CatsCube Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Im thinking I probably will use an incubator to hatch eggs instead of waiting around in the hope one of my girls will decide to play mum. Now my pekins and hybrids are getting on fine and even when free ranging they tend to choose to go into the same run and house together. So Im thinking I will use the pekins house as a brooder, so Im I right in thinking they cant go outside for a few weeks? The house is 110cm x 62cm, how many chicks could I house in here, and is this okay for them to be in a house outside right from the start with one of those ecoglow heaters inside and if I take the roof off and replace it with a piece of perspex so I can keep an eye on them and also give them some daylight (keeping half in shade) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 chicks take between 6 and 8 weeks before they are off heat.it might be best to keep them indoors for the first couple of weeks before moving them to the outdoor coop putting a persex roof on the coop might be a problem if the coop is on the small side as heat will build up very quickly.an option is to put a weld mesh door on the pop hole in the day made from 6mm x 6mm mesh that way you get light and air in the coop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 Okay, I have just remembered that I have an indoor guinea pig cage in the loft somewhere so if I keep them indoors in this for the first couple of weeks, then put them in the coop outside with the door shut, the whole back flap opens to access the nest area so will replace this with the poly roofing sheet stuff to act as a window? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
