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[chris170284]

hi ive been looking online but i only see info for pol hens,how much floor space per chick do they need up till they come off heat thanks

[Space Chick]

Chicks tend to huddle a fair bit... I have two 1.2metre x 0.6metre indoor rabbit cages. I keep up to ten newly hatched chicks in one, then at around 3 weeks split them into the two.

 

They seem happy with that space until they go out.

[chris170284]

thanks i thought about 1mx1m just had to make sure

[Shirl]

I came on just to look at this. I have five 5 weeks old chicks (2 polish, 2 leghorn, 1 araucana) in a rabbit hutch 4ft by something sort of standard size and it seems tiny for them now. I have a long chick feeder so it doesn't take up too much space and the water is in bird drinkers attached to the side. They seem to have so little room. i've been sat there thinking it looks like battery hen conditions.

 

I do put them outside when the weather is good but today is really windy so have to keep them in the hutch. I'm now wondering about putting them in a huge dog cage I've got but I think they'd get too much draught as they're in a garage. At the moment they're just on heat at night. How I wish it would warm up so they could go outside permanently. I think with all DP's rubbish in the garage there isn't room for me to put the Eglu and run in there.

[Redwing]

As long as they are shelted and the brooder is clean I wouldnt worry too much. Going outside always sets them back a little bit so better to do it when the weather is better