Advice and Information last updated 9 December 2017
We have been keeping chooks for a number of years and know lots about chook husbandry. Generally I don't like to publish advice as it often contradicts popular opinion and gets people very wound up so here is the disclaimer. Below is just what I think - my personal opinion only - I'm sure others are successful using other methods - I'm sure they work well too. :)
Ask any questions you like and I'll add my answers below.
Look after your Chooks The most important advice I can give is to look after your chooks. Spend at least 15 minutes at the start and end of each day making sure they are fed, have fresh water and somewhere dry and out of the wind to roost. Clean away any left over food or too much poo. Otherwise your chooks will get sick and their homes will attract mice and become smelly. You will be unpopular with the neighbours, the Council and other chook keepers too.
Poultry Auctions Go to a poultry auction. They are a lot of fun and the people watching are just as entertaining as seeing all the wonderful varieties of chooks available.
Mites, mites and mites They are unavoidable in warm weather - especially if you have pigeons visit your chooks. The best product on the market is a powder called Pestene. It costs $15-$20 dollars per tube. Just sprinkle under each wing and in the tail feathers once a week and sprinkle liberally around nest boxes. It is safe to use on day old chicks and eggs in nesting boxes. If you have a major infestation - and you are past being environmentally friendly or even polite to your family then go for ivermectin. It works much the same way as Advantage for your dog and will put an end to mites, scale and anything else that is biting your chooks. Of course for any treatment to really be successful you will need to clean out your coop and scrub it down with a pyrethrum or white oil spray while you have it all empty. It is war against these guys - you have to go all out.
What do you feed chooks? I use Peters free range grain mix and pullet grower crumble. Normal chook pellets are too big for bantams. I also feed them scraps including meat and cheese. Chooks are scavengers not vegetarians. One of the funniest sights is feeding your chooks pizza ham - they go wild for it. Grubs are very good for them but also quite expensive. My chooks like the texture of cake so sometimes I make them special chook cake. Just use a plain muffin recipe, and use a little sugar (you need it to activate the rising agents), add some cheese, a can of corn and anything else you think they might like - and don't bother to remove the egg shells - put them in too!
How long will it take the eggs to hatch? Chook eggs take 21 days to hatch - but give or take a couple of days for weather and other conditions. Normally you can rely on the 21 day rule but don't get caught out being too cocky!
Where will I put my broody chook? Put her in a confined space, somewhere boring, to encourage her to stay on the nest. Don't let your other chooks have access to her little broody spot - they are sure to want to lay their eggs in her nest too and may even push her off. Put some water and food nearby and leave your chook alone. Yes, really - leave her alone. She will keep the eggs the right temperature and humidity better than any incubator. Don't worry if you think she is not eating - she might only do that every 2-3 days and definitely when you are not looking. Trust her, she knows how to hatch eggs.
Should I candle my eggs? Candling the eggs involves holding the eggs up to a bright light to see the development of the chick inside. Lots of people do candle their eggs but I have found that if you keep taking the eggs in and out of the nest the hatch rate will drop. That means if you leave the eggs alone - you'll get more healthy chicks.
Should I move my hen before the eggs hatch? If the weather is hot or cold or wet or you just want to see what is going on and you're excited you can move the hen in her nest box inside to your laundry or kitchen in the few days before they are due to hatch - but move the whole box/nest - don't disturb the eggs or the hen. I use a portable cage that is about 50cm X 100cm and 50cm high. You can buy sets at some $2 shops for about $40 and can be used inside and out. I put some newspaper down inside the cage, next box and water and food.
Is the nest box still OK for the new chicks? The new chicks will want to get in and out and they are really only little. If you are using a cardboard box next box, just cut the side out leaving a lip at the bottom so the straw wont fall out. You might need a temporary step for a couple of days.
Do I move the eggs shells as the chicks hatch? Mmmmmm, that's a hard one. Sometimes a half shell will get caught over the end of an unhatched egg and make it tricky for the chick to get out. I carefully lift the chook off about every 12 hours (not more often even if I'm dying to look) just so see how things are going - but that might make it worse..... If you want to check, this is what I do but if in doubt - leave them alone.
To lift the chook off slide your hand, palm up under the chook's breast bone - it will be naked and she'll feel like a warm raw chook!
Lift her off the nest carefully and slowly to ensure then are no chicks caught in her leg feathers.
She will fight you to get back on - but don't let her or you risk her squashing the newly hatched chicks. Put her outside your cage so she can't get back in.
Remove any egg shells.
Take out any new chicks and put them somewhere warm - a friend's warm hands are good.
Now put the chook back onto the nest.
Finally, tuck the new chicks under the chook's wings.
Should I help the chicks out of their shells? In general no but.... Chicks can take 24 hours to hatch from the first pipping (first little hole in the shell). I have helped chicks that are too tired to hatch on their own - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You'll have to go with your gut feeling. Hatching eggs in late summer often results in hard, dry shells that some chicks find too difficult to break. You can help by misting water (from a spray bottle) on the eggs daily in the 3 days before they are due. Maybe it will help and maybe not? If you'r reading carefully, you'll notice I just contradicted my own advice because how can you mist the eggs if you are not taking the chook off the nest in the last week? You'll just have to do what you think is best in the conditions you have.
What do I feed the new chicks? Chicks don't need to eat the first couple of days, so don't worry if they don't eat until day 3. Chick starter is available at most pet shops or livestock suppliers. Chick starter has all the vitamins they need. They also like a bit of weetbix in milk or grated cheese when they are a few days old.
Water and new chicks New chicks have a wild desire to drown themselves so only provide water in shallow, tip proof containers. Cat food containers are ideal.
The GIANT poo When the mother gets off the nest for the first time with her new chicks, she will do the most ENORMOUS SMELLY POO. You won't believe it could be possible, sometimes it is nearly as big as an egg, and sometimes it is very runny. Don't panic, that is normal - not nice - but normal.