Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Boxfanman on July 18, 2009, 12:59

Title: Young chicks
Post by: Boxfanman on July 18, 2009, 12:59
I have three Orpingtons that I have had since day old chicks. When can they go outdoors?

They are coming up to a month old, and I have been leaving lamp on pretty much 24-7, can I turn this off now?

Some photos attached

(http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs129.snc1/5531_211085275023_724520023_7732558_5480571_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Young chicks
Post by: Vember on July 18, 2009, 13:17
They might still need heat over night Bfm :)

Ideally it should be withdrawn gradually in the day so it isn't too much of a shock when they go outside :D
At 4 weeks I would have 23 ish degrees C but this really depends on the room that they are in :)


Sarah :D
Title: Re: Young chicks
Post by: Boxfanman on July 18, 2009, 14:09
The blue chick is the same age as the others but there is a massive size difference :unsure:
Title: Re: Young chicks
Post by: snowflake on July 18, 2009, 15:59
for the blue chick put extra chick crumbs down, never let the dish run out when there growing so fast like this. Its most likley the bigger ones eating it all it will catch up in the end.
Title: Re: Young chicks
Post by: Boxfanman on July 18, 2009, 17:10
There is food down for then constantly, they have never been without. The blue one was lucky to survive, had to be helped out of shell...
Title: Re: Young chicks
Post by: joyfull on July 18, 2009, 18:06
in both of my broods I had two smaller ones  :D
Title: Re: Young chicks
Post by: woodside farm on July 18, 2009, 18:35
Looking at the feathering I would say that the middle one is a cockerel, cockerels usually develop their feathers a lot later in Orpingtons, It would be interesting to see, and quite easy for you (when they are bigger) as they are different colours.
I have thought this before, but only hatched buffs or blacks and once they are completely feathered they all look the same again.  :(

Michelle xx