100 Broilers and Fermented Feed Project

[mrs1885]

BEAUTIFUL babies!!!!!!!

Yes, they will be just fine with that humidity. You are an experienced hatcher, so you will be able to do this with your eggs closed. If you can dry hatch, then you can hatch a baby rock from a mama rock's egg.

You are so right about finding info on incubating pea eggs. You will find 5 different types of info for hatching eggs. And yes, you can get a chicken to hatch a pea egg. My first white pea was hatched by a chicken.

I hatch everything and anything under my birds. If they go broody, then they are getting SOME type of egg and it won't be their own egg. I promise you that.

Here are some pics of how I "pair" birds to eggs up. I rarely allow a bird to hatch their own egg.

chickens to ducks
ducks to gosling
chickens to pea chicks
chickens to turkeys
turkeys to ducks
* A little bit of everything.

I"m glad you posted this. I was just about to post and ask if it's possible to put other species of bird together. We'll be getting meaties for sure, and also most likely guineas, turkey and ducks. I've got a MONSTER size box that my daughter left here that her kid's drive around little battery operated cars came in. I was thinking instead of building a plywood box that I could attach that white cheap shower board stuff inside so it's kind of water resistant and then put down hay or straw for them and put everyone in one box since the thing is so big. I'm *assuming* (and we all know what happens when I do that!) that because you let other species hatch other babies that it's okay to mix them? They'd all be roughly the same size and definitely the same ago.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I"m glad you posted this.  I was just about to post and ask if it's possible to put other species of bird together.  We'll be getting meaties for sure, and also most likely guineas, turkey and ducks.  I've got a MONSTER size box that my daughter left here that her kid's drive around little battery operated cars came in.  I was thinking instead of building a plywood box that I could attach that white cheap shower board stuff inside so it's kind of water resistant and then put down hay or straw for them and put everyone in one box since the thing is so big.  I'm *assuming*  (and we all know what happens when I do that!) that because you let other species hatch other babies that it's okay to mix them?  They'd all be roughly the same size and definitely the same ago.

What "white cheap shower board stuff"? Is it slippery?

All birds like chickens, turkeys, peas, guineas are "ok" when brooding them together but waterfowl would not be ok because waterfowl love getting wet and splashing water and that could turn into a mess and possible deaths if a bird got wet and cold not dry off/warm up. For me, I feed my turkeys, guineas and pea chicks a higher protein feed (30% protein) that would be too high for chickens, so I tend to sometimes separate those breeds.

As far as brooding boxes, I always go the cheap route and that means putting my thinking cap on and finding recycled materials to "make it work". I am VERY frugal (CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP) and I am not trying to make Lowe's, Home Depot and all of those other companies rich. I"M trying to make ME rich by keeping my money in my pocket. I look for recycled materials (Craigslist) for all of my building supplies. Nothing wrong with people spending money on building materials. That's not for me.

 

[mrs1885]

What "white cheap shower board stuff"? Is it slippery?

All birds like chickens, turkeys, peas, guineas are "ok" when brooding them together but waterfowl would not be ok because waterfowl love getting wet and splashing water and that could turn into a mess and possible deaths if a bird got wet and cold not dry off/warm up. For me, I feed my turkeys, guineas and pea chicks a higher protein feed (30% protein) that would be too high for chickens, so I tend to sometimes separate those breeds.

As far as brooding boxes, I always go the cheap route and that means putting my thinking cap on and finding recycled materials to "make it work". I am VERY frugal (CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP) and I am not trying to make Lowe's, Home Depot and all of those other companies rich. I"M trying to make ME rich by keeping my money in my pocket. I look for recycled materials (Craigslist) for all of my building supplies. Nothing wrong with people spending money on building materials. That's not for me.

Yeh, it is slippery which was a concern. Was hoping that I could put the hay / straw in there nice and deep so they wouldn't slip. Or maybe line the bottom of it with that rubbery type liner for kitchen cabinets?

I'm the same. I'm trying to think of what we have here that I can use. The box is huge which is what I was trying to find a way to use it. Maybe I could just put in some of the plastic painters sheeting and tape it along the top? I've even got a roll of that here..............somewhere. Barn maybe?

Ok, as for the ducks, when I put the waterer in there, I put one of the round ones and I put marbles in it so they can't get into the water dish. Does that change it or do you think it would be better to go ahead and just separate them now and be done with it? They'll be back in the same pen later on when they're older. I do have a smaller box that a bag of dog food was delivered in. I could always set that up with the same painters plastic sheeting I guess. I just worry about them because I'd only planned on getting a few ducks. Want to make sure they'll be able to keep each other warm enough with the lamp.

 

[kuntrygirl]

What "white cheap shower board stuff"? Is it slippery?


All birds like chickens, turkeys, peas, guineas are "ok" when brooding them together but waterfowl would not be ok because waterfowl love getting wet and splashing water and that could turn into a mess and possible deaths if a bird got wet and cold not dry off/warm up. For me, I feed my turkeys, guineas and pea chicks a higher protein feed (30% protein) that would be too high for chickens, so I tend to sometimes separate those breeds.


As far as brooding boxes, I always go the cheap route and that means putting my thinking cap on and finding recycled materials to "make it work". I am VERY frugal (CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP) and I am not trying to make Lowe's, Home Depot and all of those other companies rich. I"M trying to make ME rich by keeping my money in my pocket. I look for recycled materials (Craigslist) for all of my building supplies. Nothing wrong with people spending money on building materials. That's not for me.

Yeh, it is slippery which was a concern.  Was hoping that I could put the hay / straw in there nice and deep so they wouldn't slip.  Or maybe line the bottom of it with that rubbery type liner for kitchen cabinets?

I'm the same.  I'm trying to think of what we have here that I can use.  The box is huge which is what I was trying to find a way to use it.  Maybe I could just put in some of the plastic painters sheeting and tape it along the top?  I've even got a roll of that here..............somewhere.  Barn maybe?

Ok, as for the ducks, when I put the waterer in there, I put one of the round ones and I put marbles in it so they can't get into the water dish.  Does that change it or do you think it would be better to go ahead and just separate them now and be done with it?  They'll be back in the same pen later on when they're older.  I do have a smaller box that a bag of dog food was delivered in.  I could always set that up with the same painters plastic sheeting I guess.  I just worry about them because I'd only planned on getting a few ducks.  Want to make sure they'll be able to keep each other warm enough with the lamp.  

I would be very hesitant about putting that slippery surface down. If you could fully cover it where they would not be able to walk on it, that we be ok. I use the rubber liner pads and they are great. And very easy to clean and re-use and it stays in place at all times.

I have brooded ducks and chickens together and really no problem. I just like to throw that out there for people who have done that before.

 

[mrs1885]

Ok thanks.

The plastic is probably less slick. And I don't have to buy it. So I'll go with that. I'll try them all together at first, but at least if a problem comes up there's a back up plan with the other box. I've actually got two of those boxes so I can put the Seramas in one of them.

 

[aoxa]

Thanks for that Kuntrygirl

I have what.. 5-6 broody Silkies right now. I'm wondering if a small bird could handle a big egg.. I have 7 eggs.. I could TRY it.

But the thing is, he's taking it back after they hatch.. I am a sap. I'd feel so guilty for taking a baby away from mom and leaving her with nothing.. I guess I'd have to swap out.

I must have hatched 100 chicks today. I had to help quite a few out because I was bad and kept opening the incubator to remove chicks because it was so crowded. Had quite a few shrink wrapped.

 

[chickeemama]

Thanks for that Kuntrygirl

I have what.. 5-6 broody Silkies right now. I'm wondering if a small bird could handle a big egg.. I have 7 eggs.. I could TRY it.

But the thing is, he's taking it back after they hatch.. I am a sap. I'd feel so guilty for taking a baby away from mom and leaving her with nothing.. I guess I'd have to swap out.

I must have hatched 100 chicks today. I had to help quite a few out because I was bad and kept opening the incubator to remove chicks because it was so crowded. Had quite a few shrink wrapped.

I love to hear somebody else does this (even though we know better) I just can't help but help some of them out sometimes! I did split hatches in the same incubator last year and seriously decreased my hatch rates. I am going back to hatching everything at once, thorough cleaning, then new set this year.
Just wanted to add - my original brooder, that I still use, and old deep freeze that quit working, we took the lid off, I add pine bedding and it works great for a couple of weeks for most any kind of chick. Saving grace one year, I had 10 turkey poults in there and we lost electricity for 2 hours. The insulation in a freezer is wonderful to keep heat in, I covered it and they were fine until the juice came back on. I usually keep it open for the ventilation/ screen on the top of it when the chicks start getting wise enough to jump up. It is also great because you don't have to worry about drafts, also cleans up very easily between babies, it is in my very un-fancy basement. I have brooded many chicks down there.

 

[aoxa]

I love to hear somebody else does this (even though we know better) I just can't help but help some of them out sometimes! I did split hatches in the same incubator last year and seriously decreased my hatch rates. I am going back to hatching everything at once, thorough cleaning, then new set this year.
Just wanted to add - my original brooder, that I still use, and old deep freeze that quit working, we took the lid off, I add pine bedding and it works great for a couple of weeks for most any kind of chick. Saving grace one year, I had 10 turkey poults in there and we lost electricity for 2 hours. The insulation in a freezer is wonderful to keep heat in, I covered it and they were fine until the juice came back on. I usually keep it open for the ventilation/ screen on the top of it when the chicks start getting wise enough to jump up. It is also great because you don't have to worry about drafts, also cleans up very easily between babies, it is in my very un-fancy basement. I have brooded many chicks down there.

I won't be adding that many eggs to the hatchers again. It was back to back. The chicks that had hatched had no leg room to stretch out, so I felt they needed to be removed before they developed splay leg. I did decrease my hatch rate because of it unfortunately. No more than 50 to an incubator next time.. I had 147 eggs split up between two Genesis incubators. Way too crowded! I have to do a final count.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Ok, so they won't be kept in the bedroom or anywhere near the kitchen................LOL I've got a den at the far end of the house that might be good for them. Actually since it's warming up I could probably put them in one of the unused upstairs bedrooms. Or even the other master on the other side of the house by the den. At least that way if they get out of their pen I don't have to worry about the dogs thinking they're toys.

Hmmmmmmmm................ Ok, now re-thinking this whole thing! I really should figure out a better set up then. The other bedroom on this floor I could open the windows and keep a fan going to keep the air moving really well. But then I'd worry about them getting a draft and being sick. I wonder if we can do a 4 foot by 4 foot plywood box and line the inside bottom and sides with that cheap white shower board stuff so it would be easy to clean? Just put down a layer of hay / straw for them to stand on. With the plywood and shower board we could attach food and water dishes to the side and bottom so they can't dump them. Maybe if we get those bird cage type feeders with the metal rings that you drop the dishes into? Then it would be easy to pull them out and wash them and refill.

Ok, lots of figure out this week!

For those that think they need to brood indoors, keep one thing in mind. Broody hens have been raising chicks outdoors in all sorts of extreme temperatures for hundreds of thousands of years - and they didn't go extinct.
They also don't have the means to raise the ambient temperature to 90 degrees F.
She provides a hot underbody for the chicks to warm up in and off they go into the cold again most of the day. Replicating that success, one can put the chicks right out in the coop if they have an appropriate heat source.


As you can see, the chicks opt for a cooler spot most of the day.



They also go off the nest and leave the chicks behind occasionally.
Healthy chicks even at a couple days of age aren't that fragile.







The next picture was the outside of the brooder house the day the previous picture was taken.

Im new to byc I was on a duck thread and they mentioned chickens are disease bags. a little bias probably but besides allergies are there any precautions I should be aware of being in close proximity?

Always wear a dust mask when things will be stirred up like cleaning out the coop or catching birds.

They can carry bacteria in their poop which can cause issues in immune compromised people. Don't eat their poop, wash your hands after you touch poop, and don't let your dogs eat it and lick your face.

Other than respiratory distress (on your part) from a build-up of dust or ammonia if you let it get wet and sit.. you should not have any issues.

Keeping it clean is all you need to do.

Good stuff. In fact, wash your hands after handling any animal or after gardening.

Probiotics in the chickens' feed/water will alleviate threats from some of the bad guys.

...

As far as brooding boxes, I always go the cheap route and that means putting my thinking cap on and finding recycled materials to "make it work". I am VERY frugal (CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP) and I am not trying to make Lowe's, Home Depot and all of those other companies rich. I"M trying to make ME rich by keeping my money in my pocket. I look for recycled materials (Craigslist) for all of my building supplies. Nothing wrong with people spending money on building materials. That's not for me.

I'm frugal too. This year I had to brood indoors for the first time since it was -10 outside.
The cheapest way to do so was to make Lowe's rich. $1.39 ea. for large packing cardboard boxes. I had 33 chicks and got 6 boxes, taped them together and cut little doors between them 2 boxes had heat emitters for lounging, 2 had water, 2 had food. Set food, water and grit up on bricks as they grew. It was a little over $8 for a brooder that was 12 foot X 18 inches. After assembling the boxes I cut 6 18"X24" pieces of cardboard to lay on the bottom of the boxes before the shavings went in. I didn't know how long they'd have to stay inside so I wanted to be able to clean them out completely.

 

[aoxa]

For those that think they need to brood indoors, keep one thing in mind. Broody hens have been raising chicks outdoors in all sorts of extreme temperatures for hundreds of thousands of years - and they didn't go extinct.
They also don't have the means to raise the ambient temperature to 90 degrees F.
She provides a hot underbody for the chicks to warm up in and off they go into the cold again most of the day. Replicating that success, one can put the chicks right out in the coop if they have an appropriate heat source.


As you can see, the chicks opt for a cooler spot most of the day.



They also go off the nest and leave the chicks behind occasionally.
Healthy chicks even at a couple days of age aren't that fragile.







The next picture was the outside of the brooder house the day the previous picture was taken.



Always wear a dust mask when things will be stirred up like cleaning out the coop or catching birds.

Good stuff. In fact, wash your hands after handling any animal or after gardening.

Probiotics in the chickens' feed/water will alleviate threats from some of the bad guys.


I'm frugal too. This year I had to brood indoors for the first time since it was -10 outside.
The cheapest way to do so was to make Lowe's rich. $1.39 ea. for large packing cardboard boxes. I had 33 chicks and got 6 boxes, taped them together and cut little doors between them 2 boxes had heat emitters for lounging, 2 had water, 2 had food. Set food, water and grit up on bricks as they grew. It was a little over $8 for a brooder that was 12 foot X 18 inches. After assembling the boxes I cut 6 18"X24" pieces of cardboard to lay on the bottom of the boxes before the shavings went in. I didn't know how long they'd have to stay inside so I wanted to be able to clean them out completely.

Totally agree with the cold brooding, however my EcoGlows need an ambient temp of 50F to run properly. I can only do that in one area of the barn - and I'm at capacity. I ran out of breeding pens and took over the brooders lol. I am creating another brooder shortly in the barn.

Yes - washing hands after handling livestock is a good practice, but after any animal? I don't. My dogs are always touching me so my hands would fall off if I washed them after every time I pet them.