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
Hatchery in
Humboldt, South Dakota
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Humboldt South Dakota,
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. Humboldt
South Dakota also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Humboldt South Dakota, 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 Humboldt SD.
Baby Chicks
Diet in
Humboldt, South Dakota
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Humboldt South Dakota
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
Humboldt South Dakota * 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 Humboldt
South Dakota * 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 Chickens
Black in
Humboldt, South Dakota
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
Humboldt South Dakota 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 Humboldt,
South Dakota Baby chicks are extremely
adorable and also
difficult to resist,
however it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by collecting not just the
proper products, but
additionally the appropriate
understanding to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you just have to supply them with the following: A
clean and warm and comfortable
environment Plenty of food and water Focus and
love Environment Your habitat could be a basic box, fish tank,
feline carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (without any loosened
strings!) to start, and also after a
couple of weeks use straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only
paper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You likewise require
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
lid for food and also a pet dog bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Likewise, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
into the environment to get them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks heat you need to
give them with a warmth resource.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb likewise function very
well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could use
up to two months). The freshly
hatched out need a temperature
in between 90 and 100 degrees,
and also every week this can
be minimized by
roughly 5 degrees approximately. The heat resource ought
to be on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary corner of your heat
lamp, you should
minimize the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not merely cuddling),
you need to include some warmth.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is vital and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to transform
the bedding
often as well as
always supply tidy
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow very quickly
which needs plenty of tidy
food as well as water. Supply
sufficient at all times and inspect
typically to
stop thirsty and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than adult chicken food, and it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, after that
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
and then to a somewhat
lower healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
filth baths, while others won't take
up that task till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Focus and also love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. Firstly, they will more than likely bond with you and also
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
view their behavior, you could
capture disease or various
other issues previously. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
indicators. Make certain to
also look at
their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted feathers as well
as clogged up cloaca.
Finally, it is essential to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining picked
on. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently completely feathered
and its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your home
as well as move outside into a cage. Look into our
area on chicken cages to find out
more
regarding cages and
appropriate coop environments.
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