First Annual Cinco de Mayo Turkey Hatchathon- Join us! Set Day: Easter

[Arielle]

You won't get criticism from me. I think that most brooding systems were designed to maximize the number of survivors. More profitable in the hatcheries. I'm ok with that, and I'm ok with your method.

THanks for the details, in Mass, I know I'm a bit milder than your area of Maine. Still get the bad weather, just not as cold as often.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I think the general thought of 95 degrees then reduce by 5 degrees a week is absurd. For the most part, you can watch your birds and see how comfortable they are. If they're huddled under the lamp, add more heat. If they're at the edges of the brooder and panting, reduce the heat. I make sure mine are comfortable, and they've pretty much told me that they're fine with no heat after about 2.5 weeks. I've taken the heat off as early as day 10 sometimes in the rare occasion when I brood in the summer, although it's still in my basement, which is more climate controlled and stays cooler than outside.

Honestly, I don't lose chicks. I've had to cull a few for deformities or otherwise unfit for survival and I've lost a few when broodies haven't protected their young, but I've lost nothing to cold.

I do recommend it - getting those babies outside quicker and into the flock is better for everyone.

I do have to admit it took me forever to get my ducklings outside this year, too. I did those for the New Years Hatch and was nervous about them being waterfowl (and thus wet all the time) plus not having a dry airtight coop like the chickens. If I ever do ducklings again, I won't worry about that once they're fully feathered. They're hardier than we think, too. Live and learn.

 

[dsqard]

SCG I am pretty sure both of my Black Spanish poults are boys because their snoods are so much more pronounced than the other poults. Not sure on my BR or the blue. I think they are both girls but the BS are maturing quicker than them so still waiting before I say that the other two are girls for sure.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

SCG I am pretty sure both of my Black Spanish poults are boys because their snoods are so much more pronounced than the other poults. Not sure on my BR or the blue. I think they are both girls but the BS are maturing quicker than them so still waiting before I say that the other two are girls for sure.

Those should give you some interesting crosses!

Or at least some more Lurkey crosses

 

[Wisher1000]

Okay, I agree with the hardiness of the chicks, I was wondering about the poults. I think it is possible that the two I had died because I allowed them out into the run (too early) with the chicks. They had feathers on their wings and backs but not on their heads, necks, bums and only partially on their chests. I don't remember exactly how old they were but both died within a week of one another and none of the chicks died. It could have been something else, but neither showed any sign of illness except slight lethargy the day before they died. I want to try again and I am prepared to keep them inside under a light as long as needed but I can't house them separately from the chickens. The weather here is hot and humid most of the time and our winters are usually mild with sporadic cold snaps that only last a week or less and involve temps in the 20's and 30's (with the rare dip to the teens.) Should I try in the fall or wait until spring?

 

[Arielle]

I think the general thought of 95 degrees then reduce by 5 degrees a week is absurd. For the most part, you can watch your birds and see how comfortable they are. If they're huddled under the lamp, add more heat. If they're at the edges of the brooder and panting, reduce the heat. I make sure mine are comfortable, and they've pretty much told me that they're fine with no heat after about 2.5 weeks. I've taken the heat off as early as day 10 sometimes in the rare occasion when I brood in the summer, although it's still in my basement, which is more climate controlled and stays cooler than outside.

Honestly, I don't lose chicks. I've had to cull a few for deformities or otherwise unfit for survival and I've lost a few when broodies haven't protected their young, but I've lost nothing to cold.

I do recommend it - getting those babies outside quicker and into the flock is better for everyone.

I do have to admit it took me forever to get my ducklings outside this year, too. I did those for the New Years Hatch and was nervous about them being waterfowl (and thus wet all the time) plus not having a dry airtight coop like the chickens. If I ever do ducklings again, I won't worry about that once they're fully feathered. They're hardier than we think, too. Live and learn.

I like to brood in a larger container where they can move to the heat or away, much easier than adjusting the lamp up and down. WHich I do have to do when when I have multiple brooders going.

Sorry, I didn't mean that you did lose chicks, rather, if any loses occurred it works out for the genetic best of the flock. Hatcheries are just managed different.

My first batch of chicks arrived early Feb and by the end of Mar I couldn't stand finding them in my kitchen. Put 2 heat lamp into a converted shed, and they shivered for about 3-4 nights. I know because I got up several times a night to check on them. THen 1 lamp for the rest of the winter.As y ou said, Live and learn.

Okay, I agree with the hardiness of the chicks, I was wondering about the poults. I think it is possible that the two I had died because I allowed them out into the run (too early) with the chicks. They had feathers on their wings and backs but not on their heads, necks, bums and only partially on their chests. I don't remember exactly how old they were but both died within a week of one another and none of the chicks died. It could have been something else, but neither showed any sign of illness except slight lethargy the day before they died. I want to try again and I am prepared to keep them inside under a light as long as needed but I can't house them separately from the chickens. The weather here is hot and humid most of the time and our winters are usually mild with sporadic cold snaps that only last a week or less and involve temps in the 20's and 30's (with the rare dip to the teens.) Should I try in the fall or wait until spring?

Poults need warmth longer. My hens didn't start laying until the first week after we started the hatch a thon. Can you incubate now???

 

[dsqard]

Those should give you some interesting crosses!

Or at least some more Lurkey crosses

SCG if they are both boys, their names are Fork and Knife. Get my drift?

I am only planning on keeping Tom since he is such a good tom and I only need one since even if "all" the others are girls that only leaves me with 4 hens including Lurkey.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I understand. I was kinda hoping I had 2 toms so I could not feel bad about eating them. If I had a pair, I'd of course have to breed them first before I ate Tom. But now I have two girls (most likely)... and I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I have a strict rule about eating girls.

I was looking forward to Tom versus Rooster, too. Although I believe my alpha roo, the speckled sussex, would take him on, I'd love to see my beta roo (showgirl) versus Tom!

 

[dsqard]

The Tom I have is kind of a push over but when he has had enough he lets them know. Your showgirl would probably be able to push him around for a bit and then Tom would start pecking him on his head until he got the message.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

So D when is the duck hatch a long? My girl lays an egg a day. I'd be able to send you a bunch of eggs!