Help with raising baby chicks

[Cleetus777]

Hello All,

This is my second post on this forum and I have a few questions.

1.) I live in Southern Louisiana, so it doesn't get too too cold here. (Low has been 34 degrees all winter) when it heats up in March/April I would like to start raising baby chicks from my fertilized eggs. After a few weeks, since it would be so warm anyway (Highs of 100 in summer) can they just be put out into the coop after the flock gets used to them?

2.) What a cheaper but good and sturdy incubator?

3.) Any tips for a first time baby chick raiser?

TIA!

 

[cavemanrich]

Let me tackle these questions..

can they just be put out into the coop after the flock gets used to them?

Not really if they are incubator hatched/ raised, and still small. When they are 4 to 6 weeks old, then it is much safer. Depending on your circumstances,, (size of chicken coop/run,, type of chickens you raise,,) If you have a broody chicken raise them, remember that the broody is the one tricked into thinking she incubated the chicks, then it is fine to let the chicks grow up in the coop/run. Broody mom protects her chicks. We can let you know how to do this/


What a cheaper but good and sturdy incubator?

Cheaper is not always better in the long run. The Nurture 360 seems to be a common well liked and not overpriced.

Ask anything else you need to know. That is the reason this BYC exists. To help those with questions..

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[EverV]

Hello All,

This is my second post on this forum and I have a few questions.

1.) I live in Southern Louisiana, so it doesn't get too too cold here. (Low has been 34 degrees all winter) when it heats up in March/April I would like to start raising baby chicks from my fertilized eggs. After a few weeks, since it would be so warm anyway (Highs of 100 in summer) can they just be put out into the coop after the flock gets used to them?

2.) What a cheaper but good and sturdy incubator?

3.) Any tips for a first time baby chick raiser?

TIA!

Okay, here's my 2 cents. I agree with @cavemanrich for the first one. You should wait until they're over 1/2 the size of your existing flock unless you trick a currently broody hen into thinking they're hers (we can tell you how do do this if you want). Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a super cheap good quality incubator on the market. You'll hear a lot on here about 'yellow topped chinabators'. Basically, these are the $30 ones you'll find on Etsy. While the price is appealing, it's highly doubtful you'll get a good hatch-often these won't hold a steady temperature and/or humidity level. I've never used an incubator, but the Harris Farms Nurture Right 360 is super popular on here. And as for tips, make sure you have clean rocks/marbles in the bottom of the waterer for the first couple of days so they don't drown, and, most of all, have fun!

 

[MissMonty]

I'll put my answers in blue!

1.) I live in Southern Louisiana, so it doesn't get too too cold here. (Low has been 34 degrees all winter) when it heats up in March/April I would like to start raising baby chicks from my fertilized eggs. After a few weeks, since it would be so warm anyway (Highs of 100 in summer) can they just be put out into the coop after the flock gets used to them?

There are a few problems with this. The chicks need their feathers to regulate their body temp. In a brooder they do this by getting closer or moving further away from the heat source depending on what they need. Secondly the adult birds can hurt them, its not like a mom will be out there to run the other birds off. All flocks have a pecking order and the chicks will be held to that same expectation so the top hens will likely pick on them and possibly kill/injure them.

If you have a broody hen and she hatches out the eggs that's a different story.

2.) What a cheaper but good and sturdy incubator?

I love my Nurture Right 360. I got mine on amazon but my understanding is most farm stores have them. My only complaint is it only holds 22 eggs, for most people that is perfectly fine. Doesn't stop me tho, I have 29 in it right now anyways but I'm not using it according to the instructions at this point

3.) Any tips for a first time baby chick raiser?

Have you ever had chicks at all? The biggest thing is providing them a safe place to grow up. Heat source, most prefer heat plates, and food/water. I personally keep mine in a big livestock water trough like they do at farm stores and since I live in Ohio and it gets REALLY cold right now I have them in my laundry room to avoid the super cold weather.

 

[Cleetus777]

Let me tackle these questions..

can they just be put out into the coop after the flock gets used to them?

Not really if they are incubator hatched/ raised, and still small. When they are 4 to 6 weeks old, then it is much safer. Depending on your circumstances,, (size of chicken coop/run,, type of chickens you raise,,) If you have a broody chicken raise them, remember that the broody is the one tricked into thinking she incubated the chicks, then it is fine to let the chicks grow up in the coop/run. Broody mom protects her chicks. We can let you know how to do this/


What a cheaper but good and sturdy incubator?

Cheaper is not always better in the long run. The Nurture 360 seems to be a common well liked and not overpriced.

Ask anything else you need to know. That is the reason this BYC exists. To help those with questions..

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

Yeah I definitely meant after a few weeks! I guess I’ve just seen a lot of people asking about the cold with chicks, and I had no idea if the heat would affect them the same way?

I’ve seen the Nurture 360. Guess I’ll just have to save up! $150 isn’t terrible but I don’t have that money to splurge right now

 

[Cleetus777]

I'll put my answers in blue!

1.) I live in Southern Louisiana, so it doesn't get too too cold here. (Low has been 34 degrees all winter) when it heats up in March/April I would like to start raising baby chicks from my fertilized eggs. After a few weeks, since it would be so warm anyway (Highs of 100 in summer) can they just be put out into the coop after the flock gets used to them?

There are a few problems with this. The chicks need their feathers to regulate their body temp. In a brooder they do this by getting closer or moving further away from the heat source depending on what they need. Secondly the adult birds can hurt them, its not like a mom will be out there to run the other birds off. All flocks have a pecking order and the chicks will be held to that same expectation so the top hens will likely pick on them and possibly kill/injure them.

If you have a broody hen and she hatches out the eggs that's a different story.

2.) What a cheaper but good and sturdy incubator?

I love my Nurture Right 360. I got mine on amazon but my understanding is most farm stores have them. My only complaint is it only holds 22 eggs, for most people that is perfectly fine. Doesn't stop me tho, I have 29 in it right now anyways but I'm not using it according to the instructions at this point

3.) Any tips for a first time baby chick raiser?

Have you ever had chicks at all? The biggest thing is providing them a safe place to grow up. Heat source, most prefer heat plates, and food/water. I personally keep mine in a big livestock water trough like they do at farm stores and since I live in Ohio and it gets REALLY cold right now I have them in my laundry room to avoid the super cold weather.

I’ve never had chicks! In fact my current flock of 6 hens + 1 Roo is my first flock! I’ll probably be saving up for the Nuture, just don’t have that kind of liquid cash right now!

 

[WallyG74]

Welcome Cleetus! I’m from just up the highway a bit in Meridian. I have the NR360 also. I just started my first hatch with it. Best of luck with your hatching adventure.

 

[rosemarythyme]

After a few weeks, since it would be so warm anyway (Highs of 100 in summer) can they just be put out into the coop after the flock gets used to them?

As long as you slowly integrate them in with the existing flock, they can fully join the adults by 4 weeks or so, even without a mama hen. To do early integration you do need to pre-plan a bit for it - like I raise my chicks outdoors so they grow up in sight of the adults, and then over the course of a few weeks they get more and more access to the adults. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/short-on-time-recycle-a-prefab-brooder.73985/