Incubating and Hatching Chicks
I've been raising chickens for so long, I can't even remember not having these wonderful creatures.
Right now, I have 29 precious chicks in residence - Araucanas, Ayam Cemanis, and Marans. The peeps came from eggs laid here at my farm and then incubated and hatched inside my chick room at the stable. All of them are healthy, alert, and very curious. They will remain in a large cage until they are big enough to move to their own enclosure and coop, and then into the chicken yard with the other adults.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Perfect eggs – all laid by my healthy hens here at the farm.
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- The eggs are placed into the incubator where they are safe from other birds and closely monitored until they hatch. Chicken eggs take 21-days. While the eggs incubate, they are automatically turned once a day, 45-degrees each way, back and forth during this period.
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- At about day-seven and again at day-14, Helen “candles” each one, meaning she holds each egg against a light, turning it slowly, to observe the embryo inside. Fertilized, growing embryos can be identified by visible blood vessels, a large dark spot or filled space in the egg. This egg looks to have a developing chick inside.
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- This egg looks pretty clear all the way through, so it’s likely there is no growing embryo in this one.
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- From days 17 to 21, they’re placed into this hatching cabinet, where it is still warm. The eggs are spaced apart in sections where it is safe and where eggs cannot roll during the hatching process.
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- After the chicks hatch, they are placed into this cage in the same room. The room is kept very warm and the chicks are checked often. Baby chicks need constant monitoring until they are at least a month old. Chicks require an air temperature of 95 degrees during the first week, 90 degrees the second week, and so on – going down by around five degrees per week until they’re ready to transition to the coop.
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- And here is just one of the chicks – nothing short of adorable.
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- These youngsters are less than a week old, but they are already very mobile and exploring their surroundings.
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- These chicks all have clear eyes and are very alert.
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- My stable manager, Helen, who is also very experienced in raising chickens, makes sure the cage bedding is changed daily.
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- Chickens have their own personalities – some are more active or more curious than others.
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- The chicks are fed organic chick starter for the first six to eight weeks. Helen mixes in a little water to make it more palatable for the young birds.
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- Starter feed is a protein dense variety of chicken feed designed to meet a chick’s dietary requirements. Several feeding dishes are placed into the cage.
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- A chick should never have to “wait in line”. On average, about 10-chicks can consume approximately one-pound of chick starter feed per day.
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- Fresh, clean water is also always provided. In fact, every chick is personally shown where their food and water sources are, so they know where to find them.
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- It’s hard not to notice the large feet, but it won’t take long before these birds grow into them.
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- In general, chickens are quite vocal. They make around 30 different calls to communicate with each other, expressing everything from “I am hungry” to “there’s a predator nearby.”
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- These peeps are also very social and where one goes, the others follow.
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- I’ve raised many different chicken breeds and varieties over the years – they are all so fun to observe.
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- Chickens are generally gentle, shy birds, but because these are being raised around a lot of activity, they will be well-socialized and friendly.
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- I am so happy with this group of chicks – they are all strong good eaters, and will be great additions to my flock.
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