KateG Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I don't intend on raising my own for some time yet- got a whole lot to learn first I think. But I do have a few questions, I hope you'll answer for me. Firstly, how much does the equipment cost to get set up to hatch your own? Secondly, how old are they when they come out from under the heat and how old when they go outside? And lastly, what do you do with the boys? Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Incubator £25-£XXX but a beginners one will be around £25-£100, a flasher foolproof one about £150-£200 A brooder - this could be a plastic crate with weldmesh over the top - I am using a cardboard box at the moment as a second brooder and thats working well. An indoor rabbit cage (plastic base wire top) is a good bet, mine cost £35 secondhand A heat lamp and bulb is about £20-£25 but costs a bit to run, an electric hen is cheaper to run but costs about £40 A chick feeder and drinker can be bought for a few pounds Chick crumb is about £3 for a 5kg bag The age at which chicks go outside will vary - time of year is a factor as well as how quickly the chicks feather up, one lot of my chicks went out jst before they were 5 weeks old when the weather was very warm. I have some week old chicks at the moment that will probably stay in most of the winter then go out into a stable before hitting the wide world in the spring I am afraid to say that I plan to dispatch and eat my boys, I have kept one as a breeding cockerel but the later ones will go in the pot. Looking at the number of cockerels sold to dubious homes at auction made me realise that unless I could guarantee a good home I would keep the boys for the pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateG Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 Redwing, thank you so much for replying. I'm not sure I'm woman enough to do the dispatching myself, so I may never raise my own from egg. Which saddens me a bit because I'm quite happy to eat the meat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 If you didn't feel up to it, you could ask your butcher if he'd do it or knows anywhere that will or see if you live by any Omleteers that could help you out. There are courses that you can go on to teach you how to dispatch too if you did want to give it a try Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
