Baby Chickens; Heating The Brooding Area

To quickly review from last week, a newly hatched chick is unable to maintain its body temperature. The chick is usually kept warm by its mother when she hatches the eggs. When you hatch chicks in an incubator, you must move the chicks to a brooder box after they have completely dried. In the brooder…

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Increasing Egg Laying Productivity Using Artificial Lights

“If we add a light to our coop during the winter months to try to increase egg productivity will it reduce the egg laying life span of the chickens? Also will it increase egg production enough to cover the electricity costs?” ~ Mechelle Meixner Hi Mechelle, thank you for the question. For those of you…

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Baby Chickens; The Brooder Box or Brooding Area

This week we’ll be addressing the brooder box or brooding area. Newly hatched chicks need an external source of heat because they are unable to maintain their own body temperature. This occurs naturally when a hen hatches her clutch; the chicks snuggle up with mother hen and stay warm. When you are hatching chicks in…

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How To Stop Chickens From “Going Broody”

“I would like no know how to stop your chickens from going broody? Thanks” ~ Dave Blair Dave thanks for the question. “Brood” seems to be the word this week; in our “Basics” series we’re discussing brooding boxes, the area in which you raise your newly hatched chicks. Now we’ll answer Dave’s question about broody…

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Free Ranging and Training Chickens...

Free Ranging and Training Chickens

“If I let my chicken range freely, how far away will they wander? Can I get then to come when I call?” ~ Terrie Travers Hi Terrie thanks for the question. Chickens will indeed wander but not like a dog. Where you might find your dog on the other side of town, your chickens may…

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Hatching Chicken Eggs Part 4 – Preparing For The Hatch

This week we’ll prepare for your chicks to hatch. If you have more than one setting in the incubator, meaning more than one batch of eggs at different stages in the incubation process, you’ll need to move the eggs on day 17 to another incubator to prepare for them to hatch. If all your eggs…

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Stopping Chickens That Eat Their Own Eggs

“I have young pullets starting to lay, but they have discovered that they can eat the eggs. Is there a way to retrain them?” ~ Barbara Jagoe Hi Barbara thanks for the question. The short answer to your question is “Maybe”. You can try to retrain them but some chickens are more difficult to retrain…

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Hatching Chicken Eggs Part 3 – Selecting, Setting & Candling

I’m excited; it’s time to set your eggs! In 21 days or so, you’ll have chicks! Prepare your incubator by heating it to the manufacturer’s recommended temperature and a relative humidity of 58 to 60%. Adjust the vents if necessary. You’ve been storing eggs selected for this purpose. It’s time to select the freshest, best…

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