Space needed for week old silkies"

Poultryprincess · Post by **Poultryprincess** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 9:48 pm

Time to move the "CUTE" silkie chicks to the chicken coop.
( can't move in my sewing room & it's a constant clean job with them in a small brooder )

I have 19 silkies, how much space do you give your week old banties?
My brooder is 2 x 4 x 18 high. It looks too big.
I was thinking of making it perhaps 2 x 3
I will enlarge it once they get bigger.
When they are about 3 weeks old I will move them to their new ground level pen.

Just curious what you give them.
Thanx

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Fri Apr 29, 2016 10:08 pm

I don't know about banties, but when I put my standard size chicks in my brooder I thought I had tons of space, and then before I knew it I was scrambling putting on additions. I'd say that a 2x4 brooder for 18 week-old chicks is not too big, even if they are banties. Crowding can lead to problems, better a bit too big rather than too small. I had 15 chicks in a 3'x 6' brooder, they used all the space and outgrew it in a hurry.
I'm assuming your brooder is draft proof and there's a heat lamp or equivalent in there.

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Sat Apr 30, 2016 3:00 pm

I think mine is 2 x 4, I just have the heat lamp in the corner and they can huddle or move out from under it. I prefer more space for them to move, less chance of cocci as well in a bigger space.

Poultryprincess · Post by **Poultryprincess** » Sat Apr 30, 2016 3:27 pm

Gail Damerow book says 4 chicks per foot
I've moved them in & once their "furniture" was in, it didn't look too big.
Will take pics today.
Thanx

Doug The Chickenman · Post by **Doug The Chickenman** » Sat Apr 30, 2016 10:29 pm

By 4 weeks they should have 1 Sq ft per bird

Poultryprincess · Post by **Poultryprincess** » Sat Apr 30, 2016 10:59 pm

Yes I think so too Doug.
I'm hoping by 4 weeks old they will be on the floor.
Planning to sell maybe 1/2 of them, but keep ALL the Showgirls (*o*)
The bator will be filled some time this week with standards.

The chicks in their new digs.
Plexi glass on the front doors will be removed once they start to feather.

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Sun May 01, 2016 9:04 am

You need to show us some pictures of your showgirls.