Raising Happy and Healthy Chicks: Brooding and Hatching

Congratulations on your decision to raise chickens! We are truly exited for you! With so much information available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We highly recommend seeking advice from others and learning from their experiences. If you have a local friend who can share their knowledge, even better! To assist you in caring for your new feathered friends, we've put together a simple guide below.

Hatching Chicks:

three chicks, two yellow and one black one, in the grass

When you receive your hatching eggs in the mail, it is important to handle them with care. First, inspect the eggs for any cracks or damage. Then, let them rest at room temperature for 24 hours before placing them in an incubator. Placing them big end up in an egg carton works well. You should also have your incubator running for 24 hours before setting your eggs to confirm it is working properly. For successful hatching, the temperature and humidity levels need to be carefully monitored. The ideal temperature for incubation is between 99.5°F and 100.5°F, while the humidity level should be maintained at around 50-55% for the first 18 days. It is important to rotate the eggs at least 2-3 times a day. This helps to ensure that the developing embryo doesn't stick to the inside of the shell. Rotating the eggs helps to ensure that the chicks hatch successfully. During the last 3 days, you will need to increase the humidity to 65-75% and stop turning the eggs. This period is called "lockdown" and it allows the chicks to position themselves for hatching. Between days 19-21, the chicks should start to hatch. It's important to remember that opening an incubator before the chicks have finished hatching can cause a drop in humidity levels, which can cause the membrane between the chick and the egg to dry and stick to the chick. As hard as it is to resist, let the chicks stay in the incubator until they are all done hatching and fluffed up.

Brooding Chicks:

You will need a brooder, which is a heated enclosure that provides warmth and shelter for the chicks. The brooder should be set up before the chicks arrive and should include a heat source, such as a heat lamp or heating plate, bedding material, a waterer and a feeder. The temperature inside the brooder should be kept between 90-95°F for the first week and then gradually decreased by 5°F each week until the chicks are fully feathered and can regulate their own body temperature. By the time they reach 6 weeks old, chicks should not require additional heat. Taking care of your little chicks is important, and keeping their brooder, feeder, and waterer clean is essential for their health. Remember to wash your hands before and after handling your chicks or anything your birds touch to prevent the spread of germs.

***When setting up a heat source for chicks, it's crucial to be cautious and take measures to prevent fire hazards. Make sure to keep the heat source away from flammable materials and monitor it regularly to ensure it's functioning properly.

Bringing Home Baby Chicks:

Bringing home new chicks is a wonderful experience, and taking certain steps can ensure their health and well-being. When first placing them in their prepared brooder, dip each of their beaks in water to encourage drinking. Since the trip to their new home can be stressful for them, it's best to give them some space during the first day or two. Don't forget to wash your hands before and after handling them or anything they come into contact with.

Feeding Chicks: We highly recommend feeding your adorable chicks 20% protein chick starter or flock raiser for a minimum of 12 weeks. It's even better to continue feeding them it until week 16-18, depending on the breed. We've noticed a remarkable difference in egg size and production with our hens that were fed this higher protein feed early on. Trust us, those bigger eggs are worth every penny! We use a combination local farmer's feed and higher protein commercial feed to get 20% protein. Your local farm supply store should have just the chick starter you need, as well.

Enjoy Raising Your Flock:

As we mentioned earlier, there are so many different methods to hatch, brood and care for chicks! We've tried dry hatching, incubation cooling times, and even made our own incubator out of a styrofoam cooler and light! Plus, we regularly let a broody hen hatch out a clutch. We appreciate that everyone has their own unique thoughts, ideas, and methods for hatching and brooding chicks. We want to clarify that the methods mentioned on our website are simply what has worked best for us. We hope that our experience can be helpful to you in some way, but we also encourage you to explore and find what works best for your own situation. It's always important to do your own research and find what works best for you and your feathered friends. We hope that you enjoy raising your flock as much as we do!

If you are looking for a reliable incubator, we highly recommend Hatching Time's incubators. Use the code CLUCKANDQUACK10 for $10 off your order of $100 or CLUCKANDQUACK25 for $25 off your order of $250!

Click this link to get your code and start hatching!