TAJ Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 I have found a lot of information (books & on here) about hatching and then from POL onwards, but have less info on the day old - 14+ weeks stage - I would much appreaciate some more guidance on the following: Heat lamp in the winter I have read they can control their own body heat when fully feathered around 5 weeks. I have followed the start at 90f for 1 day olds, then drop by 5f per week by moving lamp higher each week and weaning off heat a few hours a day from around 5 weeks. At what age would you put them in an Eglu at night (with/without heat pad)? Roosting bars I know they should not have roosting bars initially - at what point are their feet devloped enough that they should have roosting bars? Wing clipping At 4 weeks mine are very good fliers - as they are still growing at what point do people on here usually clip wings? Feel free to add any further advice! Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 eglutine was advising someone the other week on ages of being put in an eglu i think...cant remember who's post it was now though.. my chickens wings arent clipped....there was a fairly recent post about that too....not many people on that post, had clipped one of their birds wings.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Hi - my chicks have all gone outside at about 7 weeks - purely because of their size & them being off heat. I'm not too sure this time of year though. Mine all had roosting bars in the eglu then. I did put teddys in the brooders for them to fly up onto & perch, it was good for teaching them to balance. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 eglutine was advising someone the other week on ages of being put in an eglu i think...cant remember who's post it was now though.. I think that may have been Aaronmusgrove123 - he has some young chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronmusgrove123 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 hiya yes i think it was me i had some eggs in an incubator(none hatched all infertile) but she said that its not the time of year 1) most chickens have stopped laying and i dont think fertility will be good (like mine ) 2) when its time to go out size it will be very cold from a house to the harsh winter's outside Aaron i would suggest hatching in the spring/winter (what about the cockerel's) or buying some young/p.o.l from a breeder (i recently bought some 8 week pekins from storrs poultry have a look at my link in the sig) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted November 11, 2008 Author Share Posted November 11, 2008 Sorry - I should explain they are already 4½ weeks old and in a brick shed with a heat lamp, which I have started turning off for a couple of hours as they are now feathered up. My questions were more general, not related to this time specifically as I cannot see much on forums or books that I had - however today I took delivery of a book I had ordered from Amazon all about rearing chickens. It is not a book I would recommend for beginners, but it is great on incubation, growing chickens, layers, meat birds, plus illnesses - a good read. Tracy hiya yes i think it was me i had some eggs in an incubator(none hatched all infertile)but she said that its not the time of year 1) most chickens have stopped laying and i dont think fertility will be good (like mine ) 2) when its time to go out size it will be very cold from a house to the harsh winter's outside Aaron i would suggest hatching in the spring/winter (what about the cockerel's) or buying some young/p.o.l from a breeder (i recently bought some 8 week pekins from storrs poultry have a look at my link in the sig) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
