Hatching & Raising Healthy Chicks From Scratch
with Elise McNamara

Hatching & Raising Healthy Chicks From Scratch resource sheet

CLICK HERE to view the resource sheet of products I recommend and where to buy them.

Video break down

00:00 - 03:40 Introduction

03:40 - Feeding for breeding in preparation for collecting eggs for hatching

05:10 - Choosing birds for breeding

6:00 Selecting eggs for the incubator

8:08 Turning eggs prior to setting them in the incubator

11:05 Setting your incubator

13:45 Candling your eggs at 7-10 days

14:35 Remove trays on Day 18 (3 days prior to hatch).

16:10 What to do when the chicks have hatched

17:57 How to set up a broody box for day 1 to 6 weeks

19:35 Bunnings, fruit and veg shops and plumbing stores are the best places to source cardboard boxes

20:40 IBC plastic tubs as brooder boxes

21:37 Your heat source - heat plate or heat lamp? 

24:18 How to know if they’re too hot or cold

24:57 Dry and friable litter/bedding

26:12 Setting up your feeder and drinker 

31:20 Tips for day 1 to day 10

34:38 Tips for 10 days to 6 weeks 

36:50 Tips for 6 weeks to 16 weeks

40:55 Importance of enrichment

42:06 Tips for 16 weeks to egg lay

45:45 Diseases

51:34 Closing comments

Questions?

 Please email [email protected] if you have ANY questions on any aspect of chicken care. I’d love to help you! 

Q&A

When can I worm my chicks, and do I need to?

Good question. You can worm your chicks from 12 weeks of age. If they have had contact with older birds, or have been free ranging, this is recommended. The products I recommend you use are either Kilverm or Flubenol. The difference is that Flubenol kills a larger range of worms. For this reason I would recommend Flubenol over Kilverm, but either is fine. I don't sell either of these products, but they are available online.