xChicken04x Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Hi everyone! Next spring we would like to increase our flock. We thought about hatching eggs in an incubator, but if we had an cockerels then we wouldn't be able to keep them, and we couldnt raise them for the table. So we thought of getting day old sexed chicks. I understand that they shouldnt just be bought on a whim and carefull consideration needs to be taken. Bearing in mind we only got 6 chickens in august and now we are up to 8, do you think we are ready to handle little chicks? The reason I'm asking now is so I can revise, prepare and save money through winter. So what do you guys think? I know quite a bit already from revising, I know they need to be kept warm under a 60 watt bulb with chick crumbs and a shallow cotainer with water and marballs or pebbles to stop them drowning. Also I know they can be a bit slow as they should be shown by mother hen how to eat and drink, so a lot of time needs to be dedicated to them (which I have), to help them eat and drink properly. They would be taken off chick crumbs at about 6 weeks, by slowly adding growers pellets, then at about 18 weeks, we would start adding layers pellets icreasing the amount each time untill they are just on layers pellets. We would keep them in a large dog cage (with out the dog) untill they are 6/7 weeks old and gradually introduce them to the outside world. When they would be about 18 weeks we would gradually introduce them to the rest of the flock (untill then they would be kept in their own pen.) But would sleep inside untill then. At the moment I only know the basics, but I have all winter to revise. We have been offered some day old partrige wyandottes next year from garden poultry, I emailed them asking if they are auto sexing breed but they must have forgot to answer that question, so does anyone know? I know a few people hatched chicks but I'll be posting on the Practical Poultry website later aswell. So what do you think? xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 I think it's a brilliant idea. You sound like you've done alot of research already. I can't add anymore to what you have already said but just wanted to say good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Looks like you've done you're research - as far as I know that breed are not auto-sexing or sex-linked, also wyandottes have pea combs so it takes a while for combs to develop - I was fairly sure of my Wyandottes sex by about 6-7 week. It could be they have someone who can vent sex but you have to be quite an expert. My brooder is a large plastic box from Ikea with half the lid cut out and replaced with mesh. I hang a 150w ceramic dull emitter bulb on a chain from a piece of wood and raise it one notch of the chain daily to slowly wean then off heat. I don't like the idea of a 60w bulb giving off light throughout the night and prefer the chicks to have natural day and night. I keep them on grower's pellets only till about 14 weeks when I introduce them gradually to the big girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted December 2, 2007 Author Share Posted December 2, 2007 YAY! I've been aproved!!! I did do some research about the bulb in the heat lamp, I thought they wouldnt get any sleep if it was on all the time So I thought of having light one on during the day and painting a lightbulb black and repalicing it at night? Or is that not a good idea? Garden poultry hatch their own chicks, they have cream legbar hybrids that are an auto sexing breed, so maybe some of them instead of the wyandotte's? I couldn't bare to part with one if it turned out to be a cockerel. I'm not sure how experienced the people are, they hatch chicks all year round and I have only ever seen 2 cockerels there, for breeding. So they must be able to sex the chicks easily. Also, apparently the chicks are very stinky! Is is an unbarable smell or just a bit smelly? Where do you keep your chicks? I wouldnt like to keep them in the shed, I would feel too mean! Thank you for the advise! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 I keep the chicks in my utility room for 3 weeks then they go out to the grower's run which is enclosed in the garage but open on one side with mesh so the big girls can see them. I have non-slip matting on the floor of the brooder box covered in paper towel, then put them onto Easibed/Hemcore after about a week. Depending on how many you have (I've had up to 15 chicks) they can get quite smelly and every surface gets covered in dander - a thick powdery layer of fluffy dust. I can't imagine keeping them in the house any longer than 3 weeks, but if they're going outside before 6 weeks would need to be in a shed/garage or very sheltered run. Here's some 3 week old chicks, 1st day out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Great picture Fee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted December 2, 2007 Author Share Posted December 2, 2007 That is just too cute!!! Look at them all!!!! We don't have a utility room, our kitchen is too big to have one. We would only have about 3 or 4 chicks, so would they be really smelly? No doubt they would end up staying in my room But it would be worth it! Thank you very much for the help! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 I raised 2 last year from 5 days old- kept in the house until 6.5 weeks old when they moved out into the eglu (bear in mind it was July then so it wasn't cold). They are RIRxLS so sexlinked colouring (tho it didn't stop me worrying when one grew faster than t'other ). I kept mine in the dining room (we didn't use it much and floor was tiled!) and I used a large rodent cage as a brooder and used a lamp as the heat source. The ambient temp was not too bad in the house so they weaned off the bulb reasonably quickly (basically they spent more and more time up the cold end). I can assure you that chicks can and will sleep fine under a normal light bulb too! Although if I ever do it again and can't use a proper ceramic heat source, I will use a red bulb, def a bit less harsh. Not sure I want to do it again, not in the house as they were b*y messy.... the smell wasn't much of a problem as I cleaned them out at least once every day but near the end it was morning and evening. I also let them run around the dining room while I did this to get some exercise and that was fun! Especially when they discover they can fly! They are little poop and dust making machines, but raising them like that def makes them very imprinted and tame, they learnt to come to their names very early (gutbuckets!). I applaud you for your research! But try not to worry too much about it either, they are pretty tough and grow so so quickly it is unbelievable! Maddy xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CockADoodleDoo Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 do you have a link to your album feemg your run looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Thanks - I don't have an omlet album (seems people are having problems with it so haven't tried). I'l post a few more pics in a separate thread if you like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 This "dander" that we read about.....how much exactly do they create? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 A lot Egluntine - but I suppose it's proportionate to how many chicks you have. Within a week I've had a thick layer on the windowsills, heat lamp and worktop - then I forget and take washing out the machine and dump it on the worktop . You have to damp dust every couple of days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 I think I'll stick with POL's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 I use an indoor rabbit cage with hemcore in it. I want to find something as good as hemcore for keeping the smells away but something that can't be kicked out. They're messy and they stink. I also keep mine in my utility room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted December 3, 2007 Author Share Posted December 3, 2007 Thank you so much everyone! We would love to get some next year, or maybe the year after (if we can wait!) Is "dander" just the polite way of saying they have dandruf? At the moment Clover is growing loads of new feathers and they are kind of wrapped up in this case of white paper stuff, is that what you mean? I can deal with that. Its just the smell that will get me. And where to put them, probably my room. I have some old shelfs made out of cheap (excuse the pun) chip wood. Could I make a box out of that? How big does it need to be for 2/3 chicks? thank you so much agian! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 No. it's not the same as the shaft coverings that look like dandruff, it's when the chicks feathers grow in and they shed all their fluff - so its like fluffy dust. You could make a wooden box but for only a couple of chicks it might be easier just to buy a plastic storage box, easier to clean too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted December 3, 2007 Author Share Posted December 3, 2007 Thank you again for the help! I can't wait to see what happens next year! Do you mind if I PM you if I need help with something nearer the time? I understand if you say no, so don't worry! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 No probs , I'm by no means a chick expert but can at least pass on what I've learned along the way. I'll probably be hatching again come the Spring so if you have chicks we can compare notes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted December 3, 2007 Author Share Posted December 3, 2007 Thank you! We will most definatly compare notes and pictures ! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Here's some day old 'Gingernuts' to wet your appetite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted December 3, 2007 Author Share Posted December 3, 2007 They are soooo cute!!!! Oh no I'm going broody! Someone get the cold water!!! They really are gorgeous! Thank you for the picture! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Just to let you know I've posted a reply to your wanted post in another section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
