We got a dozen rhode island red chicks about two weeks ago and I have them in the barn in a large cardboard box with a lamp over it for light & warmth. I've layered the bottom of the box with old newspaper & change it often for cleanliness. The chicks are doing fine - they're just starting to flap their wings a bit. But, I'm wondering how long do I keep them in the box? (I have a new coop almost done.) How long do they need the light? Also, the feed store sold me some starter feed and I'm not sure how long to feed them with that either. I am in Louisiana. Thanks! Gary

-- Gary (barefootdad@hotmail.com), November 13, 2001

Answers

There is probably a set time for the chick starter but usually after a couple of bags of the starter I am ready to begin feeding them the regular chick feed. You will know when they are big enough to leave their box. They will begin to jump around too much etc. My only worry would be putting them into the chicken coop while they are small enough to get lost into corners or for the weasel or rat that surely lives under the coop to find them. What I usually do is take them from the box into an old puppy cage on the ground and let them grow a little more there. It seems to work fine and they get to see the world from the cage and peck on the ground for a few more weeks then into the coop. We haven't purchased chicks in some time as our hens now sit and hatch their own chicks. But I do take the hen and her chicks and put them into the cage for a few weeks until the chicks are big enough to get along without any help from mother hen. Boy, do I envy you....getting chicks in November...just wouldn't work up north here in the mountains of PA. I'd need snow shoes for them !! Good Luck !!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), November 14, 2001.

Hi Gary,

The chicks I get I put on chick starter till the bag is gone. I use medicated feed and buy a 40 pound bag. (I have also raised 25-50 chicks.) It takes several weeks for the chicks to finish the bag, but I feed till the bag is gone. (Note: some people who are trying to raise chicks by the organic method do not do this. They do not like the medication in the feed. I have had chicks die without the medicated feed.)

Chicks need to be kept warm - that is what the light is for. How long you keep the light depends on the temperature in your area and how quickly the chicks get feathered out. I like to have mine feathered out well before turning of the light or putting them outside. As they grow you may consider putting the light out in the coop for a while when you move them. Watch the chicks - Are they staying close under the light or are they staying away? If they are staying away from the heat you can raise the light a bit. If the huddle up they may need more heat. Much of this comes from knowledge comes from experience. Also get a good book like "Chickens in you Backyard" and have fun.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), November 14, 2001.

I usually feed 1 bag of starter per dozen chicks, and when it's done move them to regular feed. Especially if they're chicks I got from somewhere else.

I raise mine in one of those really large rubbermaid tubs that are about 4 feet long. I line with newspaper, so it's easy to clean while they're in it, and after they're done with it. I also have a "lid" I made out of some old welded wire fence that I then laced some string through all of the openings diagonally to keep 'em in. This prevents any early learners from escaping on me. When they're big enough to not need the heat lamp, I move them outside to a small (3 foot x 3 foot) pen that I have up by the coop, and then let them acclimate there for a few weeks. After that I introduce them to the rest of the flock. As far as how long they need the lamp, I watch and when they start to stay away from the lamp and don't huddle all together, I'll turn it off for a few hours at a time unil they don't need it at all. Usually only takes a few weeks.

There's a guy a few miles from here that has decided to raise guineas and he has built an 8 x 8 foot square pen that is 2 feet tall and sits table high off of the floor in his shed. The bottom is 1/2" hardware cloth, so he can just muck out underneath when needed. The top is hinged in several places so he can get in and feed, water, catch the birds, etc., and the lamps are suspended from the cieling so he can adjust the amount of heat. Kinda neat how he has it set up.

-- Eric in TN (eric_m_stone@yahoo.com), November 14, 2001.

Hi Gary, I think one bag of starter would be enough. I switch after that as well. I would keep the light on them until they are fully feathered and can keep in the heat on their own. That is usually the guide I use to putting them in the coop. Sometimes people say they need at least their back fully feathered. For everyone further north..:o) When I first got chicks years ago, I was living in IA and purchased them in October! They stayed in a large box(appliance type)indoors for at least two months. Talk about stinky when they got bigger... Anyhows, we built a coop and I had a regular light in it to help with heat when we put them out. Lots of snow that year and they all lived just fine. The coop was insulated and about the double the size of their box, but they could go outside as well. They were Australorps, so they may have been able to handle the cold better.

-- notnow (notnow05@yahoo.com), November 14, 2001.

Chick starter is medicated with amprolium (for cocci) and is suggested to be fed to them until they're 16 wks old. At that age it's recommended to do a gradual switch from chick starter to layer feed so the protein drop isn't a shock to their bodies.

first day of switch 80% chick starter/20% layer feed 2nd day 60% starter/ 40% layer 3rd day 40% starter/ 60% layer 4th day 20% starter/ 80 layer 5th day and on, all layer feed

Rather than use newspaper as litter, use pine shavings. the newspaper when wet and soiled becomes slippery and can possibly result in spraddle leg as they can't get a good grip to develop good muscles.

Good luck with your babies. Definatly a lot of fun raising them yourself. the more time you spend with them the more tame they become!

-- Buk Buk (bukabuk@hotmail.com), November 14, 2001.

4 weeks in the box. I don't about feed we just feed our egg maker about 4lbs a day.

-- Chandler (ProvidenceFarms2001@yahoo.com), November 14, 2001.