Broiler Time

The sharing of a home raised roast chicken with friends and family is a wonderful experience. It's more than just food, it is about respecting the animal and the farmer who worked for months to raise this wonderful creature. Our Broilers generate a lot of interest from friends and family.  I fond this exciting for two main reasons, 1) people have an appetite for clean, nutrient-dense food and 2) I can heal the land on my farm at a faster rate with their ability to graze and fertilize the ground.

When chicks are hatched without a mother hen, you need to have a brooder to carry out the job of keeping them warm until their own feathers come in.  I made a cheap brooder and wanted to share how I put it together as I think most people at home could do this to raise their own chicken.  I scrounged around the garage and found a large cardboard box that would do nicely.

With a sharp stanley knife and some tape, I was able to fashion enough enclosed wall space to fit at least fifty chicks.

While the shape is rather irregular, it will serve its purpose.

Inside I have my main equipment.  A thermometer to let me know the temperature at chick level.  This will be very important as cold will kill these delicate creatures.  I also have a heat lamp, this one can cater for one hundred chicks - so more than I need.  There is also a chick water drinker and feed trough.

I will cover the floor with wood shavings before I put the chicks in to absorb any mess and make sure they stay dry - tomorrow my chicks will arrive!