Sounds like quite a bit of work. Since we're doing Aussies for both meat and eggs, I'm content with or 50/50 odds.
On an unrelated side note, MrB and I built a larger brooder in the garage and moved our rapidly-growing babies out of the house... I put an inverted cardboard box in their giant new brooder in case they felt too exposed in their new home, and they are all huddled under it. Every time I go into the garage, they start screaming and trying to climb over each other to get farther back in the box, otherwise they are quiet,
The ambient garage temp hovers just under 70 degrees, and they, of course, have a brooder light within easy access. I doubt they are too cold. The garage temps they are experiencing are the same temps they experienced inside when the AC comes on at night.
Has the change in environment totally thrown them off? Should I remove the box to acclimate them more quickly? Or will that cause more stress? Granted, this is only Day 1 being the new brooder (we put them in last night), and I'm sure they will emerge eventually.... But the impatience..... THE IMPATIENCE!!!!!
MrsB