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Post by cks4me on Sept 28, 2011 11:36:38 GMT -6
My little darlings are growing quickly. They are now realizing those things on their sides move and when they do you actually get off the ground!! Yesterday I found one in the feeding thing (one that is open on top). He couldn't figure out how to fly out!! How do you guys keep shavings out of their waterer's? Even when I change them they are full quickly and I have to go to work so I worry they are not getting enough water.
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Post by gardendaddy on Sept 28, 2011 15:22:21 GMT -6
I often have the same problem but try to keep it elevated on some blocks or bricks but sometimes that does not really help. I just end up adding fresh water usually till they are large enough to go into a larger area that I can set a regular water fount up on a concrete block or something like that once they are bigger.
Mike
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Post by Timbo on Sept 29, 2011 1:16:40 GMT -6
a concrete stepping stone works nice not too tall but long and wide enough to keep shavings from getting close to the waterer. a 12'x12' is like $1.18 at lowes
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Post by cks4me on Sept 29, 2011 13:30:40 GMT -6
I tried putting them up on a pie plate which is about two inches tall and that made no difference at all. Mine are in the house in a huge pallet box. they are starting to get feathers but I am afraid they will be out of the box so to speak before I can get them outside. It is too cold to put them out there so this week end I will have to get something to put over the top so they don't jump out and get hurt..... Oh being a momma is a lot of work....if only one of the hens would have gone broody.... of course I have two who refuse to get out of the nesting boxes now when it is too late
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Sept 29, 2011 14:20:41 GMT -6
Bobby built a grow pen that has dark plastic on the 3 sides that have wire so it can be rolled up when it's not cold and a heat light on each side that clamp to a board on the roof that also raises up to tend to the chicks. I don't put any chicks outside till they have feathers. About 2 or 3 weeks old. In the winter they stay inside a little longer.
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Post by cks4me on Sept 30, 2011 7:24:35 GMT -6
chowdown do you mean outside outside or inside a barn? Mine are going on three weeks and they are starting to feather out but I think even at three weeks they are too young. I would have no way to hang any light for them either. If I had a a regular chk house where I could hang a light they would be out asap. I hate having them in the house. Before I hatch any more I have to figure this part of it out in case I don't have a momma again. thanks for the input all........
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Oct 1, 2011 1:24:13 GMT -6
By emvickrey at 2010-08-21 Here's the grow pen. Last year we put one of those moving blankets around where thw wire is on the 3 sides and it reached down to the ground to prevent drafts. This year we put the black plastic on it because we plan to put it under the lean-to on the other side of the garage along with the rest of the quail. They will have access to heat and will be out of the wind. Inside the lid there is a wood plank that I clamp the heat lights too on each side. There is 1/2" wire around it on the 3 sides, bottom and inside wall. The roof is on a hinge and raises up. It's up on legs so it can be raked under it for cleaning.
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Post by gardendaddy on Oct 1, 2011 16:22:26 GMT -6
Hey, Cks4me,
I have these 4-1/2 week old chicks and have taken the heat off of them all. But I have them out of wind, getting some warming sun that is filtered, and have about 5 inches of wood shavings for them to bury up in and they huddle together at night and settle in the shavings. They are pretty fully feathered now of course and today, Saturday, I moved the 12 larger, standard chicks in the chicken house, but separated them in just a part of it with some of that plastic fencing to separate them from grown pullets till they are around 12 weeks old and larger. I left the 6 Belgium banty Mille Fluer d'Uccle chicks, also the same age, in the new raised pen I built just for their arrival that will be their permanent home. I was using it as a brooder for the full 18 chicks I ordered from IDEAL POULTRY. It too has a deep bedding of shavings for heat retention in the day and they will be just fine tonight. It has wire on the bottom and two sides, lid and door on each end as well. I cover the bottom wire with newspaper, then top with shavings to facilitate ease of cleaning so that I can just lift out the paper and dump the paper and put the shavings and dropping straight into my garden to burn off this winter. I am kind of proud of that pen for sure as it will accomplish exactly what I want. I will try to post something or send you an email or put it on my blog soon.
Saying all of that AND depending on how many chicks you are still brooding, you might try to locate a refrigerator box or other appliance box for a temporary home that will do until they are some bigger. A frig box can be used on its side, like a rectangle pen, you can even spray paint the outside so it looks better in the yard (keeping the neighbors happy and your place neat)...and use a heat light in there as well, add litter on the floor for the chicks. ANY large box will get you by for the time being and not be expensive to obtain..."FREE"! You can use it close to the house to be able to run a cord for heat, etc.
Hope some of this helps for a quick fix...
Mike
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Post by cks4me on Oct 4, 2011 11:06:15 GMT -6
thanks you guys for all the input. I have a box I had built last year, it has a lid that is on hinges and a chick door. I drilled holes all over to make sure there was fresh air (for summer) but I could put black plastic around it to keep it from being drafty. My biggest worry is that it is too early to put them out. It is getting pretty cold don't you think? They are three weeks today and not fully feathered. Do you think they would be okay? Last night I forgot I had the window open in their room and it was cold in there this morning. They were all bunched up together and now I am worried that they may have gotten too cold last night. I will see when I get home I guess. I did notice that it is going to warm up this week so they may go out. the box I had made is not tall enough to put a light in unless I used like a 60 watt bulb which may work. Or maybe even less wattage. Would it need to be red?
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Oct 4, 2011 14:17:10 GMT -6
I use a 60 watt bulb in my heat lamps. It's said to use a red bulb. It keeps them from pecking at each other.
They should be ok outside as long as they can't get a draft and they can get under the light for warmth. The light does need to be close enough to them for the warmth to get to them but not so close they can reach up and peck at it or touch it and get burnt.
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