25 thoughts on “Raising Chickens: Making a Brooder and Raising Baby Chicks”

  1. 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?

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  2. changed mine about chicks[forgot about roosters],thought of using automatic
    foundation vents[open and close with temperature],could i put new chicks
    from my supplier in the new coopmaking card board sorround [always heard
    dont have corners]thinking of separate tactor coop with detachable runs to
    ease moving[plan on 18 to 20 birds per coop going to angle off inside of
    coop so no sharp corners to get into

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  3. To +A Nelson You tube comments are so terribly broken it won’t let me reply
    so I hope you see this… I do recommend starting with chicks and I
    recommend against starting with adults birds. There are many reasons but
    the primary one is your relationship with your flock. A flocks personality
    is influenced by how they were raised. Other reasons include: 1) re-homing
    adults can be difficult 2)your may be introducing disease from another
    flock 3) you learn a lot more starting with chicks.

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  4. I have some 7 week old Chocolate batam orpingtons and I am concerned for
    them. They are loosing there fur and getting feathers but they look sweaty.
    I am afraid their brooder got too moist what can I do?

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  5. 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?

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  6. I am getting chicks next week and am wondering if I should give them grit.
    Also, is it wise to give them anything other than chick starter? People
    have written on other sites about giving them worms, bugs, sod….
    Thanks for your videos! They are great!

    Reply
  7. We had 25 chicks arrive on Monday (March 31, 2014). How long should they
    stay in the brooder until they can be introduced to the coop/run? We are in
    south eastern PA. This will be a new flock and there are no adults to
    introduce the young ones to. 

    Reply
  8. 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

    Reply
  9. I have 6 chicks that are about three weeks old. I live in idaho and it
    still gets pretty cold out at night. I was just wondering if I can put them
    in the coop overnight with the lamp instead of inside at night. Thanks

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

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  11. If we are raising the chicks indoors, do we need to turn on the light daily
    (to simulate the sunlight) or can they be under the red lights for the 8
    weeks?

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  12. I have a Silkie chicken egg in my incubator. It will hatch
    Saturday March 22 I am excited but have never hatched out chickens. Any
    info on silkie chicks and do I have to use a coop or can I let them
    free roam when there about 8 weeks?

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  13. 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!

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  14. I just had a question. I have some 3 week old Silkies and I live in
    Michigan with just going into winter will my chicks (who are in house now)
    be okay to move outdoors in 8 weeks? I do have other older birds but have
    found the silkies to be pretty good with the younger babies.

    Reply
  15. have a top cover over run of green house plastic,with side panelsi can roll
    down to keep out cold weather part of the run is covered with roofing to
    provide shade in the warmer days of summer and that odd day in spring and
    fall that gets too hot only have twenty four now have had as many as 48 in
    8×16 coop going to make two new chicken tractors to fit raised beds moving
    it from bed to bed with separate runs that will attach to either end of
    coops ,new chickens will be separated fromm old ,runss in knock down panels
    and coops on wheels,winter project,possums will eat eggs and baby
    chicks,mice also,might cover bottm of coops with metal flashing

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  16. For chicks – does the heat lamp need to be red or is a white lamp OK? We
    just got Sussex chicks and this is our first night.

    Reply
  17. Can I mix chicks that are 2 to 3 weeks apart? I want a mixture of breeds
    but they won’t be hatched at the same time. I don’t have any other chickens.
    Great videos !

    Reply

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