Raising chicks old school

[Helenhowes0]

Hi all, so ive decided to sell some of my chicks because unfortunately I can't keep them all.
I have recently had some interest from a particular buyer who has requested for the chick to be 1 week old because they do not have a heat lamp.
So iam here to ask the people with a lot more experience than me and maybe some people who hatched chicks before heat lamps were even a thing.
Knowledge and experience is power and im hoping some people will enlighten me.
I want the best start for the chicks but I also dont want to insult my buyers intelligence who may have years more experience than me.
So please fire away

 

[Perris]

Chicks can regulate their own body temperature once they are fully feathered. They feather at different rates because there are different genes involved, and at least 5 different feathering rates are recognized. Fast featherers may have enough feathers over their body by the end of the first week to manage, especially during summer if the temperature where they are kept does not drop badly overnight. Very slow featherers may be still mostly covered in down at the end of 3 weeks. So it depends on the individual chicks' genes, and the time of year and ambient temperatures where you are. You can assess the feathering rate per chick yourself; don't sell any that don't at least have wing feathers to their bums to keep their torsos warm.

 

[fluffycrow]

Perris has covered everything there is to know about temperature regulation and more.

The current temps of your buyer is what’s going to ultimately decide if it’s possible for them to keep chicks without heat. Here at this time of year one week old chicks, no matter the feathering rate, need little heat from a brood plate or their mother.

the chick to be 1 week old

I hope that the buyer wants to purchase at least two chicks, unless they already have more at home. One chicken alone isn’t a good idea

 

[Helenhowes0]

Buyer wanted 3 chicks and the weather is typical uk weather very unreliable however not too cold at the moment but not exactly hot like other countries either.
Buyer said that theu plan on keeping them warm in a bathroom.
Would i be a wrong to sell them to someone at this age with that information in mind?

 

[Helenhowes0]

Chicks can regulate their own body temperature once they are fully feathered. They feather at different rates because there are different genes involved, and at least 5 different feathering rates are recognized. Fast featherers may have enough feathers over their body by the end of the first week to manage, especially during summer if the temperature where they are kept does not drop badly overnight. Very slow featherers may be still mostly covered in down at the end of 3 weeks. So it depends on the individual chicks' genes, and the time of year and ambient temperatures where you are. You can assess the feathering rate per chick yourself; don't sell any that don't at least have wing feathers to their bums to keep their torsos warm.

Thank you very beautifully explained

 

[Perris]

the weather is typical uk weather

is there such a thing? We've had drizzle this morning while the media are telling us about the heatwave the rest of the country is experiencing, apparently , and I think what @kattabelly has to put up with is, above all, strong wind so at least whatever gets thrown at him passes quickly

Buyer said that theu plan on keeping them warm in a bathroom.
Would i be a wrong to sell them to someone at this age with that information in mind?

Doesn't fill me with confidence. You could ask directly what experience they have with raising chicks.

 

[Helenhowes0]

is there such a thing? We've had drizzle this morning while the media are telling us about the heatwave the rest of the country is experiencing, apparently , and I think what @kattabelly has to put up with is, above all, strong wind so at least whatever gets thrown at him passes quickly

Doesn't fill me with confidence. You could ask directly what experience they have with raising chicks.

Yes well I think ive scared the buyer off with all my questions tbh as they haven't replied.
I quoted £7 if the had a brooder and heat lamp or i could keep them atleast till 4 weeks at a price of £10 each.
As a first time seller would you say those prices are steep?

 

[fluffycrow]

Yes well I think ive scared the buyer off with all my questions tbh as they haven't replied.
I quoted £7 if the had a brooder and heat lamp or i could keep them atleast till 4 weeks at a price of £10 each.
As a first time seller would you say those prices are steep?

Hmm, if they were scared off so easily it might have been a good thing that you weren’t too willing to sell to them. Week four is more than enough I think, but either way, your chicks are safe!

I think your prices are very reasonable

 

[Helenhowes0]

is there such a thing? We've had drizzle this morning while the media are telling us about the heatwave the rest of the country is experiencing, apparently , and I think what @kattabelly has to put up with is, above all, strong wind so at least whatever gets thrown at him passes quickly

Doesn't fill me with confidence. You could ask directly what experience they have with raising chicks.

This is very true. The weather doesnt even know what its going to do half the time .

 

[Helenhowes0]

Ok great thank you all for your very helpful advise.