Raising Chickens: Making a Brooder and Raising Baby Chicks

[@yw8990]

Thanks so much for the great video!! I got 31 young chicks about 10 days ago. Until now 2 of them have died most likely because of piling up. Immediately after watching your video I built for them a much bigger place without any sharp corners. Now they are very well spreaded and are much happier than before.

[@Bellbeesevenacresfarm]

We are getting chicks today so this really helped! Thank u so much

[@mlwhite8621]

Great video and awesome advice in the comments section. We're getting a few chicks from the school's lot in the beginning of April. I hope to order some additional chicks from McMurray's in May. Your videos answer a lot of my questions. Thank you

[@Lisaj4431]

I love your vids and responses, its nice to see a farmer that cares about his flock. I'm a new subscriber. Carry on

[@victoryfarm]

I can't answer that one -- but it all comes down to this: Do the best you reasonably can. We like to say "Happy chickens make better eggs." As long as they have a nice dry home and are taken care of you should be just fine. Most chickens in the world live in horrible conditions and yours will always be happier than them. Aside -- chickens also love table scraps. Pasta, bread, fruit. Don't overdo it but they really enjoy the occasional treat.

[@MountainScentaments]

Great information! My first ever chicks will arrive in 2 weeks ..so excited!

[@imasavage504]

Thank you for the tips, I'm prepping for my first set of birds and I've found your videos very helpful with lots of little inside tips you get from experience. Thank you again!

[@suprsleep]

Very helpful! We just bought 100 chicks and 6 have died in the last two days. This video has educated me so I now know what to do, thank you

[@victoryfarm]

It's a good start. Coexisting is a tricky problem. Popular terms like "pecking order" and "henpecked" have real roots with real problems and can occur in a flock of any size. I have two coops with birds from the same broods and each coop seems to have it's own personality. In one coop they get along much better than the other. If you're exhibiting your biggest concern will be pecking. The best advice I can give is that happier chickens seem to peck less.

[@JackNorthrup]

We just made a small coop and purchased our chicks, but are thinking about hatching birds. Thank you for your video. We are raising native birds here in the Philippines.

[@victoryfarm]

That is a very good question. We've never done it here. Generally I don't like to medicate birds until I see a problem because the medication can get into the eggs of adult birds. We've been lucky enough to never have to medicate for anything so far. I can't recall ever hearing of worming of pullets as a general practice. Best bet is to read some of the articles on the hatchery sites (they tend to be more useful than the books I've seen on poultry raising)

[@dawggonekrazylady3874]

Thank you so much!!! Great info !!! I really didn't think I could become attached to them, That only lasted about 5 seconds !!!! I love them I have 2 guinea hens and 2 Americana. Just got them today, they are 5 days old. Think I will get two more tomorrow RIR's They are all 5 days old. From the great state of Texas Beautiful babies!

[@victoryfarm]

They were really labelled "brooder lights" at Lowes? That's kind of cool. Glad you found them.

[@victoryfarm]

We usually do a brood mid-October which means a move to the coop in Dec. We've done this for the last 4 years and have never had a problem with the cold. I do recommend slowly introducing your pullets to both temperature and lighting conditions in the brooder before moving them so the transition is the least shocking as is possible. Going from a warm heat lamp that's on 24/7 to a cold dark coop must be terrifying.

[@fingegotmilk1465]

It depends on what set up you have for your chicken pen/run when it comes to releasing chicks with the rest of the flock. Personally, I have a brooder coop, with an enclosed run where I put my chicks when they're a week old, or when they start growing feathers. Mine were with the flock at 5 weeks, and after a few chasing, things settled down. Today, my pullets and cockerel are happily roaming with the flock at 10 weeks of age.

[@robertmuir4496]

Hey Victoryfarm, Ya it's cold and don't want to lose any of them.Maybe in a 30 days it will get a little warmer.Getting sick of this weather.Thanks again.

[@victoryfarm]

Yes, they will probably fly over the fence but they will come back at dusk. You will need to help them the first few days but then they put themselves to bed like clockwork. Chickens are wonderfully curious. They love to explore. Ours go about 200 or 300 feet away from our coops and they find fences irresistible. If this is a problem you might consider putting up poultry netting above your fences. Deer netting is cheaper but rips much more quickly.

[@piglett2195]

i cut the cord in 1/2 on my brooder lamp then added a dimmer from wallyword which was only $6 i also put a dial thermostat in . now if it's too cold i can add more heat & if it's too warm i can dim the light some great vid VF subscribed!

[@victoryfarm]

What you heard was correct -- it's not just grass. It's bugs, dirt and who knows what. Best solution I can offer is to have a portable run that you can alternate on all four sides of the coop. Move it every month or two and the ground can recover. We have this on one of our coops. It's on the list for a video topic but we probably won't get to it for a month or two.

[@victoryfarm]

Depending on where you live you can check local feed stores like Agway. They often have chicks in the spring. If that's not an option try Craig's list. You may need to search outside of your area and be willing to drive a bit (depending on where you live). If you are willing to start with 25 or more any online hatchery will ship them to you. We like Murray McMurray. Depending on your climate you may want to wait until spring. Good luck!

[@victoryfarm]

We've done 3 broods per year for the past 10 years. Usually 25 - 50 birds per brood. Only four have gone bad with maybe three others with minor loss. It doesn't often happen but it does happen and it's not hard to avoid. Simple steps like forgetting to turn off laying lights in the winter can be the difference between a successful introduction and hauling a wagon load of corpses across the field. We had no problems until year 6 when nature humbled me yet again.

[@victoryfarm]

That's such a good question I put it on my list for video topics. Some books say a 5 foot fence will keep chickens in. They won't. Neither will 6. Maybe 8 foot. If you don't want them out you'll need a covered run. Problem with a covered run is that soon there's nothing for them to eat. Egg quality suffers. Remember chickens are forest birds. Grass is good but they prefer leaf litter and undergrowth. Don't watch them. If you plan on ranging plan on loosing a few and stock accordingly.

[@Mamawolf2000]

To be a bit more specific.... You'll note when a chicken goes "broody" their stomach/bottom area will be quite warm... My dad always took one of those hospital "wash pans" (or a dishpan will do) fill with cool water (not more than 6 inches deep), just deep enough to dunk chicken maybe an inch above their legs, and hold them there for 3 or 4 minutes. This will "cool" the broodyness out until next cycle. Works like a charm!

[@farhanmanzoor2039]

Your cardboard idea is fantastic

[@victoryfarm]

Sorry to hear about that. Also pay close attention to how much moisture is in your brooder as well. Your bedding should be mostly dry and there should be little smell. Good luck!

[@victoryfarm]

@dw9559 We've never had a problem with cats and adults bird. They generally ignore each other. Though we do have to be very careful to keep cats away from the brooder! I don't expect it would end well if we didn't. The cat in the video was one of several cats dumped on our farm. She's one of the most friendly and delightful cats I've ever met and we're very glad to have been adopted by her. We tried to re-home her but she was back on the farm within hours following my son around like a puppy.

[@victoryfarm]

Your pullets can go right from the brooder to the coop at about 8 weeks old. There are some precautions you need to take, especially if you are introducing them to adults birds. I don't have any experience with earlier but I can tell you that much later is a very bad idea. We have a batch we are moving on Thursday (5/17/2012) and we're planning a new video on this subject. I'm hoping to have it up by the weekend.

[@victoryfarm]

Mixing birds that old can be dicey but since you only have two it might work out. The hard part will be getting the older birds you're bringing in to imprint their new coop as their home. I have never been able to do this, but usually I've tried introducing one or two into an existing flock of 20 or more. If you normally let them free range you may need to keep them confined for 5 days or more.

[@victoryfarm]

I would recommend a heat lamp. They put out 250 watts with much of it in the infra-red so there is much more heat than two 60 watts are going to provide. I've never tried regular bulbs so I can't be sure but I would not feel comfortable doing so.

[@victoryfarm]

Your brooder should be big enough to have a warmer and cooler spaces. You can keep the heat lamp to one side for example. They will go to where they are most comfortable and you can use that to adjust the height of the heat lamp as well.

[@violaduck]

Aloha! Quite informative, and I enjoy how you talk to your chickens and cat! Do you have a video about how to get a broody hen to stop brooding? Thanks!!!

[@victoryfarm]

I've had the best luck with "Murray McMurray Hatchery" -- I can't put in a link to the comments but if you google it, it will be the first listing.

[@victoryfarm]

I answered this one on another video: I can't comment very much on feed selection. Unless I order 6 tons at a time (or grind my own) I have to take what the local feed store has ("Southern State" Feed). What I can tell you is that in my experience the best eggs come from full access to a natural environment. Chickens are one of the few animals that will select a healthy diet (most mammals will eat junk until it kills them). Grass is good but they prefer to dig in dirt and leaf litter.

[@kibalilyaj]

ok good to know. its out first time and were getting new 1 week old chicks soon i cant wait to have chickens!

[@redcomusic]

I use dirt (soil) for litter. The darker the soil, the better. Never smells and never needs replacement. Can reuse with next flock! And just a spill-proof waterer. NO FEEDER. I sprinkle just enough table scraps and ground cereal onto the dirt no more than twice a day. Occasionally some crickets and mealworms. Teaches them how to hunt, forage and scratch.

[@victoryfarm]

Depends on your coop. If they will be spending most of their day in the run or on the range you can have a little as 2 sqft per bird. If they will always be in the coop 3 - 4 is best. Don't forget that roost space is equally important. You need about 1 foot per bird.

[@victoryfarm]

I'm not sure I can answer that question with any authority. The textbooks say to keep the temp at 95F. One thing that might help is surround your brooder with bricks that would absorb the heat during the day and release it at night. As to your coop -- my gut feeling says that 5 - 6 weeks should be long enough before letting them into your coop -- but that also really depends on your the nighttime temp. If you can a full 8 weeks that would be best.

[@victoryfarm]

That's an excellent idea! Good job.

[@T289c]

Very good info and tips. I am going to be brooding chicks and adding them to my adult flock in the Spring. I know you said 8 weeks. In the past I have kept the chickens in separate coops outside for a few weeks before integrating. I thought this was to prevent sickness and disease as they can be vulnerable in a new environment. Also I heard it is best to add them at night when the adults are less active. You think I will be ok adding my 8 week olds straight in the coop in the evening? I worry about sickness.

[@victoryfarm]

I have another video on moving a brood into an adult flock. It's not about avoiding sickness and disease as much as carnage through suffocation and attack. Although nearly all of our moves went off without a problem a few went spectacularly wrong. In the worst we lost 17 birds out of 44 overnight. It was a hard lesson.

[@snowballis2cute]

Thank you for the rapid response! Here in Florida it never gets cold enough to kill Parasites like Worms! Monthley worming is Vital and nessary for healty Birds here! So I have been told by Poultry Farmers.

[@victoryfarm]

@morningbirdfeeder Don't worry -- you don't come across that way. We used to build roosts but learned the we find they generally don't roost up to the point we move them -- and in our experience waiting more than eight weeks can be really tragic.

[@victoryfarm]

The rat question is too big to fit in a youtube comment. I answered it on our Victory Farm blog. I can't place a link here but it's at the end of the video description. Feed: We use Southern State feed because it's what we can get. I've also heard Purina is good. We choose "layer crumble" because we are so often introducing pullets into our coops but I have sometimes suspected that pellets or short pellets (shorties) might actually increase egg yield.

[@victoryfarm]

If they are hatched by a hen then she will protect them. Sometimes you can even put newborn chicks under a broody hen and she will take care of them. I am a little confused by your question, though. Do you have your new coop set up yet? When you say your are getting chicks this weekend are you getting already hatched chicks or are you buying live chicks? If you're buying live chicks it's really best to set up a brooder.

[@thebunny9000]

okay thank you. i was wondering what kind of feed you feed your chickens, for them to lay alot of eggs

[@victoryfarm]

I would suspect carefresh would probably work as long as they are at least a week old. Be sure to keep it dry. Raising your waterer to beak level will help with that.

[@victoryfarm]

10 x 10 is plenty for 7 birds with even a little room to spare. Make sure they have adequate roost space (about 10 feet) and a few nesting boxes and your coop should be good to go. Good luck!

[@thebunny9000]

Thanks. I have a fenced yard and i have very little daytime preditores, i live in PA btw!!!! Do you think a large run is a better choise. Can I at let them out over the weekend and watch them?

[@DarkRose357]

Thanks for the video. It really helped me a lot.

[@ariesmama143]

Yes, thanks for the video! I guess I am going to have to rethink my brooder now...lol apparently having them in my moist greenhouse is no bueno. A question for you, my chicks are roughly 1 week old and the other two are now closer to 3 weeks old. Because I got them at a feed store, I'm really unsure of their true age. The older ones are in a separate space than the others, but I'm also curious when I can begin to introduce them to one another without risk of them killing the younger ones.

[@victoryfarm]

Bird netting tears very easily. It's expensive but I use "top flight" poultry netting. I get it from "Cutler's Poultry Supply" My fav place for supplies.

[@dw9559]

Aw, the barn cat thing was cute. LOL. I was just wondering if I could get a cat to discourage the possums that live next door from my chickens...but then...I'd have to make sure it was a cat who wouldn't terrify my flock all the time!

[@NadyaAct]

We live in Florida. Can I keep them outside during the day (monitoring the 95 degrees temperature) and take them in the barn for the nights?

[@CarolReidCA]

Great info. I'm learning before deciding weather or not to get chicks, if so how many, etc. TY for the insights. Does the 8-weeks rule apply to small & larger breeds? Colder or warmer weather?

[@SpecificLove7]

I am getting some chicks this week and have raised a few before, but this time I will have to introduce them to 4 adult birds (2 hens and 2 roosters) at your suggested 8 week period. One of the roosters is very calm and the other is quite mean towards anything in their pen. For example, I usually carry a broom for security (been spurred before). Do you have any suggestions for the introduction?

[@victoryfarm]

We have a video on that very topic! Raising Chickens: Moving Your Pullets / Chicks to Your Coop

[@SpecificLove7]

awesome thanks, I will check it out.

[@rosysnow3356]

Hello, I Just got 6 chicks a couple weeks ago from our tractor supply place and were getting 16 red stars by mail and should be coming June 1st so my question was since our 6 chicks we have now will be about two months old by the time our red stars come and or chicks will be like two days old do we still wait 8 weeks to introduce them? and if we do do that can we leave them all together in the coop over night? cause im afraid they will hurt the younger chicks? and This is my first time having chicks So please reply I would really appreciate it! bye

[@victoryfarm]

Absolutely. Florida weather should be perfect for chickens. They are originally South American birds. The more time outside the better -- only concern might be predators.

[@therealeliteking1]

Where do you put your chickens in between the brooding stage and the coop stage? about how old will they graduate the brooder

[@victoryfarm]

As long as you can keep them warm and dry it should be fine. A good source of information are the articles on the McMurray Hatchery web site (google them). Good Luck!

[@victoryfarm]

I answer that question at the end of or "Moving pullets to the coop" video -- in the "Viewer Questions" section. Have a look there (I forget the exact numbers offhand).

[@CluelessHomesteaders]

Thanks. New sub here. Have always bought pullets but getting ready to go to the next level.

[@thebunny9000]

Is bird netting, like the ones put over fruit trees, ok to put over the fenced in area? To keep them in?

[@chestnutlanestables4344]

hi! i am getting 3 chicks soon , because my school hatched them.......(but they did it well!) and i was wondering if instead of wood shavings could i use carefresh . my school is supplying everything else..... thanks :)

[@victoryfarm]

I've never turned them off. I adjust the temperature by raising or lowering it. The chicks will tell if it's too hot or not. If they're clustering under it they're cold. If they're avoiding it they're too hot.

[@austinjones8462]

Ive had my 1st set of chickens for about 2 weeks now (5 broilers and 5 red rangers) don't have any older chickens. When is the soonest I can put them outside in the coop ?

[@victoryfarm]

Reds lay about 5.7 eggs per week and Barred Rocks about 2.8 so if you have a handful of each you should get eggs every day. In your planning remember this is an average and it's lower in winter. Also plan on some predator loss if you're letting them range. Some places it can be over 50% per year. My reds and rocks get along fine. Silkies should be fine also. I've never had interbreed problem but trying to intermingle adult birds from different flocks can end badly.

[@thebunny9000]

You r such a help, if any more questions arrise i will definetly ask!!!

[@redrumck81]

awesome, spot on info. of course i dont have to tell you that:) i learned the hard way last year by not doing my research first. i went out buying adult chickens left and right from individuals and my whole flock got sick. this year, im starting with an online hatchery and doing it the right way. i have fully sterilized my coop and washed all feeders with a 50/50 bleach and water solution. i am hoping that after 8 weeks, my coop will be ok for my new flock. do you recommend i do anything else? thank you!

[@victoryfarm]

Sound like you're doing the right things. Only other advice is to watch the chicks. They will let you know how they're doing. Make sure they're brooder is dry, watch whether they gather under the heat lamp and adjust accordingly and you should be fine.

[@victoryfarm]

Depends on their ages when you introduce them. If the chicks are too old when you introduce them to the adult birds you could have trouble. Try to do it as close to 8 weeks of age as you can.

[@googIed]

I live in Saudi Arabia, right now in the late morning and throughout the afternoon it gets in the mid to higher 90s. I plan to hatch some turkey poults. We don't have heat lamps here, can I use a hot water bag to supplement any needed heat during the night? We have an unused bathroom that I thought of brooding them in. We have no adult animals, so how long must I brood them before releasing them to my Desert coop/run that I'll prepare for them?

[@victoryfarm]

It would be best to round the corners for a least a few days. It only takes 4 or 5 pullets to make a fatal pile up. In our experience as long as we round the corners and open up or block places they can squeeze into then all goes well. Sometime after a few broods with no problems we get lazy and then loose a bunch.

[@Antnelson13]

Do you recommend starting with chicks the first time you start chickens?

[@riellydavis9410]

I usually get chickens at tractor supply. This year I want to get silkie, rode island .how do I tell male from female? And how do I tell that the chicks are the right kind.

[@victoryfarm]

Except for sex link breeds (like red star) it's very hard to tell the difference between male and female. Usually they will have them separated at the store. Check out this clip: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXXHnKmNaatgi7s

[@maddisonevans734]

Im getting 3 laying chickens and we are picking them up from a store. And we are thinking about building something and putting it in the garage, we don't really have anywhere else to keep them other than that. So Is it a good idea to keep them in the garage for 8 weeks?

[@shawnamahaffey4602]

This video helped greatly thank you so much

[@thebunny9000]

I have one more question. If i were to put up a 5 ft fence and my chickens were well raised, do you think they would fly away. I mean their food and coop is there. Do you think they would leave?

[@AmericanPitbulls1]

yeah I have look on craigslist and my local feed store dosn't sell chicks they will order for you but from such places and only orders if your getting all of them so no luck here on that I have also asked around but most say they only have unfertilized eggs for eating only

[@slyryn6347]

one other question since I have a top part and a bottom part to our coop (top is dark and closed) (bottom is just fencing) will the straw in the top affect the chicks at all? ( there is a ramp up to the top)

[@KarenGoddard74]

Great info! I actually didnt know about having to put paper down the first few days. Do you put any kind of paper? Newspaper?

[@victoryfarm]

Any paper will do. We usually use newspaper.

[@snowballis2cute]

Should pullets be wormed? If so how often? Keep in mind these are Florida Pullets. alot of diverse parasites here!

[@Excellsier]

Great info. thank you!

[@slyryn6347]

well i have a small tub that im keeping them in i only have 2 chicks and i dont have anything to hang the lamp with so its attached to the side so i cant really higher or lower it .what should i do if it gets to hot?

[@victoryfarm]

I've never mixed chicks so I can't give a truly informed answer -- but my feeling would be with only a few weeks age difference it might be better to introduce them sooner rather than later. I would try mixing them and see how they respond. I've never seen a bird under 8 weeks act aggressively but those tendencies do come on pretty quick.

[@Fishkid88]

what do you do about fluctuating temperature during the day and night

[@TheGweng2002]

I live in a really warm area and what i wanted to ask is that do i still need a lamp for them

[@katie66080]

Thank you, great video!

[@thebunny9000]

Do you think that if my chickens have a run, and not a whole yard, and I still bring them grass and hay after they eat and sratch up the orinal grass, Do you suggest me to get sod and role it out to them? I am asking this because I heard bugs really make a difference in the eggs. Please tell me what I can to if they have a run, NOT a tractor, what can i do!?!

[@victoryfarm]

I would wait until you hit four weeks but it really depends on your climate. Gradually move the heat lamp higher and see how they do. If they still crowd under it tightly that mean they're cold.

[@Gbody75]

I have a three storey coop the 3rd story is boxes the second story is a food and water station like the bottom I have bantams I just got also with silver laced and golden phoenix chicks ...but were getting rid of some of them would it be beter to put in the nesting boxes or on the second storie all my chickens go for bottom and top barly middle my bantem roosters like the balence beams so should I probably just keep them in the middle with me standing ther

[@victoryfarm]

I know people do this sometimes but I recommend against it. Not all hens are good mothers and some breeds have the skill bred out of them (but she probably wouldn't be nesting if that were the case). We have never done it here so I don't have a strong gut feeling on it. If you do try let me know how it goes. I'd love to include your experience the next time we do a video on chicks.

[@victoryfarm]

I don't have any experience with solitary birds. We've always had a flock. I would suspect they would survive as solitary pets if you and your family can become a surrogate flock (the way people become the pack for dogs) but I also think chickens are happiest in a community.

[@slyryn6347]

so if it feels like its getting to hot can you turn the lamp off. if you can how long should it be off?

[@jc178946]

I just got a baby chick today at the feed store, I tried introducing it to my chicken that has five little chicks it went well until she figured out it wasn't hers so I had to separate the baby chick is there a way to keep the chick warm with out the light?

[@yusufomar4239]

Hellow ?

[@robertoler4795]

We add our orphans at night...they never figure it out...

[@Control_own_mind]

LittleLoverXD share your contact number

[@arbonac]

Wow, great video, very informative. Thank you.

[@victoryfarm]

I have yet to see any interbreed problems so I think you should be okay on that concern. Good luck and let us know how it goes. You can reach is directly via our facebook page. Just click the FB link on our website which is in the video description (YT won't allow a link in the comments)

[@zavannahkettle3052]

i have a question i am getting rhode islang reds because i live in a coldish area and i hear they are good for that i have a coop a 10 by 10 do you think that is good for 5 to 7 chickens? oh and we are only getting that much because i have never had chicks before but i have everything that they should have warm water they should be in the brooder for 8 weeks and all that so can you answer that please!

[@katcattz]

Your video was very helpful! I have been around chickens my whole life, but am just now getting a flock of my own. I have two groups of babies, about the same age, different breeds, but they came from different places. How long do I wait to integrate them into one brooder, or do I need to wait until they are in the coop?

[@victoryfarm]

I've never tried this but I believe that if they are the same age and young enough, say less than 4 weeks old, you should be able to integrate them now. I've never seen significant pecking behavior in pullets so you should be okay. The only worry is if they one group had different vaccinations than the other. For example if one is vaccinated for coccidiosis and the other is not then you might want to give them different feed. If you do have any that were vaccinated make sure they don't get medicated chick starter (most are). We've had to move to game starter which is not medicated.

[@katcattz]

Okay thank you very much, that is very helpful. I will be sure to check on their vaccinations and feeding types.

[@victoryfarm]

@Mrkaan110 We don't sell adult birds and they can be very hard to find. Your best bet is Craig's list. Prices vary. Around here Red's run in the mid to upper teens but I've paid as low as eight. Silkies I think would run higher. If you live near a hatchery some do sell pullets but you have to pick them up.

[@thebunny9000]

I have a question, 1 more!!! I have decided that I will get 3 reds, 2 barred rocks, 2 campines and 3 polish. I know that I need a little room for them, especially for the big polish hens! I am going to build a coop that is 9 ft X 5 ft, the to that I am going to construct a mobile tractor "run" that is 8 ft X 9 ft. Do you think that this is enough room? PLEASE REPLY!!! Thanks!

[@BackToTheBus]

WOW ! You were so informative in such short time, Sub'd and thanks !

[@kibalilyaj]

for starters should u start out with 4?