I'm planning to hatch chicks for sale for the first time soon.

[fuzzymonkeez101]

I put this incubator (20 ct) in my Saved For Later on Amazon. They should pay you for promoting it, lol.

I wish, could use a few more lol

 

[redinator]

I wish, could use a few more lol

More? 30 at a time isn't enough, lol. Holy Smokes

 

[fuzzymonkeez101]

More? 30 at a time isn't enough, lol. Holy Smokes

Well I am trying to sell them. And I have the time, space, and enough breeding chickens for me to be able to have a different incubator running for each week

 

[redinator]

Well I am trying to sell them. And I have the time, space, and enough breeding chickens for me to be able to have a different incubator running for each week

I told a friend today I need a bigger yard so I can have more chickens, lol. There's a Tractor Supply 10 mins from me and I'm fighting the urge to go get some more, lol.

 

[fuzzymonkeez101]

I told a friend today I need a bigger yard so I can have more chickens, lol. There's a Tractor Supply 10 mins from me and I'm fighting the urge to go get some more, lol.

My husband would tell you I have that same struggle even with all mine, I could never have enough chickens. There's just so many different kinds

 

[DobieLover]

Hatch is officially over! All 28 that went in to lockdown have hatched successfully on day 0
View attachment 4060901

That is an excellent hatch rate!

Oh I almost forgot to show yall the brooder! It's hand cut by me so don't mind the crooked cuts lol. Definitley the cheapest brooder setup I have made and I've raised out 3 batches of chicks in it so far. I can make a couple more for less than $30 if I need to. I only put the big hole in this one because I had an extra aquarium lid laying around to use as a lid for easy water access but it's not necessary. The sides are pretty tall for up to 2 week old chicks.
View attachment 4060912View attachment 4060913View attachment 4060914

Your brooder isn't large enough for 6 chicks let alone 28. Your brooder plate cannot fit them either.

You need a brooder that has 1 sq ft per chick from hatch to about 2-3 weeks then they need their space doubled to 2 sq ft per chick until 6 weeks. Then they need to be in the coop with 4 sq ft per bird. Do you have a heated garage or anything where you can make a large area in the corner to brood them in with a second brooder plate bumped up next to the one you have? 2 plates would accommodate all those chicks if you throw an old bath towel over them and form a cave.
I know you cut holes in the lid of that little tote but you still don't have enough ventilation.

 

[fuzzymonkeez101]

That is an excellent hatch rate!

Your brooder isn't large enough for 6 chicks let alone 28. Your brooder plate cannot fit them either.

You need a brooder that has 1 sq ft per chick from hatch to about 2-3 weeks then they need their space doubled to 2 sq ft per chick until 6 weeks. Then they need to be in the coop with 4 sq ft per bird. Do you have a heated garage or anything where you can make a large area in the corner to brood them in with a second brooder plate bumped up next to the one you have? 2 plates would accommodate all those chicks if you throw an old bath towel over them and form a cave.
I know you cut holes in the lid of that little tote but you still don't have enough ventilation.

Well again, I am selling these. All but 5 will be gone in a couple of days.

 

[fuzzymonkeez101]

That is an excellent hatch rate!

Your brooder isn't large enough for 6 chicks let alone 28. Your brooder plate cannot fit them either.

You need a brooder that has 1 sq ft per chick from hatch to about 2-3 weeks then they need their space doubled to 2 sq ft per chick until 6 weeks. Then they need to be in the coop with 4 sq ft per bird. Do you have a heated garage or anything where you can make a large area in the corner to brood them in with a second brooder plate bumped up next to the one you have? 2 plates would accommodate all those chicks if you throw an old bath towel over them and form a cave.
I know you cut holes in the lid of that little tote but you still don't have enough ventilation.

They are in their own heated room with a fan overhead circulating air

 

[fuzzymonkeez101]

That is an excellent hatch rate!

Your brooder isn't large enough for 6 chicks let alone 28. Your brooder plate cannot fit them either.

You need a brooder that has 1 sq ft per chick from hatch to about 2-3 weeks then they need their space doubled to 2 sq ft per chick until 6 weeks. Then they need to be in the coop with 4 sq ft per bird. Do you have a heated garage or anything where you can make a large area in the corner to brood them in with a second brooder plate bumped up next to the one you have? 2 plates would accommodate all those chicks if you throw an old bath towel over them and form a cave.
I know you cut holes in the lid of that little tote but you still don't have enough ventilation.

I use personal experience more than internet math. I've raised out 10 chicks at a time in here and not lost a single one. But I'm also prepared for anything. I have older brooders out in my greenhouse and bigger heat plates but I find trying to simulate the size of a mother hen works best. They will tumble over each other and take turns for the first week.

 

[fuzzymonkeez101]

At some point I will have to write an article about my method of raising chicks but I try to keep the process as natural as what I've seen my broody hens do when raising babies and my chicks grow fast, healthy and are mostly feathered and ready to go outside full time at 6 weeks old. This is Texas though so we stay warm and humid even at night. These are only 8 weeks old and they don't need any external heat source.