Wool Hen: Or, How to raise chicks with NO HEAT LAMP and possibly no supplemental heat at all.

[MargaretYakoda]

Oh, yeah. I guess your right. So, did they need any additional heat at all? I would think they would need a little.

So far, with the outside temp anywhere in the upper fifties to lower seventies, nope. They haven't needed heat.

That's with 19 chicks, the wool hen, and yesterday I added a huddle corner.

Today I gave away the chicks that aren't pure Jersey Giant, so we're down to a dozen chicks. I'm pretty sure they'll do fine. In either case I'll update here.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well, I think I am going to try this. My dear hubby is not fond of chicks in the house. I have no electricity at the coop. The coons got my broody hen. And I have 25 chicks coming in the next week.

Plan to use a heating pad, huddle set up first couple of days in the garage, fingers crossed that the weather stays reasonable for a couple of weeks, and wool hen here I come.

Mrs K

 

[lazy gardener]

I think you'll do just fine. I have asthma. So, after the first miserable season with chicks in the house, vowed NEVER AGAIN. Had chicks in the basement for a few days this spring due to hatching difficulties. MHP. Then they moved out to smaller coop with MHP. I think WH will be a great addition to MHP next spring.

 

[Folly's place]

This looks terrific; next year I'm trying it here! Mary

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I just want to bump this up for newbies and a reminder to us veterans!

 

[TexasLisa]

I just want to bump this up for newbies and a reminder to us veterans!

I plumb forgot about the WH!!! Thanks for giving us a reminder!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I was thinking about it lately because I have a lot of chicks coming next month and if I don't have a broody (or two, ideally) I am thinking of giving this a shot.

 

[TexasLisa]

You ordered chicks?!! How exciting. I have an Australorp that will go broody 2-3 times a year. I am waiting for her hormones to kick in. If all else fails, I will buy chicks.

Good luck!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have 2 broody silkies right now. On imaginary eggs.

They kept going back to the wrong box, so I quit sacrificing eggs to their whim.

Can't decide if I should break them or set them up in a broody cage together...

Or break them and hope they go broody again by the time I hopefully hatch something to pop under them to raise... Oh wait, this isn't the hatching thread.

But LOVING the wool hen!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

You ordered chicks?!!  How exciting.  I have an Australorp that will go broody 2-3 times a year.  I am waiting for her hormones to kick in.  If all else fails, I will buy chicks.  

Good luck!

Yes I have ~30 (8 breeds/varieties) coming! I tend to order not hatch my own because I like the purebreds. I do hatch my own mutts but I sell those. I also hatch a lot of guineas to sell but use the incubator for that. I wouldn't make as much money using broodies. I do have some OE eggs in the incubator right now even though I have a broody because I didn't want them to accidentally freeze if she went back to the wrong box (as they sometimes do). I am hoping my other two champion broodiness will be ready for chicks by the time the order arrives (not that a sebright and oegb can cover that many chicks for long anyway lol)