Chick raising methods

[mc79]

Just wanted to get some opinions on the different methods with which chicks are raised. I've had chicks hatched and raised by a broody hen, and I've raised chicks in a brooder without a hen. I see pros and cons to each.

With a broody hen, I like that you don't have to use a heat lamp. Even though my heat lamp is secured like Ft. Knox, there's always that little paranoia in the back of my mind that my house is going to burn down while I'm at work...LOL. I also like to watch the proud momma teach her little ones how to forage and do other basic chicken stuff. It's also funny to watch the babies jump on her back and ride her like a horse! On the negative side (from my own personal experience), I find that chicks raised this way are far more standoff-ish towards humans. Regardless of breed, they have always been much more flighty around people, which is kind of disappointing when you want to interact and spend time with them.

The chicks I've raised without a momma seem much more connected to their human parents, which is great for people who tend to interact more with their flock. The negatives would be the heat lamp, as mentioned earlier. Also, I find it much harder and more stressful to introduce these chicks into an existing flock, as they don't have an overprotective momma to keep them safe from bullies.

What are your preferences/experiences/opinions?

 

[Mrs. K]

I too have done it both ways. The stand-offishness does not bother me, I just like to watch them. I do think that chicks raised with a broody hen are much more active, and cover a lot more area than brooder raised chicks. My current ones being raised by a broody hen are 3 weeks, and flying up on roosts and platforms 2-3 feet above the ground. I am confident they will be roosting soon.

However, it does not always work to the plan, getting a broody hen. The last two times I raised chicks, I did it much differently than the first few times. I only used the heat lamp in the small set up in the garage. And I did not use a heat lamp at night. I used a wooly hen, basically an insulated box, that chicks could get into and out of themselves. It was dark at night, and they slept.

They went out to the coop/run at 3 weeks with the wooly hen and no heat lamp, and next time, they will go even sooner. They were placed in a safety zone, that they could leave and return to at will. They were timid at first, but within days, they were getting braver and braver out mixing with the layers, in a week, I took out the safety zone. They didn't need it. I still have multiple feed stations, and hideouts in my run.

These chicks too were standoffish, that is ok by me, they were much more active and athletic. They were a subflock, but totally accepted by the flock. They roosted with the girls by week 5.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

 

[Rysktal]

I've also done it a few ways.

In a perfect situation, I would have a broody raise all the chicks, when that works out it's so much easier and the chicks seem much smarter/predator savy.

This year I got 20+ chicks from a hatchery and hatched 20+ chicks via incubator and both times the chicks were set up in the coop almost right away...by 2 weeks I had them set up in a look but can't touch brooder and my first batch easily integrated with my mature flock at 5 weeks.

Hoping my second batch integrates just as easily!

Next year if hatching via broody doesn't work out, I think I will try a look but can't touch set up from the beginning, with a heating pad instead of a heat lamp.

 

[mc79]

In the brooder I have going right now, I replaced my normal heat lamp bulb with a ceramic one (puts out heat only...no light). That way the chicks don't have a light in their eyes 24/7. They get natural sunlight through the windows during the day, and dark at night, all the while still getting heat from the heat lamp.

 

[aart]

A 'pro' for incubation is you can make it happen when you want(kinda-still have to have those eggs), which is important in my scenario of hatching replacement layers every year. I let a broody hatch in March this year, and still incubated in April/May, was a PITA to have 2 age groups of chicks even tho mama integrated hers.

Next year if hatching via broody doesn't work out, I think I will try a look but can't touch set up from the beginning, with a heating pad instead of a heat lamp.

I have done this now for the last 3 years, it works great. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
I love my pad heater, but it does have capacity issues compared to a lamp...and I've found ceramic 'bulbs' to have lousy heat distribution(too hot in center of the circle of heat and cooling too quickly out towards edges).

 

[bobbi-j]

I have hatched, bought chicks, and had broody raised chicks. I agree with Mrs. K that the broody raised chicks seem to "get it" earlier. They roost sooner, seem more alert, and are integrated into the flock with less drama. I don't raise my chickens to be pets, so this is my preferred method to raising chicks.

This year I tried the heating pad brooder. I will not go back to heat lamps. My chicks seemed healthier, roosted sooner, and spent a surprising amount of time not under the pads, even though I got them in April. We had a few nights get down in the 20's and all was well. I bought two heating pads to cover all the chicks I bought.

 

[Mrs. K]

I had equally good luck with wooly hens, an insulated box. No electricity needed at all.

 

[RWise]

I have to try the wooly hen,,,
I luv to watch a good hen with her chicks, but my girls dont go broody often. IF I have the eggs I will let one set. OK there are some I will not let set a second time, not all are good mothers.

I want chicks when I want them so I use an incubator, indoor. When the chicks hatch, at 2-3 DO they go to an outdoor broodhouse, in full site of the flock. The girls come and visit them, set near them, but no touch at this point. They stay in the broodhouse until they are 5 weeks old, by this time they are roosting, and more alert to cats/etc.. At 5 weeks they are moved to the main coop at night (and watched the next morning).
I set up areas just outside the coop with extra water, and food. The chicks have food surrounded by 3x3 wire to keep the big girls out, (may need to be covered). The chicks pass through the 3x3 wire with ease. Many hiding places to escape that 9 YO dominate hen! She eats first period!
My third batch this year will go to the coop this weekend.
My rooster feeds the little ones, I just dont have any issues with this system,,
Good luck to all!

 

[Mrs. K]

The advantage of the broody hen. Yesterday when I got home from work, I went down and the broody hen was roosting in the run with chicks beside her. As I watched, they flew down, and then ran around the run, and jumped/flew up on all the roosts and platforms several feet off the ground. They just reminded me of kids on a playground.

They are 23 days old. I bet they roosted with their mother and the flock last night.

Mrs K

 

[mixedbreeds]

I tried something different this year I had a broody BCM and made her a nest box in a dog crate inside the coop with the other 4 hens and a Roo. At 4 weeks I let the broody out of the cage and left babies inside. It went well she could still be close to her babies she and the chicks have done very well with this and they are now 2 1/2 months old not near as flighty as normal broody raised chicks but with all the benefits. So far so good.