This year we are using a new brooding system. These are rigid heat pads or plates. They have legs to hold them at the height of the chicks’ backs. There is very little fire risk with this system.
Our old brooder, built from plans designed in 1942, had to fixed heat lamp bulbs. We were always really careful to make sure they were clean and could not touch anything. We used this for 11 years.
But one day my husband went out and found the thermometer support had been pushed against one and was smoldering. Not good! So as soon as we were able, we bought the new design.
We start the chicks on plain newsprint with feed spread all over it. There is also feed in the feeders. They quickly find the food on the floor and within a day or 2 have found the feeders. At that point we put bedding down.
We put the trays holding water on the boards so they are level. The other 3 trays will hold the food. We will put the food and water in just before we pick the 90 chicks up at the Post Office on Friday morning around 7AM.
This is the brooder enclosure. It will keep the rats out.
Behind the left side door, we have set-up a space heater to bring the cold room to about 78 – 80F. The heat plates will take care of the rest of the heating for the chicks. They need it around 95F for the first 5 days. Then it reduces 5 degrees every 5 days until it is room temperature and they are fully feathered out. That will be about 5 weeks and the first week of June. Here, hopefully, it will be warm enough for them to go out to the pasture.
Next up is fox proofing the pasture pen…
Other posts on raising chicks:
https://steemit.com/homesteading/@goldenoakfarm/chickens-day-raising-day-old-chicks
https://steemit.com/homesteading/@goldenoakfarm/building-our-brooder-and-enclosure
https://steemit.com/homesteading/@goldenoakfarm/ordering-chicks
https://steemit.com/homesteading/@goldenoakfarm/setting-up-the-brooder
https://steemit.com/homesteading/@goldenoakfarm/the-chicks-are-here
