We ordered from Mt Healthy Hatchery last year and got 50 chicks. That was our first year. We had a 6 by 12 foot area and lost 9 birds.
When we called the hatchery they said that was way too big and the birds were getting chilled. They stated for 50 chicks they needed to be in a 2foot by 2 foot brooder for the first 10 days and they increase it a little at a time until they are 4 weeks old. I kid you not. I think we made it 2 weeks at this size until we increased it back to the 6foot by 12 foot for 41 birds and by the end they were in a approximately 30 by 30 foot enclosure outside until processing with a shelter for them to get out of the weather. They did very well. This year we are going to have a rotating brooder so that we can move the chicks to different areas when we need to clean the one they are in. It's a great idea. I do have to agree though that meaties smell much worse than egg layers.
When we called the hatchery they said that was way too big and the birds were getting chilled. They stated for 50 chicks they needed to be in a 2foot by 2 foot brooder for the first 10 days and they increase it a little at a time until they are 4 weeks old. I kid you not. I think we made it 2 weeks at this size until we increased it back to the 6foot by 12 foot for 41 birds and by the end they were in a approximately 30 by 30 foot enclosure outside until processing with a shelter for them to get out of the weather. They did very well. This year we are going to have a rotating brooder so that we can move the chicks to different areas when we need to clean the one they are in. It's a great idea. I do have to agree though that meaties smell much worse than egg layers.
