Now their hatched, what next?

[RainbowMama]

I have a still air incubator which has about 18 eggs due to hatch in the next week. Can I remove the turner and leave the chicks in the bator as a brooder for the first week? I would of course put food and water inside as well. If so, what temp should they be kept in?

 

[Fishkeeper]

No, you cannot, there is nowhere near enough room and it would get filthy way too fast. You need a properly large brooder, with a good substrate, a heat source, and food and water. And you should be getting those things right now, so you can make sure everything is set up when they hatch. I'd read up on here about how to set up a brooder.

 

[BlueBaby]

I agree with @Fishkeeper There would not be enough room for them in there. Chick's can grow fast, and before that week would be up, they would be jumping around in there and trying out the wing feathers that would be coming in, and could burn themselves on the heater part of the incubator. Plus, some chick's would like it either warmer or cooler than others. Stuck in an incubator would not give them that option to move to a better spot in there for them. You will need to put them in a properly set up brooder. Good luck!

 

[Melky]

Brooder should be set up 24 hrs prior to chicks arrival so has time to regulate temp. Need thermometer in brooder as well. Temp should be 90-95 first week and wean by 5 degrees per week till at 65-70 degrees then off heat source. Ready to go out when fully feathered earliest 4-5 weeks of age.

 

[9876]

My chicks are 6 weeks old but outside temps are still cool.. low 40’sF at night . I have no heat source in the barn coop for them .

 

[50-45-1]

You can easily make a very eficient brooder at very little work and cost.
You will need lots of newspaper, a pretty good size carboard box, chick waterer and a low edge bowl or jar lid will work for chick feed. And of course a heat lamp.
With a razor blade cutter Cut the top flaps off the box, cut a square hole out of the bottom then a door in the front.
Layer lots (about 2 weeks worth )of newspaper on the floor where you will be placing the brooder.
For the first couple days you will want to have paper towel on top of the newspaper so the chicks dont go spradle leg. After that i use pine shavings.
I use a clamp on heat lamp on the top hole. I have about 4 different watages of light bulbs handy to adjust heat requirements. I usually start with a 75 watt and reduce to a 60 and usually a 40 watt after 3 weeks.
To clean just remove food and water, lift up front of box an inch and pull 3 or 4 layers of newspaper out slowely. A new layer is exposed. Put some fresh pine shavings in, food and water, good to go. I do not remove chicks from box for this process.
This is how i have brooded my chicks for years. I drew a picture (not a very good job) below. The top shown (actual bottom) of the box is not fully open like that only a square hole big enough for me to place the lamp in a see down in the box.
The best of luck to you and your new chicks!

 

[Melky]

Here is a cardboard box brooder. Just put netting or chicken wire over top so do not fly out and get ventilation. I also put in roost 5 inches up so learn to roost. I also made a homemade chick swing out of leftover wood and string around the house. See article under my avatar. Keep food and water not under heat source so do not over heat. I like pine shavings easy to scoop with kitty litter scoop. Cheap at southern states or TSC heat lamp and pine mulch.​

 

[RainbowMama]

Love these ideas! We have baby silkies ( bought from tsc ) that we put in a 10 gal glass aquarium. Pine shavings and a heat lamp. They are thriving well.

 

[Mvan42]

I put mine in a plastic tote (no lid) then put the tote in a large dog kennel. Heat light either on top of kennel or hanging down from it pending on the temp. Kennel keeps the cats out.

 

[Melky]

Could also use a baby pool with cover.