It was recently brought to my attention that, although I chronicled our journey raising meat chickens last year, I didn’t answer many of the burning questions people have about raising broilers. So between the comments on my previous posts and the questions people asked on our Facebook page, I’ve compiled a list of questions and answers regarding how we raised our meat chickens. (P.S. we loved the process and the meat so much that I have a new batch of birds chirping away in my basement as I write this!)
Questions & Answers
How many chickens should I start with? Of course this depends on your circumstances. We started with 25 because we could house them in a coop we already had, but weren’t using. Also, there was a slight price break at the hatchery if you ordered 25 or more.
Which hatchery did you buy your birds from? We ordered from . I highly recommend choosing a hatchery that is at least vaguely near you. Our birds arrived in 1-2 days and were in great shape. (For layers, I prefer to source from local chicken keeping friends who like to hatch chicks, but no one seems to do this with broilers in my area.)
What do you feed them? I wish I could tell you that I had a great source for organic feed here in Alabama, but the truth is that it is hard to find and very expensive, so we stick with feed that is at least and sold at our nearby mom & pop feed store. I feed the chicks one 50 lb. bag of chick starter feed, and when that is gone, I switch them to a “grower developer” feed for the rest of their days. Since their only job is to grow, I keep the feeders full at all times. I also supplement them with grass, weeds and other greenery from early on so that they develop a taste for it early on.
What about water? I use a 1 gallon *affiliate link* in the brooder, and I fill twice a day (at minimum) they go through water fast and you never want them to run out! I like to add a splash of *affiliate link* to each jug of water, which is good for the chickens’ digestion and helps ward off worms. When they leave the brooder, I begin using a 5 gallon bucket fitted with *affiliate link*. (Yes, the term “chicken nipples” is funny. Go ahead and giggle!)
How do you set up a brooder for that many birds? With the first batch of broilers, I set them up in the large plastic tote that I usually use for brooding. They quickly outgrew it, however, so I went to the store and bought the largest plastic baby pool I could find. I filled it with pine shavings and topped it with chicken wire. It’s not fancy, but it works! I add the 1 gallon plastic waterer (mentioned above) and 2 of these *affiliate link*. Yes, technically, one should do the job, since there is a hole for each chicken, but trust me, by the end of week 1, they eat so much you will need two feeder, or you will be filling your feeder non-stop.
Will I need a heat lamp? Well, you will need some way to keep the chicks warm. A heat lamp that is VERY securely attached is a good option, as is the . As for red vs. white heat lamp bulbs, I don’t really have a preference. I usually buy white ones because they are cheaper. It is my understanding that the red bulbs help to protect chicks in crowded conditions from pecking. As long as they have plenty of room, I think either is fine.
How long do they stay in the brooder? My first batch only stayed in for two weeks, however it was summer, so it was plenty warm for them. It is still very cold here in Alabama (off and on, at least) so my latest batch will probably stay in the basement for awhile still. They never really get “fully feathered,” so I can’t use the same metric that I would use with layers.
OK, it’s time for me to go milk Beulah! I’ll be back with more questions and answers soon. Until then, feel free to leave your questions in the comments! I’ll do my best to answer everything either there or in a future post!
Update! You can now read and of our Q&A!
If you like this post, you might also enjoy my . And don’t forget to sign up for Beulah’s mooooooosletter so you don’t miss future installments of this series!
***This post contains affiliate links. A small percentage of the purchase price of items bought here will go toward keeping this blog up and running and food in Beulah’s bowl, so thanks!***
Related
Baby Quail Chicks in
Wellsburg, Iowa
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Wellsburg Iowa,
including Sussex Chickens, Welsummer Chickens, Turken Chickens and more.
Be sure to check out the Bargain Specials, as you can combine different
egg layers in smaller amounts and buy as an assortment. Wellsburg
Iowa also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Wellsburg Iowa, bantams for sale, ducks for sale, geese for sale,
turkeys for sale, guinea for sale, peafowl for sale, pheasant for sale,
chukar partridge for sale, bobwhite for sale, many different breeds of
baby chicks for sale in Wellsburg IA.
Baby Chicks
Outside With Heat Lamp in
Wellsburg, Iowa
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Wellsburg Iowa
catalog is a yearly traditions in many houses. My kids and I eagerly await
the Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog. We love looking at all the cool and
different chicken breeds available. Catalogs are free so head on over to
their site and request one if you are interested.
Typically hatcheries online offer both standard breeds
and bantams. Bantams are fun hardy little chickens, they lay tiny eggs
that kids especially love collecting. Bantams typically weigh less than 2
pounds when full grown. Just like ordering anything online there are pros
and cons to ordering baby chicks online. Pros of buying baby chicks in
Wellsburg Iowa * Big Selection - If you are wanting a large
variety of different chicken breeds and egg colors, you will find the best
selection at an online hatchery. * Both Bantams and full sized chickens
available * You get to choose what sex you want. If you want a mixture of
both male and female then choosing a "straight run" will save you money
and you will get a mixture of male and female chicks. You can also choose
all males or all females too. * Weekly specials. Hatcheries have sales on
chicks, you are likely to get a good deal if you are flexible with the
breeds you are wanting. Cons of buying baby chicks in Wellsburg
Iowa * Order early to get the best selection. Certain breeds sell
out fast, sometimes as early as 6 months in advance of shipping! If you
are wanting a certain breed it's best to order your chicks in the fall
before their orders sell out.
Baby
Chicks For Sale in
Wellsburg, Iowa
Quantity - you must order a certain number of chicks. Typically hatcheries
will require you buy a minimum of 25 chicks at a time. The number is
necessary for the chicks survival during shipping. All 25 chicks are put
in one small box without heat. They are crowded in the box and produce
enough body heat to arrive in good shape. * The wait - If you choose to
buy chicks from a feed store you will have them the same day but if you
choose to go with a hatchery you have to wait until they are ready to ship
and then wait for the chicks to arrive. Ordering baby chicks online in
Wellsburg Iowa is easy and has always been a very pleasant
experience of me. It can be a little frustrating waiting for the chicks
but it's so worth the wait. When the post office calls and you hear all
those little "cheeps" or "chirps" in the background you'll know the wait
was worth it! How to Care for your new baby chickens in Wellsburg,
Iowa Baby chicks are really
charming as well as
difficult to resist,
but it's best to plan for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not just the
right products, however
likewise the correct
knowledge to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
simple, you just should provide them with the following: A tidy and cozy
environment Lots of food and also water Focus and
love Environment Your habitat could be an easy box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to start, and after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only
paper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You additionally require
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food and a pet dog bird water dispenser from a
pet dog shop. Likewise, as the chicks get
older you can present a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
trained on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you need to
provide them with a warmth source.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb likewise work extremely well (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can take up to two months). The recently
hatched out require a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 degrees,
as well as weekly this could
be lowered by
roughly 5 degrees approximately. The heat resource should be on merely one side of the cage
to allow chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
other edge of your heat
light, you need to
lower the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not merely snuggling),
you have to include some warmth.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is key as
well as it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to transform
the bed linen
typically as well as
always offer tidy
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks grow extremely quick
which needs a lot of tidy
food and water. Offer
sufficient at all times and inspect
commonly to
stop dehydrated as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, then
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a running start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others won't use up that task until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
filth for them to bathe in.
Interest and love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. First off, they will certainly most
likely bond with you as well as
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
view their actions, you could
catch ailment or other troubles earlier. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
other undesirable
indicators. Be sure to
likewise check out
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted plumes and blocked cloaca.
Finally, it is necessary to watch out for social concerns, such as the
littlest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently completely feathered
and its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
and also relocate outside into a cage. Check out our
section on chicken coops for more information
regarding coops and also
appropriate coop habitats.
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