Fall chick raising

[MnMPoultry]

I raise chicks all year 'round here in Central Indiana. They feather out in a brooder in a heated garage, then get moved to an inside pen in the main chicken house. It can get pretty cold here and they do just fine.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I have 1 week old red and black broilers from Ideal poultry. We lost a few in shipping, it took 3 days to get them to SW Ohio from TX.Not sure I'll order from there again, just because of the distance. Anyway, I have to share a picture of the brooder we found at a local poultry supply shop. its made of sheet metal on the outside, has a light on the inside, a window and a heating element and a thermostat. It works GREAT so far.... the temp dipped to upper 30's the other night, and everyone stayed warm and toasty.

I also ordered from ideal poultry, I am in MO so hopefully they will not take as long as it did for you. I love your brooder it is excellent. I am fashioning one myself gotta get the wheels turning and gather unused items around here and get one fixed up my chicks come next week..

 

[KnobbyOaks]

I have had my Australorps for 1 weeks now and got them from Ideal. vwright, I'm really sorry you lost some birds in shipping. I am lucky to live close to Ideal so I could take an hour and run up and get them myself. 3 days seems excessive but what do I know, this is my first time to own chickens so I'm learning a lot in a short period of time.

I do plan to put my babies out in the coop when they are 8 weeks, transitioning them during nice days beginning this weekend, assuming we don't get the rain we're predicted to get. I have them in a 50-gal Sterlite storage tub in the house and it works great as a brooder with a hardware cloth top molded around the edges and a red light above it. That's a nice brooder set up you have there. I can tell you I have struggled with what kind of heating element to use and how to control the heat. I think I've finally gotten it figured out. They appear to be happy, eating and pooping a lot.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Well mine are shipping out oct 3rd cant wait hope all goes well in shipping for mine. I like the tub idea I also was thinking of using a small kiddie pool. I have so much planning to do.

 

[ldomerese]

i just hatched out 2 backyard mix andmy silkie hen just hatched out 2 mixs and 2 silkies hopefully they will lay by april

 

[KnobbyOaks]

I like the tub idea I also was thinking of using a small kiddie pool. I have so much planning to do.

I bought a kiddie pool last year when I first started to plan to get chickens but the pool wound up being used for other things. Ha! I think the pool would be useful if you have a large number of chicks where the storage tub is only good for a small number or a short period of time while they are small.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I bought a kiddie pool last year when I first started to plan to get chickens but the pool wound up being used for other things. Ha! I think the pool would be useful if you have a large number of chicks where the storage tub is only good for a small number or a short period of time while they are small.

Lol funny how things we buy with intended purposes end up being used for other things. I think the pool idea is going to work for me. My pool is just one used for the turkeys to play in during the summer, so I am sure they wont mind me borrowing it.

i just hatched out 2 backyard mix andmy silkie hen just hatched out 2 mixs and 2 silkies hopefully they will lay by april

Congrta on the new chicks.

 

[KnobbyOaks]

Lol funny how things we buy with intended purposes end up being used for other things. I think the pool idea is going to work for me. My pool is just one used for the turkeys to play in during the summer, so I am sure they wont mind me borrowing it.

Firm believer in multi-use of existing items and those turkeys can have it back next summer and never know the difference. My kiddie pool use however wound up having holes poked in the bottom to drain and I'm still using it for its new-found purpose. I used the hardware cloth that I was intending on surrounding the pool on the top of the tub, so nothing has gone to waste.

Keep us posted on your new chicks, that's only next week. Anticipation....

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I use everything for something too. If I see a future purpose for it I keep it, yea it produces clutter

But I see those things get used. I dont like to waste something, if I cant use it I ask around to see if anyone else wants it. I am very excited and yes the anticipation is killing me. It is going to be a VERY long week

You all are gonna kick me off of here before they get here lol just kidding. I will for sure post pics when they come. Except for the RIR these breeds are new to me. I love adding new breeds.

 

[PaPa Charlie]

We got our chicks on Sept. 1 from Murray McMurry. All arrived well and are growing so fast. Lots of fun to watch! Here is a picture that I took this morning; "First day in the coop".



My wife had the good idea to put the brooder feeder and waterer in the coop so the chicks would feel more at home.

Charlie