Brooded Vs. Natural

[JohnBerry]

Hi,

I have 12 chicks and have them living in a well heated brooder just as all of the books say. My neighbor has a chicken that had chicks about 10 days ago. I see her leading them around his yard. The temperature this morning was around 70. Does this mean that chicks don't need to be at 90 degrees (and lowering each week)? Or does having a hen taking care of them add something that I am missing?

Can I take my chicks out for 15 minutes and let them play in an outside pen?

I have never pasted but I have learned a ton for this forum.

Many thanks!
John

 

[JesikaD01]

my only warning with taking yours out would be to make sure you are feeding them medicated feed. we were not feeding our medicated feed and started taking them out to play and 3 of them died from cocci that they get from the soil. also, despite being in a heated brooder they can get hot very fast,...but they will LOVE IT!

 

[AZ_HenHouse]

After reading all about how to raise chicks....I am shocked about how my broody raises her babies.

I am absolutely positive she has not read the manuals because she is doing it all wrong

However, I will have to say she raises very healthy, active and hardy babies

and her babies are much happier and independent than the ones I tried to raise

 

[peepmommy]

I usually let my chicks outside for a period of time when they are fully feathered. Remember, chicks with a broody have her to keep warm any time they want. You can take them out now since it's warm and sunny, but keep an eye on them. I usually have mine in a cage so I can catch them quickly when it is time to come in. I've done both. In fact, right now, I have a clutch of 3 week olds that mom is bringing up and 15 6 weekers that I brought up. I would prefer to let the hens do it!

 

[dretd]

Hi,

I have 12 chicks and have them living in a well heated brooder just as all of the books say. My neighbor has a chicken that had chicks about 10 days ago. I see her leading them around his yard. The temperature this morning was around 70. Does this mean that chicks don't need to be at 90 degrees (and lowering each week)? Or does having a hen taking care of them add something that I am missing?

Can I take my chicks out for 15 minutes and let them play in an outside pen?

I have never pasted but I have learned a ton for this forum.

Many thanks!
John

First of all

First post in 6 months--well done from someone who hardly ever posts!

I have always raised the babies in a brooder and if the weather was appropriate, taken them out for recess in the grass for play-time. I personally don't use medicated feed and have never had a problem, but I am from a fairly dry climate and I know other parts of the country absolutely need to use it so I would go by your climate and need.

The chicks are wearing little down jackets for insulation, so they will not chill down quickly unless it is windy or raining. In addition, they are generating internal heat with all of their running around and playing unlike when they are just hanging out in the brooder. At 70 degrees they will be fine for a good long romp.

I have a broody that I let sit a clutch of mixed eggs from the flock (she was so determined and I gave in). Three of them hatched and it is the cutest thing to watch them run around and follow her. Relatively speaking, they are developing faster than all of the batches I have hand-raised and I think it is due to all of the fresh air and exercise they are getting outside. They only bed up to mama hen at night, although they may jump on top of the mama jungle-jim when they are playing.

What breeds of chicks do you have and is this your first batch or have you been doing this a while?

 

[RonC]

You're right about mama providing for them. If the chicks get cold they go to and get under mama to warm back up. You should offer a warm area for them to go when chilled. Don't try to heat the whole brooder.Let them regulate their own body temperatures by moving closer of further from the heat.They can go out for "field trips". Just keep an eye on them not only to protect them from predators but make sure they aren't too cold.

 

[dainerra]

you will also find that chicks that are allowed to get out and about away from the brooder will feather out faster than those kept in a hot house environment. A broody hen doesn't do anything except provide a safe place for the chicks to warm up if they get too chilled. She will take them out rain or shine and they won't be any worse for wear. I put mine outside as early as possible. I make sure that they have a small space to go to get warm and that they aren't in any direct drafts/rain. Otherwise, they are out in the weather. They only make short trips inside in the very beginning. After a few days, they don't have any use for the lamp at all.

 

[JohnBerry]

Thanks for all of the replies. I never posted because a search found just about every answer to every question. Unlike my neighbors, who are all farmers, I am a city boy and am raising the chickens for eggs, experience, garden help, and because I just fell in love with my neighbors chickens. After I posted this I went and asked the question to my neighbors. They all said what all of you have said - Mom knows best and does it best. When we humans do her job we need to build in a big margin for error.

When we were trying to decide what breed to get we decided that they needed to be hardy for our area (Central Maine) and needed good personalities in general. We visited people with chickens, some we knew and some total strangers. We just stopped and watched peoples chickens. Many people gave us a lot of good advice. We ended up with a list and decided to get 6. 3 of two breeds. Then we expanded the list when we saw how little work more chickens would be. After a lot of back and forth we ended up with 2 each of 6 breeds. We liked each breed for one reason or another (looks, personality, etc). The final cut was Black Cochin, Buff Orpington, Ameraucana, Golden Laced Wyandotte, Black Australorp, Barred Plymouth Rock. We were actually going to get just 5 breeds but I made a mistake ordering and somehow the Black Australorps ended up in the order.

They all arrived happy and healthy. They have been here for 2 days. I have introduced them to my dog. Our dog usually barks at every animal sniffed them and watched them run around but she did not bark. I am going to handle them every day and get them accustomed to humans. I have a huge coop that was here when we bought the house last year. I am debating whether to let them have the run of the property or fence off an area for them (part of a small field and some wooded area). There is also going to be a pen area at the coop so we can leave and know they are safe.

Again, thanks for all of the great advice. Any suggestions or criticism welcome.

 

[AZ_HenHouse]

Enjoy your babies, they are lots of fun.