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 Chicks Supplies in
Lexington, Michigan
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Lexington Michigan,
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. Lexington
Michigan also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Lexington Michigan, 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 Lexington MI.
Baby Chickens How To Raise in
Lexington, Michigan
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Lexington Michigan
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
Lexington Michigan * 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 Lexington
Michigan * 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 Care in
Lexington, Michigan
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
Lexington Michigan 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 Lexington,
Michigan Baby chicks are quite
charming and
challenging to withstand,
but it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
appropriate materials, however
likewise the proper
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
simple, you just have to provide them with the following: A
clean as well as cozy
habitat Lots of food and water Attention and
love Environment Your environment could be a straightforward box, aquarium,
pet cat provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (with no loose
strings!) to begin, and after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
newspaper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You also need
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
lid for food as well as an animal bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Also, as the chicks get
older you can introduce a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you have to
provide them with a warmth resource.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb likewise function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could take up to two months). The recently
hatched out need a temperature
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
as well as each week this can
be lowered by
approximately 5 degrees approximately. The heat resource must be on simply one side of the cage
to permit chicks an array of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
opposite edge of your warmth
lamp, you have to
minimize the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not just snuggling),
you have to include some heat.
Home cleaning
Sanitation is key as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to alter
the bed linens
usually as well as
always offer tidy
food and water Food and also water.
Chicks expand extremely quickly
which needs plenty of tidy
food and also water. Provide
sufficient in any way times and also inspect
typically to prevent thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks prefer to obtain a head start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others won't occupy that task up until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to shower in.
Focus and also love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will more than likely bond with you and
not run away as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
enjoy their habits, you can
catch ailment or various
other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
various other undesirable
indications. Be sure to
additionally consider
their poop, as diarrhea can lead
to matted plumes and also obstructed cloaca.
Finally, it is very
important to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
littlest chick obtaining badgered. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently completely feathery
and its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
as well as move outside into a
coop. Look into our
part on chicken coops to read more
regarding coops as well as
appropriate coop environments.
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