Three ways:
1. Day-old chicks from a breeder. Enclosed area inside. Fencing small enough mesh to keep them in. Water, chick feed, and gentle warmth. I don’t recommend heat bulbs. They are too hot, too fragile, and a fire risk. Get a radiant heat panel from Tractor Supply. Elevated on four screw-type plastic legs. Raise the heater as they grow. Once they are at pullet size, about 4”, let them out, weather permitting. Food and fresh water always.
2. Incubate eggs you take out of your nests and elsewhere if a hen is not setting on them. Use a good quality incubator. Tractor Supply again. Plastic, rotating, with water under it for humidity. Fun to watch. Not all will hatch. After they dry out, treat as #1. They have food in their yolk sac to survive the day it takes to dry out. Food water and warmth in the growing process.
3. Mother hen will raise chicks she sets on and hatches. Chicks follow her. Great fun to watch with amazement. She instinctively knows what to do and they will sleep under her wings. I love it.
You will likely lose chicks in any of the three ways. Sadly, it is the circle of life.
We had four chicks raised by their mom during the winter and two didn’t make it. Likely hawks. The remaining two stay together. Beautiful young ladies.
Good luck!
Three ways:
1. Day-old chicks from a breeder. Enclosed area inside. Fencing small enough mesh to keep them in. Water, chick feed, and gentle warmth. I don’t recommend heat bulbs. They are too hot, too fragile, and a fire risk. Get a radiant heat panel from Tractor Supply. Elevated on four screw-type plastic legs. Raise the heater as they grow. Once they are at pullet size, about 4”, let them out, weather permitting. Food and fresh water always.
2. Incubate eggs you take out of your nests and elsewhere if a hen is not setting on them. Use a good quality incubator. Tractor Supply again. Plastic, rotating, with water under it for humidity. Fun to watch. Not all will hatch. After they dry out, treat as #1. They have food in their yolk sac to survive the day it takes to dry out. Food water and warmth in the growing process.
3. Mother hen will raise chicks she sets on and hatches. Chicks follow her. Great fun to watch with amazement. She instinctively knows what to do and they will sleep under her wings. I love it.
You will likely lose chicks in any of the three ways. Sadly, it is the circle of life.
We had four chicks raised by their mom during the winter and two didn’t make it. Likely hawks. The remaining two stay together. Beautiful young ladies.
Good luck!