Category: Managing the Flock

Chickens That Will Give You a Variety of Colorful Eggs

Looking to build a flock that will give you a basket of colorful eggs? Here are 25 breeds to choose from. If you want to veer from the ordinary chicks you find at feed stores, I listed a few breeds that might interest you. But you’ll most likely have to order them from a hatchery. You’ll find those hard-to-find breeds Here.

Easter Egger, The Superstar for Color!

Rhode Island Red –Brown
Leghorn – White
Orpington – Brown
Plymouth Rock – Brown
Sussex – Brown
Australorp – Brown
Welsummer – Dark Brown
Marans – Dark Brown
Easter Egger – Blue/Green
Ameraucana – Blue/Green
Olive Egger – Olive Green
Cream Legbar – Blue
Icelandic – White, Cream, or Light Blue
Faverolle – Cream, or Dark Cream
Hamburg – White
Buckeye – Brown
Barnevelder – Dark Brown
Dorking – White
Brahma – Brown
Cochin – Brown
Silkie – Cream
Serama – Cream or Light Brown
Polish – White or Cream
Sultan – White
Lakenvelder – White

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When To Move Baby Chicks From The Brooder To Coop

  • What Age Is a Chick Fully Feathered & What Does That Mean?
  • Ideal Outdoor Temperature For Fully Feathered Chicks

The timing for moving chicks from a brooder to a coop depends on several factors. In general, chicks can be moved from the brooder to the coop when they are fully feathered, usually around 6-8 weeks of age. However, if you’re raising chicks in winter, they may need a heat source much longer, and in summer they may only need a heat source for a few weeks. You can determine the chicks’ comfort zone by their behavior. If the chicks are huddled together it’s most likely they’re cold. If some are eating, others active, and a few are resting, that’s a good indication they are quite comfortable.

What Does Fully Feathered Mean?

A fully feathered chick means its downy fluff has been replaced with real feathers. This usually occurs around 6-7 weeks of age, but not all breeds get their feathers at the same time. It’s better to observe the feathering process rather than the age of e bird. As a guideline, and in my opinion, when moving fully feathered chicks from the brooder to the coop, the ideal temperature would be around 65 -70 degrees. To achieve ideal climate conditions, the best time to start chicks is in Spring.

Fluffy down, feathers starting to appear
Fully feathered

Adjusting Temperature Control in the Brooder

An important reason for having temperature control on the brooder is that it not only keeps baby chicks warm but also to prepare them for cooler temperatures as they grow. Each week the temperature in the brooder should be lowered by 5 degrees. The rule of thumb is as follows:
Week 1: 95 degrees
Week 2: 90 degrees
Week 3: 85 degrees
Week 4: 80 degrees
Week 5: 75 degrees
Week 6: 70 degrees
Week 7: 65 degrees

If your birds are ready to be moved to their coop, happy moving day!

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What is That Black Spot or String 0n My Baby Chick’s Rear End?

Not to worry, it’s your chick’s umbilical cord! Be sure not to confuse this with pasting, which is a poopy butt, this does need immediate attention. Usually, the umbilical cord falls off immediately during hatching, but sometimes it can hang around for a few days (or it falls off but the belly button takes a while to heal, leaving a scabby spot). This can happen whether you hatch at home or order from a hatchery.
It’ll eventually fall off on its own, and the spot will heal as it does for a human infant. Don’t try and remove it. If the other chicks seem to be picking at it, you may have to separate this chick until it does fall off, but that isn’t usually necessary.

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