'mama heating pad" method of keeping chicks warm instead of a heat lamp. It's a wild new idea that is taking this forum by storm. You can read all about it if you're interested.https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update

 

[Blooie]

Go-oolly! I'm blushing here! But yep, you can get those chicks out sooner than you think. I'm in Northern Wyoming and the only reason my chicks were inside the house initially is because my husband ended up in the hospital so we didn't have the outside area set up yet. They were day olds when I got them, lived in the house about a week, then went outside to live. The first night out it got down to 23 degrees. They all did great. Then I got 4 new day-old chicks and they went out to the outside brooder the minute we got them home. They, too, are thriving.

 

[Courtney1978]

Thank you! I see your in Colorado as well, and it's good to know that they can be moved in sooner then I would think. I was told that I should wait until they are 14 weeks...I was a little stressed about them I my house that long! HA!

 

[hmkeea]

My chicks are 3 weeks old and they are outside. Its been in the mid 20's at night and they're doing great! I was told to leave them inside, also read several books that said to leave them inside until they were much older, but after reading through all the questions and comments here, I decided chicks must be tougher than we think they are!

 

[Blooie]

Thank you! I see your in Colorado as well, and it's good to know that they can be moved in sooner then I would think. I was told that I should wait until they are 14 weeks...I was a little stressed about them I my house that long! HA!

I couldn't handle them being in the house that long. The dust and dander is unbelievable! My first batch (brooder raised, heat lamp, the whole 9 yards) were evicted out to the coop when they were 5.5 weeks old and I swore I'd never brood chicks in the house again...ever! When I moved them out the coop last year it wasn't even finished - we finished it by working around them. The first night they were out there I put a heat lamp in the coop for them, then kept getting up out of my warm bed to check on them. I had put a wireless thermometer in there and it said it was 20 degrees in the coop. I was paranoid, hence the constant checking. They were all cuddled together in the corner near the pop door, not even near the lamp. They were fine. Next night, same story except I only got out of bed once that night. There they were, all snug and cozy while the lamp blazed away in the opposite corner. The next day the lamp came out. Um, it snowed. Oh, sure! And it snowed many times after that. We got our last snowfall on June 6th last year, and the chicks were just fine! I swore I could go out there and hear feathers growing.

 

[Courtney1978]

Thank you for the info!!

 

[jburts]

if you have a dog kennel or can borrow one you can use that when they are big enough to not go through the slats.
that is what I use because I have to introduce them to the rest of the flock, that way I can carry out the dog kennel and they can hang out outside with the big chicks and where the big chicks can get to them.
until I can slip them in coup at night.
I got some new chicks this week five more I have only three chickens left that are adults.
but use your imagination just keeping away from predators is a must and make your coup raccoon proof and other animals you may have in your area, hawks etc I went on line to see what racoons could get open and used latches that they can't use
also my relative that has chickens lost some of her chickens to a weasel.
and I use welded wire for windows and staple and nail them in and welded wire any place that something might be able to get in.
chicken wire is not strong enough to keep things out.
I have a dog kennel for a pen and then put chicken wire around it except for the door area but at night the chickens are locked up tight. below this is was the coup in the making
also friends helping us move it in it's spot
then I hooked a dog kennel to it and a top using the fourth dog kennel side and draped it with a plastic tarp to keep it dry underneath.and rafters too,and cement underneath and then fenced in with welded wire,and a door underneath that you can close and open when I want so chickens can go into the fenced back yard.
so far so good,also the coup is off the ground.
these are the new chicks