Too Early for Feb Hatch-A-Long Thread??

[LilyD]

I live in Wisconsin and have my incubator and initial (6week) brooder coop in my house. My first hatchlings came one New Years and the next batch on Jan 27. They’re all doing great. My New Years chicks go to the chicken house Friday where I have a secondary / introduction brooding coop. This works out great for them. They will be 7 weeks old when they go out and fully feathered. My hen house is heated for the winter too so I keep it at a steady 55 F. By doing this I find my hens and pullets are less stressed.

I don’t know what state you’re in but having chicks in the middle of winter is completely doable. Just have to keep a close eye on the temp for the first few weeks.

I live in Vermont...I try to make sure that any babies I'm having don't hatch out in Dec or Jan since they tend to be super cold months. Usually if they hatch out mid to late Feb they are okay to go outside after a few weeks with supplemental heating for the super cold nights. I don't run heat in my large barn at all so the birds have to be cold hardy. It usually works out that they are ready to go out to the brooder in the barn by week three or 4 since they are mostly feathered by then.

 

[Wi_Pida]

I live in Vermont...I try to make sure that any babies I'm having don't hatch out in Dec or Jan since they tend to be super cold months. Usually if they hatch out mid to late Feb they are okay to go outside after a few weeks with supplemental heating for the super cold nights. I don't run heat in my large barn at all so the birds have to be cold hardy. It usually works out that they are ready to go out to the brooder in the barn by week three or 4 since they are mostly feathered by then.

Here in northern Wisconsin the coldest months are Feb to Mid Apr. That’s why I have my initial brooder in the house. By the time they are 6 to 7 weeks old they can handle the 30F temps.

What I do is put them in the outside brooder in the day time at week 6 and bring them back into the house at night if it’s below 30F or below. By week 7 they stay out in the brooder which is 4x8x3) until the size up to the rest then I integrate them. (I only have one coop but it’s a nice size one.) That way they can still acclimated to the winter temps. This is common practice for our area if using an incubator.

The other reason I do this is because I have customers that want them in March or April where they are close to laying age. They pay me a bit more per hen for doing this for them. The RoosI cull at the 8 week mark unless I need another rooster added to the flock.

Since our hen house is insulated with a floor heater (next to the water so it don’t freeze). It seems to be working out fine for the new chicks. The roosters and hens spend the day in a partly covered run all day during the winter unless they’re in their nesting boxes or it’s in the negative i

It’s fun watching the adults play in the snow. They refuse to leave their run during the winter where the deeper snow is.

I do kind of spoil them. I give them hot mash supper every night and of course fake lighting. It seems by doing this my egg production stays pretty much the same year around. The egg production only went up when I started feeding them the hot meals for winter months.

 

[LilyD]

Here in northern Wisconsin the coldest months are Feb to Mid Apr. That’s why I have my initial brooder in the house. By the time they are 6 to 7 weeks old they can handle the 30F temps.

What I do is put them in the outside brooder in the day time at week 6 and bring them back into the house at night if it’s below 30F or below. By week 7 they stay out in the brooder which is 4x8x3) until the size up to the rest then I integrate them. (I only have one coop but it’s a nice size one.) That way they can still acclimated to the winter temps. This is common practice for our area if using an incubator.

The other reason I do this is because I have customers that want them in March or April where they are close to laying age. They pay me a bit more per hen for doing this for them. The RoosI cull at the 8 week mark unless I need another rooster added to the flock.

Since our hen house is insulated with a floor heater (next to the water so it don’t freeze). It seems to be working out fine for the new chicks. The roosters and hens spend the day in a partly covered run all day during the winter unless they’re in their nesting boxes or it’s in the negative i

It’s fun watching the adults play in the snow. They refuse to leave their run during the winter where the deeper snow is.

I do kind of spoil them. I give them hot mash supper every night and of course fake lighting. It seems by doing this my egg production stays pretty much the same year around. The egg production only went up when I started feeding them the hot meals for winter months.

Usually Feb - April our temps are getting much better and we are getting in the 30-40 range during the day and 20-30 at night. I have them in a brooder in the house with a heater and thermostat so I can set their temperature. I have people who seem to want babies by the first swap which is in April so I want them to be around 8 weeks by then at least old enough to tell the roos from the pullets. Roos I normally keep for meat and I process between 20-30 weeks.

 

[LilyD]

First one has made it out.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

How exciting, I hope they both hatch for you as well!

Very sad both died. One I don't know why. The other internally pipped but couldn't get out. I needed to make her a safety hole and peel her out but waited too long.

 

[LilyD]

I love the coloring can't wait to see him or her fluffed out.

 

[LynnaePB]

Very sad both died. One I don't know why. The other internally pipped but couldn't get out. I needed to make her a safety hole and peel her out but waited too long.

Oh no I'm so sorry about your little ones.

 

[LilyD]

Very sad both died. One I don't know why. The other internally pipped but couldn't get out. I needed to make her a safety hole and peel her out but waited too long.

Oh no I'm so very sorry.

 

[FortCluck]

So interesting. This has been an educational experience.

My muscovy still doesn't make any noise, I think they hiss when they get mad but I've never heard it. My Pekins are so loud. They're always yelling at me about something The drake Pekin has a very muted quack, he sounds like he lost his voice. Ducks are one of my favorites.

 

[FortCluck]

Usually Feb - April our temps are getting much better and we are getting in the 30-40 range during the day and 20-30 at night. I have them in a brooder in the house with a heater and thermostat so I can set their temperature. I have people who seem to want babies by the first swap which is in April so I want them to be around 8 weeks by then at least old enough to tell the roos from the pullets. Roos I normally keep for meat and I process between 20-30 weeks.

Same here. Everyone wants to buy chicks around February to April. We are going to do our Cockerels for meat this year.