Raising Chicks Summary: (please critique so I can edit it)

[hoog]

This is the information I am using for hatching, brooding, and raising my chickens, I compiled it from all the information on this site, its forum, and other chicken information sources. If you find anything that is definitely wrong, likely wrong, or missing please explain so I can edit this list.

Raising Chicks Summary: (please critique so I can edit it)

Storage- up to two weeks, rotate eggs 3x a day, Store egg big end up
Temp: 45-55 degrees
Humidity: 35-55%
Incubation: day 1-17, rotate eggs 3x a day, store egg on side big end slightly elevated
Temp: 99.5
Humidity: 50%
Lockdown: day 18-21, Do not rotate eggs, store egg on side big end slightly elevated, Do not open incubator
Temp: 99.5
Humidity: 60%

Once all chicks have hatched and dried/fluffed out move to brooder.

Brooder week 1: use paper towels for floor, dip chick’s beaks in water
Temp: 95 degrees
Brooder week 2: Use pine chips or sand for bedding, optional feed snacks/insects
Temp: 90 degrees
Brooder week 3
Temp: 85 degrees
Brooder week 4
Temp: 80 degrees
Brooder week 5
Temp: 75 degrees
Brooder week 6
Temp: 70 degrees
Week 7: Chicks go outside (If fully feathered) - Lock in chicken coop for two days then let outside in evenings and ensure they return to coop at sundown.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
I will tell you that 55% for days 1-18 is HIGHLY debateable here. 65% for lockdown here where I live drowns the chicks. Humidity is basically environmentally based. If you live in a humid climate, your humidity concerns are lower than mine, as I live in the desert.

Also it is ok to go to 100*, they just hatch a few hours earlier.

You brooding part: Chicks CAN go out when fully feathered and different breeds feather at different rates. Example: I have silkies in my brooder that are 5 weeks old and nowhere NEAR fully feathered. I have two weeks olds in another brooder that will be ready for outside in the juvie pen within 5 weeks. Additionally, the time of year matters as well. 7 week olds out in the snow will not survive.

Hope this helps!!

 

[ScissorChick]

You are supposed to stop turning eggs on day 18, not 19

They can go outside once they have feathered out atleast most of the way.

I agree wth DebiRaymond for the rest.

Happy Hatching!

-ScissorChick

 

[SilkieChickenLover336]

thtemp for the incubator should be 99.5 not 99.6