Chicks Are 'A Comin'!

Each year around this time we order our meat birds that we'll eat throughout this year.  We usually order so that we have at least one chicken to eat each week.  This year I got online and from Ideal Poultry in Cameron, Texas I ordered:

• 35 Cornish Cross Chickens (Straight Run)
• 25 Red Broilers (Straight Run)

They cost $2.16 each.  There is a small order charge of $7.00.  Straight run means they aren't sexed. They cost more if you order all males since males grow bigger and faster.  The total cost of the order was $136.60.  While checking my emails this morning at 10 am, I got the following email:

The hatchery tells you to report any problems within four days because they operate on the 'honor system.'  If any of them arrive dead, they'll credit your order.  We seldom have any problems though. When the chicks hatch out, the Good Lord gives them the ability to survive for a couple of days without food or water as just prior to hatching, they use all the nutrients from within the egg.

So with the reminder from the hatchery, it lit a fire under me to begin preparing for their arrival.  So here is my brooder:

This Year's Brooder

While it might look like a pile of trash, it is not!  That's just what this year's brooder looks like prior to assembly.  Normally I pull out a homemade brooder, but it is heavy and bulky.  A friend gave me some supplies and the good idea to put together a different style brooder this year.  A brooder is simply a structure for raising young chicks.  It is normally heated.  Let's assemble the new brooder so we're all ready for 60 chicks when they call from the Post Office.

Benjamin was conscripted into Brooder Assembly Service and helped by unrolling the roll of siding. He measured across it with a tape measure so that the diameter was six feet.  That is the perfect size for 60 one day old chicks.  He duct taped it so that it would stay together.

Taping the sides

We then lined the bottom with newspaper.  We figured that might make the clean-up easier in a couple of weeks.  We set a 1x4 across the top and clamped two heat lamps on it and then began dumping sawdust and wood shavings on the bottom. Benjamin commented that the wood shavings smell good.  I think so, too.

Pouring the sawdust/shavings for bedding

Benjamin got inside the brooder and spread the shavings so that they covered every square inch. Things are really coming together now.

Spreading the Bedding

I walked out to the barn and retrieved two small watering containers.  When the little chicks arrive in the mail, they are very, very thirsty.  I put the waterers on top of a board for stability.  As the chicks get a little older, I'll substitute some larger waterers, but these will do for now.

Now all we have to do is wait for a call from the Post Office!

I like the new brooder!  Don't you love it when a plan comes together?  Setting up this brooder was quick, easy - almost effortless! All that's left is to wait for a call from the Post Office first thing in the morning telling us that we have a package THAT'S ALIVE and to come and get it!