Lots of Brooder Questions!!!

[black_cat]

I strongly recommend coop first. Then chicks.

Don't worry, there won't be any chicks coming until there's a coop.

 

[black_cat]

Ok, after looking over my coop plans and indoor spaces again, I've decided to brood in coop. They still need all the same care and such, yes? How do you integrate them after brooding in coop? Make a hole in the HC small enough that they can get in and out, but the big chickens can't? I'm planning to block off about 14 square feet of space, all is located under a poop board and in 2 of 6 nesting boxes. Is blocking it off with HC a good idea? By 'cut a hole in the HC, I mean make a proper door. This would be for either four, five, or six chicks. How much space should they have when they're babies, so they don't wander away from the heat? I'll figure out a way to wire a heating plate. When can I start trying to integrate them? Should I transition the big girls to all flock for a while with OS on the side? How old can the chicks start using all flock? For this I mean while they're fully integrated, but the chicks aren't old enough for layer yet. Any other notes on brooding in coop?

 

[NatJ]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/

Those two articles have the answers to a lot of your questions.

They still need all the same care and such, yes?

Yes

How much space should they have when they're babies, so they don't wander away from the heat?

For the first two days, use something like a piece of cardboard to keep them within about 2-3 feet of the heat plate (let them go about two or three feet away in every direction. Only block off space if it is bigger than that.)

After the first two days, they should be fine with as much space as you can give them.

Should I transition the big girls to all flock for a while with OS on the side? How old can the chicks start using all flock? For this I mean while they're fully integrated, but the chicks aren't old enough for layer yet.

All flock can be fed to chicks from the first day, as long as the pieces are small enough for them to eat.

For the adult hens, transition them any time you like. You can do it when your current bag of layer feed runs out, or when you introduce the chicks, or any time in between.

You are right, the hens need oyster shell available when they are eating all flock. (Having oyster shell available while they are eating layer feed is fine too, and is often a good idea.)

 

[black_cat]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/

Those two articles have the answers to a lot of your questions.


Yes



For the first two days, use something like a piece of cardboard to keep them within about 2-3 feet of the heat plate (let them go about two or three feet away in every direction. Only block off space if it is bigger than that.)

After the first two days, they should be fine with as much space as you can give them.



All flock can be fed to chicks from the first day, as long as the pieces are small enough for them to eat.

For the adult hens, transition them any time you like. You can do it when your current bag of layer feed runs out, or when you introduce the chicks, or any time in between.

You are right, the hens need oyster shell available when they are eating all flock. (Having oyster shell available while they are eating layer feed is fine too, and is often a good idea.)

Thank you! I will definitely check out these articles. Are the first two days also the days that they need paper towel between them and the shavings? Should I offer chick grit once I give access to the shavings, just in case? I think that once the chicks get off starter I will transition them to all flock. When you first get the chicks you have to dip their beaks in water and make sure they swallow, then put them under the heat plate? Am I understanding that properly? I'm super excited to get chicks, and I think that listening to what was said here and brooding in coop will be a good idea. That way I won't have a long and complicated integration process. The hens do have access to OS while on their layer.

 

[NatJ]

Are the first two days also the days that they need paper towel between them and the shavings? Should I offer chick grit once I give access to the shavings, just in case?

Yes and yes

I think that once the chicks get off starter I will transition them to all flock.

Why starter? That's the point of all flock feed: no starter, no grower, no layer. It works for all of them.

 

[black_cat]

Yes and yes



Why starter? That's the point of all flock feed: no starter, no grower, no layer. It works for all of them.

I don't know. I guess I just like the idea of them having starter first, or maybe starter mixed with all flock. I honestly have no idea what my logic is on that

 

[NatJ]

I don't know. I guess I just like the idea of them having starter first, or maybe starter mixed with all flock. I honestly have no idea what my logic is on that

You could feed starter to them all--it's perfectly fine for hens to eat.

(Starter and all flock are pretty much the same feed, just different labels on the bag.)

 

[black_cat]

You could feed starter to them all--it's perfectly fine for hens to eat.

(Starter and all flock are pretty much the same feed, just different labels on the bag.)

Oh, really? I didn't know that! I think that once I get the chicks, I will transition hens to all flock and start chicks on a mix of starter and all flock-I might want medicated starter, but I'm not sure yet. Then slowly take the starter out of their diet as I get closer to integration, and get them all back to layer once they start laying.

 

[NatJ]

start chicks on a mix of starter and all flock-I might want medicated starter, but I'm not sure yet.

If you buy medicated starter, do not mix it. Just feed it plain. (The medication will be the correct dose if they eat only that food, not if you mix it.)

I think that once I get the chicks, I will transition hens to all flock and start chicks on a mix of starter and all flock-I might want medicated starter, but I'm not sure yet. Then slowly take the starter out of their diet as I get closer to integration, and get them all back to layer once they start laying.

That is a lot of bother that you don't need to do, but if it makes you happy, it won't hurt the chickens (except, do not mix medicated feed with unmedicated, except for a few days of transition at the end.)

The basic rules for feeding chickens of any age:
a) feed needs to be in the right size pieces. Baby chicks cannot eat pellets, big chickens can eat any size.
b) do not feed layer feed to chicks, because of the calcium content
c) be sure birds get enough protein, but extra protein is fine
d) any "complete" chicken feed can be fed to any chicken, as long as if follows the points above
e) scratch grains are not a complete chicken feed

It looks like you're doing fine with all of that at present, but I think you're worrying too much about having the perfect feed for each stage.

As long as there is oyster shell for the hens, then you can feed all ages of chickens on starter, or on all flock, or on quite a few other "kinds" of chicken feed.

Really, most of the chicken feeds have almost identical recipes. The main differences are in calcium (layer feed) and protein (chicks need one amount, laying hens can survive with a bit less.)

 

[black_cat]

If you buy medicated starter, do not mix it. Just feed it plain. (The medication will be the correct does if they eat only that food, not if you mix it.)



That is a lot of bother that you don't need to do, but if it makes you happy, it won't hurt the chickens (except, do not mix medicated feed with unmedicated, except for a few days of transition at the end.)

The basic rules for feeding chickens of any age:
a) feed needs to be in the right size pieces. Baby chicks cannot eat pellets, big chickens can eat any size.
b) do not feed layer feed to chicks, because of the calcium content
c) be sure birds get enough protein, but extra protein is fine
d) any "complete" chicken feed can be fed to any chicken, as long as if follows the points above
e) scratch grains are not a complete chicken feed

It looks like you're doing fine with all of that at present, but I think you're worrying too much about having the perfect feed for each stage.

As long as there is oyster shell for the hens, then you can feed all ages of chickens on starter, or on all flock, or on quite a few other "kinds" of chicken feed.

Really, most of the chicken feeds have almost identical recipes. The main differences are in calcium (layer feed) and protein (chicks need one amount, laying hens can survive with a bit less.)

Ok, thank you! After looking at that it does probably make sense to just get going on all flock. (I know I can be a bit frustrating to work with, flip flopping my plans and opinions lol) I think that I will transition layers on to all flock and make sure that all flock is small enough for chicks to eat properly.