Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

Ohhhh, Charlotte's TSC has chicks!! Might be going back....

You know you want to.

 

[Folly's place]

Does Family Farm and Home have chicks this early? Another place to consider...
Mary

 

[gladahmae]

TSC by us has had chicks since last week, and FFH usually gets them a couple of weeks sooner than TSC, so it's pretty likely they have thme as well.

 

[RaZ]

FFH has them in Bad Axe.

 

[Folly's place]

Must be strong...
Mary

 

[gladahmae]

Wondering how more experienced folks think a hover brooder would do this time of year. I'm going to be working on fixing up my grow out coop this week and get a good size batch of chicks in it within the next 2 weeks hopefully. The outside walls are insulated, but there is an uninsulated interior wall. We get quite a bit of wind, and the entire coop is unheated, but does have electricity. I'm about at my limit with 10 chicks in the basement brooder. Planning on building it to fit the coop width so I don't have any chicks getting stuck behind or beside it. I think it's less than 3ft wide......

 

[aart]

Hover with lights?
How many chicks?
As long as wind is not allowed thru building, should be fine.

 

[gladahmae]

Yes with lights. Probably 25-40? Not set on numbers yet. I missed the shipping deadline for Meyer today or I'd have 30 in transit right now.

 

[gladahmae]

My tractor supply has heat plates on clearance....really tempting to buy one, but I don't know that I really need it for anything.

 

[aart]

Yes with lights. Probably 25-40? Not set on numbers yet.

Would be viable for large numbers like that.
I use a 12x24 DIY heating pad 'plate' but capacity is limited to about 16.
You'd have to search out how to build a hover,
choosing the right lights would be key.
Was a guy here @PD-Riverman that had a cool one,
maybe he'll come along and explain.