Does brooding chicks take alot of work or time? i have never brooded chicks and mine are coming to a friend who will keep them till six weeks old. should i or shouldn't i??
I don't think it does. You put them in the enclosure, food and water, heat..pretty much it. Plus, that is their cutest age!!
At 6 weeks they can go into the coop with a heat lamp as long as you don't have any adults in there already. My Delawares are 4 weeks old and I will be putting them in a sectioned off part of the coop where my RIR hens can see, but not get to them in a couple weeks. I personally don't enjoy the brooding process. Well actually, I lie. I do enjoy the brooding process with my one 2 week old silkie, but she's so super sweet and calm it would be impossible not to. I did have 2 silkies, but one died a few days ago. The Delawares...I cannot wait to kick their butts out of the brooder. I have had them for 2 weeks (they are 4 weeks old) and as of a week ago they have turned into obnoxious, flighty, messy children. I have been spending lots of time with them trying to make sure they don't get all anti-social on me, but I must have done something wrong. Or maybe they're just going through their teenage faze. Either way it's not enjoyable brooding them anymore, but I'm still doing it and still making them put up with me handling them. I did want to get some EEs, but I don't think that'll be happening unless I can find pullets I can put straight into the coop. Sorry to ramble on, but I thought my little experience as a first timer may give you some insight. I could just be doing it all wrong and it really is very enjoyable, or maybe it's like pregnancy and childbirth for some people and they just forget the misery it caused. I hope that's the case because I really want those EEs. lol To answer your question it really doesn't take a lot of work or time, but it may take more for you (like me) because as a first timer it's a bit stressful and I do way more than I need to or don't figure things out as fast. I'm not enjoying it too much right now, but it is definitely a learning experience and I'm glad I'm doing it. I think everybody should brood chicks at least once.
