Meyer Hatchery? Also, A Couple Of Questions!

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Louieandthecrew

Louieandthecrew

I am actually a female!
9 Years
Jun 21, 2010
4,886
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God placed me in this world
Hey all,
I just ordered from Meyer Hatcher no more than two hours ago
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I'm getting 15 female Buff Orpington day old chicks that will hatch in late late February and arrive any time between March 1st and March 3rd. I was wondering what experience all of you have with Meyer Hatchery and was hoping for some advice even on how I should raise my 15 BO chicks.
The most chicks that I have had at one time was seven, all in a large, 4x3ft. blue, plastic box with soft wood chips for the 'bedding', a small water container, and a long chick food container. Overhead is a very nice heat lamp with a big, 90 Wat (I believe) red light bulb. I also have a second heat lamp, and a second water container along with a large (but smaller than the other box), glass box that was actually made for snakes, or fish.
That is all that I could use for raising the new chicks but I'm sure that I could go out to the Tractor Supply Co. if there is anything else that is completely necessary. I do have an old dog crate (the kind that is closed on all sides except the front, which has a little fence-like 'door' for opening and closing. Anyways, please tell me if I'm missing anything, or if there is something I need to know about Buff Orpingtons, or anything else of that sort!

Thank you
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I only have 2 B orps but they are great layers. One of them is the only hen I've had that has ever gone broody.
I would use a 250W IR lamp. Tractor supply carries them. You need a thermometer. The chicks need 95degrees the first week and drop 5 degrees per week. I prefer a larger area with a little higher heat in the middle and a little lower in the periphery where they eat and drink so they can come in to get warm and move away if they get too hot.
My routine is to always have chickens indoors on a bed of pine shavings.
For babies, I put burlap over the pine shavings and paper towels over the burlap.
For the first two days I put a couple piles of hard boiled egg yolk and sprinkle their starter feed on the paper towels till they know what food looks like. I don't let them see the pine shavings until they know food is food.
I replace the paper towels as they get soiled.
I remove the paper towels after 2 days.

For water - when they arrive have a waterer with slightly sweetened water. I use a little agave nectar. As you pull each one out of the shipper make sure you dip their beak in the water and they drink before you go to the next one.
I keep a light on 24/7 the first week. After that the red I/r light 24/7 and a white light I/R or otherwise 12 hours.
I never let them run out of water or food.

Any other questions let us know.
Good luck.
 
Quote:
Thank you! That was some great advice
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(BOLD) What is that, exactly? I would be able to find something to put over the shavings, but what is that in particular? That is a great idea to have, though, so that they don't begin to eat the shavings or anything. I want to start giving them some special treats when they are young, but don't know what they can have when they are so little. Do you know? Also, would some plane old sugar in their water hurt them, or their diet? And as for the chicks being warm enough, they will be staying either in the garage, or in the shed, but they will not be cold!
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Burlap is a rough material. You usually see it around the root balls of plants at a nursery.

I have never used Meyer, but a friend has, and they seem to be very good.
 
chickensducks&agoose :

don't use cling wrap. the idea is to give them some traction. you can use paper towels, or a real towel if you're not averse to washing it frequently.

Ahhh, I see. I would be able to use a real towel, I think.​
 
Quote:
Alright.

I just have to ask. I don't know exactly how large Buff Orpingtons are, but I've heard that they are actually very large. Does anyone have a picture of an Orpington next to another average sized laying breed? The best would be one next to either a Barred Plymouth Rock, a Welsummer, a Red Sex Link (hen), or a bantam Red COchin. THat'd be GREAT!
 
Being hatchery stock, they won't be nearly as big as breeder stock, so you won't have to worry about them being huge.
 

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