Chicks

[NewCountryChicken]

Hey,
I kept chickens for a short period of time a couple of years ago. When I wanted them to have chicks I just let nature run its course. I marked the ones I wanted to keep as chicks and collected the rest.
The chicks did absolutely wonderful.
Now I've got a friend that takes the eggs out and incubates them. Saying that its better because they won't get attacked. By other bigger chickens.

Also. If I wanted to buy chicks from a hatcherie could I just make a closed in brooder box in the coop? I was think about closing in a corner and keeping the heat lamp in there with some ventilation holes. Then letting them come out when they are big enough to keep warm on their own.

 

[Wrigley62]

Hey NewCountry, It sounds fine to me. I would just make sure the walls are tall enough so the older ones can't fly over and harm the newbies. I get my chicks from our local feed store. I kept them in the basement for about 4 weeks then moved them to the "Chicken Tractor" in my garage. They have a heat lamp and nothing bothers them.

Good luck
Wrigley

 

[Marigold]

If they grow up as a family group with a broody hen among a settled flock, as you have successfully done in the past, its evident from what you say that this natural method can work very well. However I think there may be problems if you try to introduce new hatchery chicks or young growers to the flock, where they will be considered as strangers and will be attacked. Maybe it would be best to keep them separate in the run, as you have suggested, until they are POL around 18+ weeks and big enough to stand up for themselves. This approach also has the advantage that you can feed them growers whilst they are young, which is better formulated for their needs, being lower in the calcium they won't need until they are coming into lay.

 

[Chuck]

Very risky as the chicks are very vulnerable and while a few hens will tolerate chicks, the majority won't and they could quickly be killed. So either build a separate brooder and be prepared to keep the young ones apart for around five months or set some eggs or give chicks to a broody hen and even these are safest kept separate from the adults.