It’s chicken breeding season, so we caught up with Mitchell to hear how he raises his next generation of competition birds.
“I compete my birds in competitions, so right now is a very important time, as I want to produce more champion birds,” Mitchell says.
“I follow the breed standards outlined in the Australian Poultry Standards, which describe what makes a bird ‘perfect’.” But remember, no one ever gets the perfect bird, it’s very open to interpretation.
Starting Off Right
Once the chicks hatch, they come out of the incubator and go straight into a small brooder box under a heat lamp, lined with newspaper. Mitchell avoids sawdust at this stage because young chicks might peck at and eat it.
A quality feed is essential from day one. Mitchell starts his chicks on Barastoc Chick Starter Crumble exclusively until they’re old enough for a little greenery, like milk thistles or silver beet.
Housekeeping is Key
Keeping everything clean is non-negotiable. Brooders, waterers, feeders and bedding are cleaned daily without fail to maintain health and prevent infestations like lice.
As the chicks grow and move into a larger brooder, sawdust is introduced to help absorb water and droppings and it’s cleaned every second day. By the pullet stage, the birds move into a grower pen and transition onto Barastoc Pullet Grower. Once fully grown, they’re free to roam safely in a secure outdoor pen.
“That’s how I care for my chicks and set them up for a healthy, strong life,” Mitchell explains.
You don’t have to be a competitor to want to hatch and raise chicks.
Top 5 Tips from Mitchell for raising chicks for the first time.
- Keep it clean. Daily cleaning helps prevent disease and pests like lice.
- Keep them warm. Chicks haven’t grown all their feathers yet.
- Keep them dry. Chicks are curious and love to tip water everywhere—wet chicks get cold fast.
- Feed them well. Proper nutrition from the start is critical for growth and health.
- Start with healthy eggs. Fertilised eggs from healthy, happy hens are more likely to produce strong chicks. The eggshell itself is often the first clue to chick health.
Even if you’re not competing, following these steps can help you hatch and raise happy, healthy chicks.