Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Geoid]

(I hope this is the right section)

 

My next door neighbours children got some chicks from school, but now they don't want them anymore. So I have been asked if I want them.

If I do decide to take these chicks in, what arrangements do I need to undertake? What will my existing hens do to them? Do they need to be inside or outside and for how long?

 

Any advise greatly appreciated.

[Egluntyne]

Blimey. In at the deep end.

 

They still need to be in a brooder with either an electric hen or a heat lamp for another couple of weeks, Fred, especially as the weather is turning a bit nippy again.

 

You will need Chick Crumbs and a small drinker for them.

 

They make a heck of a dandruffy mess at this age, so I wouldn't recommend that you keep them in your bedroom.

 

Don't mix them with your existing hens....they will attack them, unfortunately.

 

**Click** for some useful advice.

[Geoid]

Thanks, I think I will try and persuade next door to buy me a Eglu Go or something

 

Just to clarify, there are 2 chicks and they are 4 weeks old. (not 4 chicks that are a week old)

[Egluntyne]

I took it that they were 4 weeks old.

 

If they were a week old they would need to be indoors in the brooder for a fair bit longer.

 

Good luck with the Go!

[TAJ]

Surely they have them in a brooder with heat at the moment? Can they not just loan you the brooder/heat lamp for at least a couple of weeks. Then I would be planning separate accommodation for at least 4-5 months until they are at POL and you can start thinking about intros with older hens.

 

Tracy