The Life of a Chicken: From Newly Hatched to Adult

82

By Joy At Home

Love the Hairdo, eh?

In each group of chicks my mother buys, there is one "odd" one sent - a sample breed. This has the effect of a prize in the bottom of the cereal box, and it is fun to figure out what beed the chick is. This one seems to be a Buff Laced Polish.
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In each group of chicks my mother buys, there is one "odd" one sent - a sample breed. This has the effect of a prize in the bottom of the cereal box, and it is fun to figure out what beed the chick is. This one seems to be a Buff Laced Polish.

What This Photo Essay is About

It is my desire to show you what goes on in the life of a chick raised for meat purposes. I will show you the life progress of 100 "Barbecue Special" chicks from the Murray McMurray Hatchery. This means the batch includes Jumbo Cornish Rock chicks, as well as Cornish Roaster chicks.

These are not going to grow up to be beautiful egg-layers. They will turn into slightly disgusting eating machines, designed to be eaten in turn. Furthermore, they are hybrids, and will not successfully produce offspring of their own.

So if you'd rather not know how this food is raised, skip this article.

Note: The methods of caring for these chicks shown here do not necessarily parallel commercial practices. This is a privately owned farm, and is not a "battery" operation.

Just Fluff Balls

Baby chicks must be kept between 90 and 95 degrees F., and so require a heat lamp or a brooder at first.
Baby chicks must be kept between 90 and 95 degrees F., and so require a heat lamp or a brooder at first.
My two-year-old daughter enjoys them very much, though she is not allowed to go in their enclosure.
My two-year-old daughter enjoys them very much, though she is not allowed to go in their enclosure.
Sometimes newly hatched chicks have trouble digesting their food, and get "gummed up". Miss Heather catches two that need their bottoms washed, and takes them outside to the hydrant to gently help them. If not cared for thus, these chicks would die.
Sometimes newly hatched chicks have trouble digesting their food, and get "gummed up". Miss Heather catches two that need their bottoms washed, and takes them outside to the hydrant to gently help them. If not cared for thus, these chicks would die.
They rush about in groups, and spend a lot of time hiding under the brooder when approached.
They rush about in groups, and spend a lot of time hiding under the brooder when approached.

Week One

The home for the chicks has been carefully prepared. Miss Heather, their caretaker, has cleaned the chicken hous carefully, sanitizing the walls and floor, so the chicks cannot get disease or possible illness left from the last batch. Every precaution has been taken to ensure the chick's home will be bright, healthy, and comfortable. The floor is made comfortable using wood shavings, which were bought in bags. Rice hulls can also be used.

The chicks are shipped in cardboard boxes by U.S. mail to Miss Heather's local post office, and she must pick them up there, then bring them home.

She has prepared an enclosure of old window screens, to ensure the chicks do not range too far from the brooder and heat lamp, which will do the work of a mother hen's wings until they are old enough to brave the world. They arrive happy, healthy, warm, and dry.

They are fed commercial chick starter, which is a formulation of different grains and proteins, designed to get new chicks off to the best start possible.

To prepare the chicks for their new life, they are shown where their water and food is by dipping their beaks in each, as they are taken out of their shipping boxes.

Also, three tablespoons of sugar is added to each quart of clean water, to provide the chicks with energy to recover from shipping.

These chicks grow extremely fast compared to most other breeds. They are therefore provided with vitamins in powdered form, which can be sprinkled on the food or in the water. Because they grow so fast, and are so gluttonous, their food must be taken away each afternoon, to keep them from overeating. If they are allowed to overeat, they develop congestive heart failure, and also problems with their legs (they don't bear their own weight well, and the legs can break). If their food is not religiously regulated, even if their conditions are otherwise healthy, they become lethargic and do nothing but lie about near their food trays.

Beginning the third day, something called "Baby Grit" is sprinkled on their food. Even baby chicks have gizzards, and so sand is given them to help them digest their food.

With this number of thicks (100), their enclosure must be cleaned every two days, or they develop respiratory problems from the ammonia they produce.

Week Two - Getting Real Feathers

This week they are braver, and don't look so much like balls of down. They use their wings a bit when they run. The temperature is reduced by 5* per week, until 70* F. is reached.
This week they are braver, and don't look so much like balls of down. They use their wings a bit when they run. The temperature is reduced by 5* per week, until 70* F. is reached.
They love to eat! Presently, the 100 of them eat about 1 to 1 1/4 gallon of Chick Starter per day. Each week, their food intake increases dramatically. They need the whole chicken house to roam in, too.
They love to eat! Presently, the 100 of them eat about 1 to 1 1/4 gallon of Chick Starter per day. Each week, their food intake increases dramatically. They need the whole chicken house to roam in, too.
Their water must be kept clean, and changed at least once a day. Sugar is no longer needed. More feeders and waterers are needed, though, as the chicks must not have to compete for space.
Their water must be kept clean, and changed at least once a day. Sugar is no longer needed. More feeders and waterers are needed, though, as the chicks must not have to compete for space.

Week Three - Looking Lanky

They now eat at least 2 1/2 gallons of feed per day. Miss Heather puts away the small feeders, and replaces them with two trays four feet long. Miss Heather also picks greens and weeds for them to eat.
They now eat at least 2 1/2 gallons of feed per day. Miss Heather puts away the small feeders, and replaces them with two trays four feet long. Miss Heather also picks greens and weeds for them to eat.
They have begun to grow taller, and stand up straighter. They begin looking like chickens. These are stalky, and their feathers are patchy now, but they have plenty of sunlight, and do not pick each other. They may need a window opened for ventilatio
They have begun to grow taller, and stand up straighter. They begin looking like chickens. These are stalky, and their feathers are patchy now, but they have plenty of sunlight, and do not pick each other. They may need a window opened for ventilatio

Week Four - Growing Longer Feathers

They most resemble gangly teenagers about now.
They most resemble gangly teenagers about now.
Eating about four gallons of feed per day. Their protein needs increase from 18% protein, to 22%. Miss Heather quit using saw dust on the floor, as they go through a lot of it now, and seem comfortable without it.
Eating about four gallons of feed per day. Their protein needs increase from 18% protein, to 22%. Miss Heather quit using saw dust on the floor, as they go through a lot of it now, and seem comfortable without it.
Here is the "odd" chick. Isn't he cute?
Here is the "odd" chick. Isn't he cute?
Yes, chickens stink. At this point, they take about 45 minutes per day to care for.
Yes, chickens stink. At this point, they take about 45 minutes per day to care for.

Week Five - Getting Bulk; Their Combs Begin to Stand Up

They are let out into their yard. Miss Heather has many predators who would love to share her chicks with her, or they might have been let out sooner.
They are let out into their yard. Miss Heather has many predators who would love to share her chicks with her, or they might have been let out sooner.
They can now pick their own greens. Chicks can be great weed whackers! They now use for their grain the two long feeders, plus some round rubber feed pans, and consume 25 lbs. of grain per day.
They can now pick their own greens. Chicks can be great weed whackers! They now use for their grain the two long feeders, plus some round rubber feed pans, and consume 25 lbs. of grain per day.
Though these are more active than some previous batches, they still tire easily, and rest half-way up their ramp.
Though these are more active than some previous batches, they still tire easily, and rest half-way up their ramp.
Miss Heather must now clean their house about ever 36 hours. She uses the manure in her garden compost pile.
Miss Heather must now clean their house about ever 36 hours. She uses the manure in her garden compost pile.

Week Six - Some Are Ready to Roast

They now eat 35 lbs. of feed per day. Miss Heather must go to the grain mill at least twice a week to haul home the 50 lb. sacks.
They now eat 35 lbs. of feed per day. Miss Heather must go to the grain mill at least twice a week to haul home the 50 lb. sacks.
Chickens have no manners, and crowd into their feed pans, pecking and shoving. Miss Heather cleans their house every 24 hours, and they require 1 1/2 to 2 hours of care per day.
Chickens have no manners, and crowd into their feed pans, pecking and shoving. Miss Heather cleans their house every 24 hours, and they require 1 1/2 to 2 hours of care per day.
This one was napping in a feed pan before I approached. It would be possible to butcher some of the males to roast at this size. They would dress out at 3-4 lbs. The hens are smaller.
This one was napping in a feed pan before I approached. It would be possible to butcher some of the males to roast at this size. They would dress out at 3-4 lbs. The hens are smaller.

Week 7 - Stiff Legs and Lots of Feed

Some of the roosters are getting awfully heavy for their legs - 4 of the 100 birds are having trouble. The problem seems to be like a sprain.
Some of the roosters are getting awfully heavy for their legs - 4 of the 100 birds are having trouble. The problem seems to be like a sprain.
These 4 are a bit stiff when they get up. One rooster, in particular, has trouble all the time now. He will be butchered early. However, one hen stays beside him and encourages him to get up and go outside, and to smile, as much as she can.
These 4 are a bit stiff when they get up. One rooster, in particular, has trouble all the time now. He will be butchered early. However, one hen stays beside him and encourages him to get up and go outside, and to smile, as much as she can.
These birds are still not nearly as active as the laying hens. The hens eat down most of their weeds, as well as foraging outside their pen.
These birds are still not nearly as active as the laying hens. The hens eat down most of their weeds, as well as foraging outside their pen.
Here is the Polish Buff chick. I love him! He won't be butchered...Miss Heather always keeps her "off" chicks. They produce vivid offspring, when she chooses to hatch her own eggs.
Here is the Polish Buff chick. I love him! He won't be butchered...Miss Heather always keeps her "off" chicks. They produce vivid offspring, when she chooses to hatch her own eggs.
Here are the various feeders Miss Heather uses at this stage. What quantity! The barrels are full of millet for the laying hens. The chicks go thru 6+ gal. of water each day, and Ms. Heather hauls away 5-6 gallons of manure daily.
Here are the various feeders Miss Heather uses at this stage. What quantity! The barrels are full of millet for the laying hens. The chicks go thru 6+ gal. of water each day, and Ms. Heather hauls away 5-6 gallons of manure daily.
Here is the tote Miss Heather got from the feedmill this week, to extend the time between trips to town for feed. It holds a good mixture of grains.
Here is the tote Miss Heather got from the feedmill this week, to extend the time between trips to town for feed. It holds a good mixture of grains.
The tote is roughly the size of a big pallet, and holds 1500 lbs. of feed.
The tote is roughly the size of a big pallet, and holds 1500 lbs. of feed.

Week 8 - Down the Home Stretch...

This black laying hen seems confused about what she is. I hope she figures it out by the time her friends here are through.
This black laying hen seems confused about what she is. I hope she figures it out by the time her friends here are through.
The birds often pair up. It is sweet to watch their friendships.
The birds often pair up. It is sweet to watch their friendships.
They love to sun themselves, lying in small groups near the windows, and of course, outside in their yard. Can you see how much bigger this rooster is than the hens?
They love to sun themselves, lying in small groups near the windows, and of course, outside in their yard. Can you see how much bigger this rooster is than the hens?
Miss Heather takes their feed away in the mid-afternoon. The feed ration has stayed about the same the last 2 weeks - yet manure output has gone from 5 gallons per day to 7.
Miss Heather takes their feed away in the mid-afternoon. The feed ration has stayed about the same the last 2 weeks - yet manure output has gone from 5 gallons per day to 7.
Immediately after their pans are taken, the birds hunt and peck for missed grain - while lying down. They have gained 2-3 lbs. each over the last 2 weeks, and are ready to butcher.
Immediately after their pans are taken, the birds hunt and peck for missed grain - while lying down. They have gained 2-3 lbs. each over the last 2 weeks, and are ready to butcher.

Week 9, and the 11th Hour: Time to Say Your Goodbyes, All

They are content as ever, eating, drinking, and making merry. It is midday, so many are resting indoors.
They are content as ever, eating, drinking, and making merry. It is midday, so many are resting indoors.

The Finale

These are chicken killing cones.
These are chicken killing cones.
This black cat says it all.
This black cat says it all.

Would you consider raising your own chickens for food?

  • Yes, definitely
  • Never
  • Not now...too much work
  • Yes...if I had the space/conditions/time
See results without voting

Comments

Jarn profile image

Jarn Level 2 Commenter 2 years ago

Great Hub. I'm really enjoying it so far. I never realized the amount of care that chicks required, 35 pounds of feed per day? For 100 chicks? That's what, close to 3rd of a pound each? More than I thought they would need.

Ivorwen profile image

Ivorwen 2 years ago

What a stinky mess! But homegrown chicken tastes so much better than the stuff from the store.

I am going to have to look into this for next summer. If we put up a play house for the children, it could be used for birds for a while. It may not be the most cost effective way to get chicken, considering how much they eat, but what fun to watch them grow... of course, I wouldn't start with 100!

Joy At Home profile image

Joy At Home Hub Author 2 years ago

Jarn, as I was going through the details for this hub with "Miss Heather", I was amazed to learn how much I have missed of the work involved in raising chickens, even though I have been around for many batches over the last several years, and helped occassionally to feed them and clean out their houses. Miss Heather also keeps egg-layers, so she has two chicken houses to care for. The egg-layers are free-ranging, though (except at night), so they don't require the same level of care. My son enjoys egg hunting, as they find the strangest places to lay their eggs - in the back of the old cow-checking pickup under the toolbox...in barrels in the barn (it's a wonder these didn't break)...under a stack of sheet metal out in the open. This doesn't happen if one is careful to shut the birds into their house at the same time every day, and let them out at the same time, but Miss Heather grew lax, so they quit using their nesting boxes. :-)

Joy At Home profile image

Joy At Home Hub Author 2 years ago

Ivorwen, you're most definitely right - homegrown chicken can't be beat. No formaldahyde (sp.), growth hormones, overcrowding...

However, Miss Heather says "E-e-w!" to raising chickens in a playhouse, then using it later for children. :-D Are you going to do a hub? - "One House, Two Uses: Raising Chickens and Children".

no body profile image

no body Level 5 Commenter 2 years ago

You show one of my favorite foods but I see them as pets. That's why I could never raise them. I like to eat them too much. Thanks. You won't be showing nice cows next will you? I'm in the mood for a hamburger. hahaha

Marelisa profile image

Marelisa 2 years ago

Recently I saw some photographs showing the living conditions of chickens in factories. It was horrible. This is much more, shall we say, humane. Miss Heather certainly has her work cut out for her!

Joy At Home profile image

Joy At Home Hub Author 2 years ago

No Body, I COULD show cows in a future hub...I've spent many hours in the meat room slicing and dicing. That would require a series, I guess, as preparing a bull for consumption is a bit more complicated than preparing a chicken. But for now, you may safely go enjoy your hamburger. :-D

Joy At Home profile image

Joy At Home Hub Author 2 years ago

Marelisa, you are right - there can be no comparison between these chickens and battery-chickens (factory-raised).

I can't tell if you enjoyed looking at these chicks, but at the least, you were relieved to see their care is good.

You should know that Miss Heather raises many of these chickens for other families. Though I cannot quote a price per bird (I'll find out what that's to be this year, and include it in this hub or the next), I can tell you that buying chickens raised this way is more expensive than normal, but SO worth it. You know they have been treated well, are healthy, and they taste wonderful! I plan on buying three or four of these from Miss Heather.

Glad to have you.

LiftedUp profile image

LiftedUp 2 years ago

Joy,

May I add a note about laying hens? I have found with mine that if I can keep them in their house and yard until around 10:00 in the morning, they will lay at least the majority of their eggs in their nesting boxes. Still, they do have their own minds, and occasionally I will find an egg in the open out in the yard, or perhaps a small nest of them under the roosts, back in the corner of the house. As you mentioned in your article above, chickens tend to run around in groups, and so what one does, others are likely to do. (I must say too that I myself find it difficult to be home at 10 in the morning many days, something about a job in town.)

Then, too, there is another aspect to the habits of hens. There is the natural instinct, and this prompts them to lay their eggs in dark, out-of-the-way, hidden places where a predator will not so easily find them.

Finally, if one allows one's laying flock to roam freely, one cannot expect them to come in by the clock every evening. Instead, they come in according to the sunset, and do insist on staying out in that evening air until they are good and ready to call it a night! In the long evenings of June, this can be rather late for this particular bird keeper, and I have often wished I could blow a whistle to tell my flock that their time is up, but I have no hope that this would work, so I wait on them.

Joy At Home profile image

Joy At Home Hub Author 2 years ago

LiftedUp,

Thanks for the input. I had heard the same-hour rule from more than one seasoned chicken-raising person, so assumed it was a good rule of thumb.

Neil Sperling profile image

Neil Sperling Level 5 Commenter 2 years ago

Nothing like a farm fed range fed chicken - great soup too!

Some things about living on a farm I really miss.

Thanks

Joy At Home profile image

Joy At Home Hub Author 2 years ago

You're right, Neil - my favorite chicken soup recipe includes a lot of carrots and some ginger...not many noodles. Plainer, noodle varieties are good, too.

Glad I could bring up good memories for you.

Lgali profile image

Lgali 2 years ago

I like this hub thanks

Joy At Home profile image

Joy At Home Hub Author 2 years ago

Thanks for reading, Lgali. Glad you like it.

AdeleCosgroveBray profile image

AdeleCosgroveBray 2 years ago

Great photos - and your flock is somewhat bigger than mine...! Still, my two ISA Warrens may yet have a bit more company.

Joy At Home profile image

Joy At Home Hub Author 2 years ago

Adele, I look forward to seeing your additions.

DavidA1 profile image

DavidA1 2 years ago

Great hub! looking forward to reading more.

De Greek profile image

De Greek Level 2 Commenter 2 years ago

Can't get enough of this stuff Joy. DON'T STOP!! :-)

One thing though: The shavings you referred above for bedding must NOT be from treated wood, otherwise the chicks will die (poisoned)....

Joy At Home profile image

Joy At Home Hub Author 2 years ago

David,

Thank you for your interest. :-)

Joy At Home profile image

Joy At Home Hub Author 2 years ago

De Greek,

I don't know that I will be doing a great many more chicken hubs...perhaps when I get my own little flock, hopefully within the next 16 months or so. But the goats come first! In case you haven't read my hub "My Own Narnia", I'm talking about the move I'm in the middle of, from a small town to a rural property. Speaking of which, moving is the main reason I have been so sporadic in my internet usage. My brain just isn't on writing. But that will change. I'll read your hubs when I can, and eventually will get all caught up here. :-)

fairodz 15 months ago

i like this hubs......

Joy At Home profile image

Joy At Home Hub Author 15 months ago

Fairodz, I'm glad you enjoyed this. :-)

Akin 8 months ago

Thanks for this hub,it really helped me as a beginner in rearing chicks.

Joy At Home profile image

Joy At Home Hub Author 8 months ago

Akin,

You're welcome. I love sharing knowledge, and am glad your chicken-rearing journey appears to have begun well.

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