First Hatch due to start tomorrow.

[scawthon74]

Ok everyone, our hatch has finally finished. We had 11 of 14 hatch. Unfortunately, we lost one. The other 10 are doing great. Thank you to everyone here. Your help is greatly appreciated.

 

[oregonkat]

Excellent hatch rate for your first hatch. Well done. Sorry about the one that drowned but sometimes it is best for the weakest to be removed early. Enjoy your beautiful little ones. They grow extremely fast so enjoy every moment!!

 

[oregonkat]

In looking at your feed/water situation, I strongly suggest that you buy a waterer and feeder designed for poultry. Chicks are very, very messy and their water will become dirty within moments and they MUST have constant access to fresh, clean water and chick feed. I recommend putting the water up on a platform, I use a piece of plywood that is at one end of the brooder and sitting on the wood chips so the chicks cannot kick up the chicks into the water. Within a day or so, you will see what I mean about the messiness. The feeder will also help in keeping a constant supply of feed for them.

 

[oregonkat]

kick up the chicks

That's 'kick up the chips', sorry, a case of fat finger

 

[scawthon74]

So how long should they stay in the brooder? We are having to keep them in the house because it's been so hot here, we cant control the temp out in the coop.

 

[oregonkat]

So how long should they stay in the brooder? We are having to keep them in the house because it's been so hot here, we cant control the temp out in the coop.

A couple of questions here:
Are these new chicks the beginning of your chicken keeping adventure or do you already own chickens?
What is your coop situation? Is there a separate place for the chicks to be kept away from the older hens but still in view so they can get to know each other?
Usually, especially when the weather is in spring/summer cycle, the chicks need only be kept in the brooder about 3 weeks. As long as they have a shaded, cooler place to be, shaded fresh water and feed they will be fine to be outside.

 

[scawthon74]

A couple of questions here:
Are these new chicks the beginning of your chicken keeping adventure or do you already own chickens?
What is your coop situation? Is there a separate place for the chicks to be kept away from the older hens but still in view so they can get to know each other?
Usually, especially when the weather is in spring/summer cycle, the chicks need only be kept in the brooder about 3 weeks. As long as they have a shaded, cooler place to be, shaded fresh water and feed they will be fine to be outside.

I do already have 24 hens. I have a coop plenty large enough, but have Guinea keets in my chicken tractor until I can turn them out or put them in with my chickens. I have a feed room in my coop, but I dont have a brooder set up in there yet. The setup I have is too big for the feed room.

My coop is 8'x8'x6' and feed room is 4'x8'x6'. Trying to get my run finished as we speak.

 

[scawthon74]

New question:
We have 5 Guinea meets that are about 5 weeks old. Is it ok to put our chicks in with them?

 

[scawthon74]

Well our chicks are about a week old now and doing great. Thank you to everyone for all of the input and advice.

My wife started a second round yesterday, hopefully it goes as good or better than the first one.

 

[scawthon74]

Here are a couple of pics of our chicks from the first hatch.