baby chicks get big really fast

[Jeanette]

These baby chicks are going on 3 weeks and are getting really big. They are like the size of pigeons. I moved them into the guest room 2 weeks ago (garage was too hot)  and they are in a really big sterilite container with a window screen on top. Am I supposed to keep them in the house for 12 weeks? My God, they'll be like huge chicken sized before they go in that coop. Do I need to get a way bigger container in the house for them?

[Jeanette]

Thanks to all of you for such good information. We still have them in a very large sterilite container with a screen on top. We are going to temperature check the coop during the day & night this weekend to see how it goes. I like the idea of a service department for boxes, too, and will give them a call. And, you are right. These baby chicks were undoubtedly in distress and trying to tell us and we just weren't getting it for the first few days.

[Pam Rawlins]

You may have found a solution, but for large boxes... try a car dealership service department. Some of their larger equipment comes in boxes....cardboxes that are almost the size of a pallet square, and about 3' tall... I have found such boxes at Phoenix Motor Co.

You can put some deep shavings in there, and be ok until they are old enough to move outside. - although no 2 ways about it, chicks inside do add a unique odor to any room!

[Rachel]

I dunno guys, it's hit 110 several times in the past 3 weeks. Outside from the start, even in the shade is really hot. Chris and Bethany, you guys are both quite experienced at this and would recognize a distressed chick a lot quicker than someone with little to no experience.
For example, last week I had some quail chicks in a building that's usually climate controlled. I turned off the heat lamp during the day and turned off the A/C. When I went to check a little later it was only 105 in there and those quail were very unhappy!! Put the A/C down to a breezy 96 ;) and they were back to happy lunatics.
Better safe than sorry. :)

[Bethany Lobocki]

If it were me...they would have been outside from the start. It's plenty warm enough out. Just keep them somewhere that is shaded all day. Then provide a heat lamp if nights get chilly.

If there is enough protection from predators (even hawks) then they can go in the chicken coop. Again, just make sure they are warm enough at night.

[Juanita Atkin-Cotten]

I bought a used play pen at a garage sale and used that for my baby chicks... and they have wheels...

[Kelly Liston]

What do you put on the bottom of the play pen to prevent the pee from bleeding through the fabric?

[Rachel]

At 12 weeks they are usually big enough to be mixed with an existing flock but they only need to be 6-7 weeks old to be outside on their own (possible night-time heat lamp depending on our temps). As soon as you can see they are fully feathered. The feathers on their faces around their eyes are usually the last to come in.

[Becky]

Get a really big box and keep them in until they are fully feathered... 6-8 weeks.
Then you can put them out with a heat lamp at night.

(You can line the bottom of the box with plastic and use pine shavings to absorb moisture.)

[Kelly Liston]

I moved mine outside when they started perching on the side, 6 or 7 weeks. I did make sure they were fully feathered first.

[Brad Norgaard]

Yes, they need to be fully feathered in order to cope with the outside temperatures. Otherwise their bodies cannot regulate their temperature and are more prone to sickness. I was amazed at how fast ours grew last year when we got them. They were pooping all over the laundry room.