Brooder Tips
In the series on Incubation and Hatching Tips, I share my basic brooder set up. Since then, we have refined the set-up for even more ease and efficiency. Keep in mind, I have six brooders full at a time — one for every week of age — so ease and efficiency matter.
We recently started lining the brooders with puppy pads, which absorb moisture and make clean up so much easier. We put the pads down first and then top with a thin layer of wood pellets and pine shavings. When it is time to clean, we simply fold the pad in from the corners to contain the mess, lift it up, dump the pellets and poo into the compost, and toss the pad.
Chicks above the age of three weeks live in wire cages or dog kennels, as opposed to the solid-sided brooders that the hatchlings and tiny chicks live in. To keep the draft off the ones in the wire cages, I’ve started to use these triangle high-corner pet boxes as beds.
I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s important, so I’ll repeat: in the heat lamp is a ceramic reptile bulb. It is much safer as the bulb is recessed into the fixture. Also, it doesn’t give off light, so they learn to sleep at night.
I’m also happy with the hanging rabbit feeder. It doesn’t stop them from kicking food out, but it does reduce the amount of poo and bedding that gets kicked in as it is off the ground. I put greens and grass in the back part and crumble in the front.
On the other end of the cage, I set the hanging feeder and watering set-up. My chicks start off with a rabbit-waterer because I dislike cleaning bedding out of the water dish every two minutes. You can see the nozzle of the waterer in the upper right, above the bedding box which I am using as a drip-tray. Super easy to toss in new pellets or simply scoop out the old damp pellets.
Next steps: Juvenile or Grow-Out Care and Housing
You’ve ordered your chicks and set your pick-up appointment. Now what?
Now is a great time to do a little reading so that you are well-equipped to take excellent care of your little ones.
As chick season heats up, I want to talk to you about Chick Flippers. These are people who place large orders from commercial hatcheries, have the chicks shipped in, and then list them for sale at a HUGE mark-up on Craigslist etc. They don’t disclose . . .
Please oh please don't use a feather duster. Yes, they will love it, but when you find the one that got tangled in it and hung herself, you will feel awful.
Well that depends on many things, chiefly the weather and what does your outside set-up entail.
The rule of thumb is that they need to be ten weeks old if the over-night low is going to be around 30.
That said, I put them out at four weeks at about any time of year. What? Yes. Four weeks, with supplemental heat.
One of my customers — a first-time chicken dad — glibly remarked, “I think I’ll get into breeding, how hard can it be?” One of my more diplomatic friends responded, “You would be surprised.”
No, this is not a dating guide. If you are looking for your soulmate, volunteer with an organization that aligns with your values and priorities. All those other volunteers are your pre-filtered field of candidates. Now, back to chicks . . .
Dalia Monterroso, local resident and President of Chickenlandia, just published a book: “Let's All Keep Chickens!: The Down-to-Earth Guide to Natural Practices for Healthier Birds and a Happier World”.
”Readers will learn how to plan their flock, how to raise baby chicks, what to look for in a chicken coop, how to keep chickens healthy naturally, and more.”
Are you just planning on just one round of chicks? Let me save you the trouble of gathering up all the necessary supplies.
Great question. Chick prices vary according to availability, quality, and investment.
I’ve shared quite a few of my best tips and tricks for setting up a chick brooder, but what about the next step? When they are too little to just toss into the big girl coop, but too big stinky to stay in the house.
At this point, I put them in the big girl coop, with accomodations.
Brooder Set-up Tips for Healthy Chicks and Hatchlings. Best waterers, best feeders, best brooders for your baby chicks and hatchlings.
I house birds of different ages together regularly. Here is how I introduce them.
Stella Stargazer: before and after Selenium treatment for wry neck.
We had a great hatch this weekend: 47 eggs went into the hatcher, 46 chicks came out.
New Year, New Floofs: Wheaten/Blue Wheaten/Splash Ameraucanas and Wheaten/Blue Wheaten Marans
Brooder set-up tips, encore.
How to help her, and better yet, how to minimize the occurrences of sticky chick.
Surprise! You are a mama!
Medicated Chick Starter and Fermented Feed.
Girl Chick? Boy Chick? How is one to know?
Sexing chicks. Alas, not as easy as we would wish.