Prepping for a new batch of ISA Brown pullet chicks!

[Rangergord]

Three years ago I raised my first batch of 25 BSL pullets. Now on Tuesday I get my new Sex-Sal-Link Brown pullet chicks 25 minimum order from Rochester Hatchery in Westlock, AB. Several days ago I cleaned and sprayed my coop down with Virkon to sanitize. The coop has been empty for a year. It dried out and smells great. This evening my wife and I lined one side of the coop with cardboard to form an enclosure with my hover brooder that I made last time around. I will take a pic of the new setup tomorrow and post it here.
It’s been a while since I have thought about raising chicks so I thought I should browse through the threads here. Most of these chicks will be sold later as ready to lay pullets. This worked out well for me the last time around, covering all of my costs.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Best of luck on Tuesday! We're on our second batch of chicks, and I'm realizing there's always more to learn and experience. Will you be keeping any for yourself?

 

[Rangergord]

Best of luck on Tuesday! We're on our second batch of chicks, and I'm realizing there's always more to learn and experience. Will you be keeping any for yourself?

Thanks thecatumbrella Yes my coop will hold 8 hens for the winter so that’s how many I keep.

 

[Rangergord]

All right finally some pics! This is my modified “Ohio “ brooder with a heat lamp on a dimmer control that adjusts the heat output to fit the space and temperature. The brooder is in the center of a 2’x8’ cardboard enclosure and has a front hatch and hardware cloth observation and ventilation window. I am using a laser thermometer to dial in a 95 degree temperature for the last 24 hours. Chicks arrive in an hour!

 

[Rangergord]

Here is the dimmer control and insulation over the lamp housing. Not too hot, not too cold, perfect!
Below you can see the wood pellet litter floor and the plastic fringe taped on the bottom edge of the brooder placed two inches above the floor to ventilate and allow the chicks to duck underneath the fringe like Mama’s feathers.

 

[Rangergord]

Here they are! 25 Sex-Sal-Link pullets after 30 hours with Canada Post and an hour with my wife to get here! They were pretty quiet compared to my last order. They were definitely thirsty and hungry though. It’s going to be awhile before they take a break from eating!

 

[Rangergord]

Bump! Blatant Self Promotion.

 

[Rangergord]

It is remarkable how quiet these chicks are than my first bunch. Not a bad thing at all IMO. Did a check at Midnight when the outdoor temps dropped to 4 degrees C. and temps under the lamp were 90-95 and chicks seemed happy.

 

[Rangergord]

Woke up this morning and went to check on the Chickies- OMG the chicks were all huddled in a corner of the pen…new bulb , screwed in tight, circuit breaker on, plugs all in, what’s this ?…a timer! Oh crap I should have checked on this! A timer that was still plugged into the circuit, switched the timer off, brooder lamp back on. Scooped up the chicks and put them under the lamp, which they were happy to find again. Nobody dead or dying yet, BUT who knows. I haven’t killed a batch of chicks yet, but there is a first time for everything! Just goes to show if anything can go wrong it will. My fault for not inspecting the entire circuit before putting it into service again.