Fall chick raising

[maidenwolfx80]

Sounds so fun. My chick order comes this week and I cant wait.. I am setting up their bathtub brooder today and checking temps.

 

[debir1966]

We just got our last batch of 15 on Thursday. We have them outside in our horse trailer, in a brooder box, which we cover with a blanket at night to help keep the heat in and the drafts out, using a Brinsea EcoGlow for heat. They are doing great! When they outgrow the brooder box, we will keep them in the horse trailer until they are big enough to free-range. They are CornishX, so will be going to freezer camp sometime in November.
It is already chilly in the mornings here, in the upper 40's, but we are supposed to get a cold-snap mid-week, may even snow the first time! I am thinking about adding a red heat-lamp over the brooder, but my husband thinks they will be fine. They are sure doing fine right now, but if it gets down in the 30's, that is what I am worried about.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

We just got our last batch of 15 on Thursday. We have them outside in our horse trailer, in a brooder box, which we cover with a blanket at night to help keep the heat in and the drafts out, using a Brinsea EcoGlow for heat. They are doing great! When they outgrow the brooder box, we will keep them in the horse trailer until they are big enough to free-range. They are CornishX, so will be going to freezer camp sometime in November.
It is already chilly in the mornings here, in the upper 40's, but we are supposed to get a cold-snap mid-week, may even snow the first time! I am thinking about adding a red heat-lamp over the brooder, but my husband thinks they will be fine. They are sure doing fine right now, but if it gets down in the 30's, that is what I am worried about.

I am going to do some cornish next spring and raise alittle food for the freezer. Once I expand my project I want to start raising cornish x and hatching my own dinner but I am worried I will get too attached to the babies that I hatch ,,, gotta toughen up and just think of those as chicken fried steak and not fluffy chicks... I have a huge heart for animals ,I want to raise my own meat badly I just need to get over it I suppose.

 

[debir1966]

I am going to do some cornish next spring and raise alittle food for the freezer. Once I expand my project I want to start raising cornish x and hatching my own dinner but I am worried I will get too attached to the babies that I hatch ,,, gotta toughen up and just think of those as chicken fried steak and not fluffy chicks... I have a huge heart for animals ,I want to raise my own meat badly I just need to get over it I suppose.

I have the same goal. Most of my laying hens are dual-purpose. I kept one of the black broiler roos from our first batch of meat chickens this year, and also have a cornish roo-ling, and next year I am getting a Plymouth Rock roo, all 3 for the purpose of breeding my own meat birds.
I got 3 standard cochins and some silkies (4, hoping at least 2 are hens) for the sole purpose of brooding babies! If they are raising them, and not me, I will be less attached. I am even planning on ordering chicks to put under them when they go broody.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I have the same goal. Most of my laying hens are dual-purpose. I kept one of the black broiler roos from our first batch of meat chickens this year, and also have a cornish roo-ling, and next year I am getting a Plymouth Rock roo, all 3 for the purpose of breeding my own meat birds.
I got 3 standard cochins and some silkies (4, hoping at least 2 are hens) for the sole purpose of brooding babies! If they are raising them, and not me, I will be less attached. I am even planning on ordering chicks to put under them when they go broody.

Good luck I hope it goes well for you. I have a few I want to breed next season, I am in process of building a seperate breeding pen.

 

[karlamaria]

M chicks are doing great, gave 6 away and kept only 2 . There now 3 weeks old and out side every day, and it's cold here. I'm leaning on the side that the chicks do not need all that heat, my mama chick had them out on day three and there out all day rain or shine. It's also around 22 degree's at night and highs of around 44 to 50. There doing wonderful and if there pullets I will have eggs by February or March. This brings my count to ten girls, and if a broody goes broody by February or March ( my two buff orphingtons are always broody lol ) I will throw more eggs under them to rotate my flock since 3 are going to be 2 in March. The two buffs at broody more then they lay, one will be going by by as she is not the best mother, and will be replaced. Also an astrolorp having broodys have chicks is pretty cool, I do not have to raise them as the mama's do, and I can rotate my flock with ease.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Wow sounds great. I have kind of adopted that frame of mind as far as them spending time outside. I figure if they huddle together then they need warmth but so far they have been just fine. I will take advantage of every nice day we have left.

 

[ChaeBird]

Did your chicks arrive? We just got ours yesterday.






The brooder seems to be the right temp for them, as they are neither huddling under nor fleeing from the heat lamp. I love watching them, they're so cute!

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Yay chicks!! I have had mine since oct 4th, they are doing great. Their wings and tails are featerd and now working on the back and chest they are amazing

 

[ChaeBird]

They go through such an awkward adolescence.