Marking chicks??

[BigM]

Ok, so I've taken to trying to hatch eggs regularly in the house due to a lack of broody hens. So far I've thought out how to hatch and raise the first few; I'm quickly realizing I should have thought farther out...

My set up consists of the incubator (with auto turner), a hatching box and a brooder box. With any luck I will have hatch-lings every few days.

I have two issues I think. One being marking the birds so I know how old they are and two being the needed temp differences between them.

Can I dip their feet in "craft" paint for age ID?

I'm thinking I'll set up the first box with 100* temps under the light on one end with cooler temps on the other end (say 90*??). Then another box to get them from 90*-80* with a third box to get them from 80* to 70*, at which point they can be outside all the time. Any suggestions? See any potential issues??

[joanfromzone6]

well, with other livestock some folks put notches in their ears -

[Cyngbaeld]

Just make an electric hen and they can get under it when they want. No need to regulate temps. I use a 10 watt bulb in mine. When they look big enough, put them out.

[BigM]

I think you've posted about that before. Did you post a "how to"?

[Valerie]

M, I think as far as marking goes, since they don't have ears you can just make a mark on their back with a sharpie. Course, once they start getting feathers you'll need to make a new one. Maybe you could use a different color each day and log them in a notebook?

[Cyngbaeld]

Yes, I've posted how to a couple of times. It is a ceramic light fixture wired to a plug in cord. Take a small cardboard box and cut a hole in the bottom for the bulb and cut off the flaps, cut a door in the side near the top then flip it over, insert bulb and plug in. I take another box and cut it so it will slide over the first without covering the door and will cover the wiring and the fixture so they don't perch on it and poop or knock the wires loose. They will go in and out and warm themselves as needed so you need a brooder at least twice the size of the small box. I sometimes put it in a jumbo dog crate on the deck to get them out of the house.

[Valerie]

I have the worst time trying to picture that box arrangement. Is the light bulb itself in there by the chicks?

[Cyngbaeld]

Yes the light bulb hangs down into the box that the chicks can go in.