Saturday, February 14, 2015

New Brooder

I love my new chicks but my old brooder just wasn't big enough. I can't feel good about my chicks if I know they are in too small a place, and their droppings cover the floor too fast, and I know they aren't  clean enough, plus the old brooder just couldn't seem to stay hot enough. The temperature kept dipping down in the 80's. That isn't hot enough for new chicks that should be started off at 100 degrees for the first week (at least 95 degrees!). So yesterday I stopped and got one of the biggest totes I could find. It was $10.57. I got some pine shavings and a real red brooder bulb for the chicks (red bulbs keep them from pecking each other). I got the bulb at Tractor Supply and noticed they had a new bin of chicks. These chicks were black and just labeled pullets (all females). They are probably Barred Rocks. I always loved the Barred Rocks I used to have. Yeah, I just had to get some. So now there are six of those. I went home, got the new brooder all set up and the chicks put in it. It is a relief to know they have plenty of room now and that the brooder isn't too cold. The red light doesn't make for very nice pictures but they'll have to do.



5 comments:

  1. Hi Becky, right now, these chicks don't know how good they have under your care. Good luck

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    1. Well, I hope they lay me some nice eggs later because my current chickens aren't very good at it.

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  2. Looks like Party Time for those chicks: food, drink, romantic lighting...! All they need now is some suitable music :)

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    1. Ha ha, funny you should say that, they are in my music room and although I did not get a chance to play today tomorrow they will get some fairly nice violin music.

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  3. what a great start to a (hopefully) productive life!

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