johnpop 3 Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Hi all just a few questions on hatching and rearing chicks. A have got a small incubator ready to hatch some chicks but was wondering of some ideas how to bring them on in brooders as I don't have a lot of room. Any ideas or pics would be great. Thanks for reading Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pappabear 128 Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 i use an indoor rabbit / guinae pig cage with a brinsea electric hen , easy to clean and the electric hen is cheap to use , good luck with your hatching 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Carraghs Gem 1,675 Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Fishtank, brinsea electric hen and newspaper on the floor (do not use woodshavings) waterbowl filled with marbles food bowl filled with chick crumb Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johnpop 3 Posted January 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 How many could you keep in say a 3ft fish tank or Hutch? Would they out grow that quick or stay in till there ready for outside? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patterdalejoel 669 Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Fishtank, brinsea electric hen and newspaper on the floor (do not use woodshavings) waterbowl filled with marbles food bowl filled with chick crumb why not shavings? imo its a myth about them eating it, mine go straight onto shavings/dust and never had one die yet. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johnpop 3 Posted January 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 Patterdale would you mind telling me how exactly you do it as I have read loads of books and each have different views. Would like to hear it from some one that's tried and tested? Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
patterdalejoel 669 Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 a square of plywood tie wrapped together in the shed, saw dust for bedding, a heat lamp at the preferred height above, not too high and not too low, a tray of chick crumbs and a narrow lipped drinker. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johnpop 3 Posted January 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 How big an area would I need to rear about 6 chicks till they are ready for outside? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cammy12 176 Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 paterdalejoe thats pretty much how i do it but i put a sheet of hessian over the shavings for a week to 10 days its easy rolled up with the shit inside. johnpop you wont need much room for six chicks your hutch should do them until three weeks, i would have them off the heat by then too and start to harden them off for outside. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paid 935 Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 News paper can be worse than shaving, never had a problem with shavings, but had bow legged chicks on news paper as it can be slippy. I start out with n old towel for the first week, then straight to shavings. One of those cheap indoor rabbit cages, about 1.5 foot by 2.5 foot with heat lamp does for about 12 chicks untill feathered then an out door moveable run, and back in at night for a couple of weeks, then in with the rest of the birds Easier in spring than winter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richie10 345 Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 Would wait till later in the year. Also Fertility in hatching eggs at the moment isn't great. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brassneck 128 Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 do you know what breed your chicks will be ? large fowl or bantams? i like to mix some wild bird seed with the chick crumb as poultry corn can be a bit big for chicks to handle , also theres a very good mix of seed in it compared to poultry corn , in my experience you cant beat a broody hen rather than incubator but you shouldnt go far wrong with a heat lamp in the brooder . Ive never had a problem with sawdust/shavings although i tend to use a sheet of newspaper for 1st few days atb phil Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johnpop 3 Posted January 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 Thanks for the help everyone. Will take the tips and give it a couple months then have a go. Is there any breeds you fellas advise to start off with? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johnpop 3 Posted January 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 Phill I was thinking maybe trying some fancy small birds but not sure what yet. Would like success before talking harder breeds or are they all pretty much the same to do? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paid 935 Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 They are all pretty much the same. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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