Brooder Review: does this look ok?

[InvertGang]

Speaking from experience, I would advise against this for many reasons, but it can be very detrimental to chicks, causing dehydration. The brooder plate is enough.

The guide from the hatchery said they're very delicate and need a consistent, warm temperature of 92f or so or they can die really quickly. We've been erring on the warm side as a result.

We've been trying to base the temperature on their behaviour. When we got them they were all huddled under the plate and wouldn't come out until we raised the room temperature to 85. Then they started coming out and eating and drinking. Since then, we've lowered the temperature to around 80F in the room and they're still coming out and eating and drinking and stuff.

We're trying to adjust it so roughly half are roaming around and roughly half are under the plate when we check on them.

 

[DowntownWings]

The guide from the hatchery said they're very delicate and need a consistent, warm temperature of 92f or so or they can die really quickly. We've been erring on the warm side as a result.

We've been trying to base the temperature on their behaviour. When we got them they were all huddled under the plate and wouldn't come out until we raised the room temperature to 85. Then they started coming out and eating and drinking. Since then, we've lowered the temperature to around 80F in the room and they're still coming out and eating and drinking and stuff.

We're trying to adjust it so roughly half are roaming around and roughly half are under the plate when we check on them.

If they were in a coop under a broody hen they would just go back under her when they need to warm up. I don’t know what hatchery you got them from but I think they worded that poorly. If chicks needed a uniform temp of 90° hens wouldn’t brood them in the early spring or fall. If you aren’t having health issues or lots of pasty butts it’s probably fine but definitely not necessary.

 

[InvertGang]

If they were in a coop under a broody hen they would just go back under her when they need to warm up. I don’t know what hatchery you got them from but I think they worded that poorly. If chicks needed a uniform temp of 90° hens wouldn’t brood them in the early spring or fall. If you aren’t having health issues or lots of pasty butts it’s probably fine but definitely not necessary.

They said that only about this breed. The rest of the chicks they say are more hardy, but specifically the Cornish crosses like to suddenly die. I think because they're an industrially focused hybrid? A bit unnatural at least.

 

[DowntownWings]

They said that only about this breed. The rest of the chicks they say are more hardy, but specifically the Cornish crosses like to suddenly die. I think because they're an industrially focused hybrid? A bit unnatural at least.

Yeah you might be right. I have never raised meat birds. Like I said if you have had no health issues with it you are doing something right.

 

[InvertGang]

They got the shavings only 2 hours ago and there's already so much poop.


A couple this morning had "messy" butts. Not fully covered or hardened, but some feathers with poop on them near their cloaca. We dabbed them off with warm damp paper towel and it came off, I don't think it was fully set or present pasty butt.

I love how they flop everywhere. These guys look like a crime scene, all we need are the white chalk outlines.

They're so much bigger now! Even since we got them on Tuesday.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Yes! Murder scenes! Somewhere in the "chicken is not dead" I have a photo of our Inmates lol