Category: Managing the Flock

Best Classroom Incubator and Brooder Kit

If you’re looking for the best COMPLETE kit for hatching baby chicks in the classroom, this is it. The key to an enjoyable experience is being prepared with the proper set-up. This incubator and brooder kit is from a reputable company that will stand by its product.
You can also expect a friendly and knowledgeable staff that will be happy to help you with any questions you might have along the way.
Order the kit first, then ask a Murray McMurray representative about how and when to order hatching eggs. It’s that easy!
Note: Make sure you’ve arranged a place for your chicks to go once they’ve hatched. Craig’s list in ‘Farm & Garden’ is the best place to re-home baby chicks. They’ll probably go fast if you price them at $3.00 ea. Remember what breed they are, that will be important to many chicken keepers.

Order at Murray McMurray $299

Everything you will need to incubate, hatch, and brood, plus a book and a poster are included in this kit.
You Will Receive:
Full View Picture Window Incubator
Includes:
Electronic thermostat, fan, and automatic egg turner.
The book Guide to Better Hatching.
Candling Device used to check the progress of development.
Brooder – After the birds are dry from hatching use the accompanying brooder to continue the healthy growth of chicks. This brooder is made of heavy galvanized wire mesh, wire floor, and approx. 1 1/2” to 2″ deep set-in plastic tray. There are clips on the side of the cage for easy removal and cleaning of the bottom pan. The brooder is to be used in a room that is approximately 70 degrees with no direct drafts.
The brooder holds 30 chicks for up to 10 days. It is easily assembled.
The Brooder Kit Includes:
Brooder Cage measuring 30” W x 18” L x 18” H.
Plastic poultry Waterer.
Snap-on Feeder.
5 lbs. of Chick Feed, 1 lb. Grit. and 4oz Quik Chik
Single Bulb Brooder Lamp with Infra-Red Heat Bulb
Brooder Thermometer

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What NOT to Feed Chickens

Never Feed Chicken Your Chickens These Foods

Dried or under cooked beans
Avocado skin & pit  (can be fatal)
Raw potatoes and potato sprouts.
Rotten food
Raw peanuts
Junk food
Raw meat
Citrus
Salty food
Candy, chocolate, or sugar
Cat food

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The Chicken’s Senses

Hearing and Sight
Chickens have an acute sense of hearing; they don’t have an ear lobe but have a well developed ear. They have panoramic vision of about 300°, and binocular of about 26°. They can’t rotate their eyes very much, therefore, move their head to follow objects. Their ability to discriminate color is yet to be learned.

Rhode Island Red

Communication
A large part of their communication is postural, which signifies both threat and submission. But I have observed vocal communication skills which indicated a wide variety of sounds about:
Mating
Contentment
Food
Danger / Fear
Submission
Territories
Distress
Warning
Nesting
Laying eggs
Taste
My observations on the chicken’s ability to taste are limited to their dislike of food that is bitter, sour, too sweet, or too salty. They have about 340 taste buds in comparison to a human’s 10,000. They don’t like drinking water that is warmer than their body temperature, but show a liking for near-freezing water.
Smell
There is very little research available about a chicken’s sense of smell, or if it’s of any significance to them at all. 
Observe your Chickens
The best way to better understand your chickens is to watch them and observe their behavior and their character traits.  Every member of your flock has likes and dislikes, and a personality all their own. In time, you will be able to identify behaviors by a specific sound or call.  There is a structured language among your flock members, listen, watch, and learn.

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