This year, we placed an order for 50 Cornish cross chicks to raise and process, and it's always an exciting day when chicks arrive. Our post office usually calls us at about 8am to let us know that we have chicks, and one or both of us will run into town to pick them up. Without fail, Mischka, one of our Rottweilers, meets us at the door and supervises us as we get them unpacked and situated. 

To prepare for our new arrivals, we go through a process to setup their receiving brooder. These chicks are 3-days old when they arrive, and it is crucial to have a warm (102 degrees F), dry place to go. For a batch of this size, we use a 50-gallon Rubbermaid water trough that we fill with a deep layer of pine shavings, a feeder containing both chick starter and chick grit, a waterer with added electrolytes and probiotics, and a heat plate set to the lowest height (to ensure they have a snug, warm place to go upon arrival). We set this up 24-hours in advance in a location that has a steady temperature and is draft-free.  Since it is so late in the season and we're on the cusp of cold weather here in the South, that location is (temporarily) our bathroom. 

We have a system for unpacking our chicks that goes something like this: Mischka leads the way to the location of the brooder, we open the box, and upon taking each chick out of the box, we show Mischka first (who checks it out to be sure it's ok, sometimes she gives it a quick kiss), then we dip it's beak in the water, dip it's beak in the feed, then set it down near the heat plate. Lather, rinse, repeat until done. 

When all the chicks are happily pecking away in their brooder, we bring in Mischka's food, water, and bed because she is now ON DUTY. She will remain ON DUTY until they are fully feathered and we are able to move them outside. She will only leave her post to periodically go outside and do her business, but then she's right back to her post. 

The Rubbermaid water trough does not come with a lid, so in order to keep the chicks inside the makeshift brooder, we improvised a lid out of a removable cage wall from a collapsible dog kennel and a piece of plexiglass from another brooder we had used in the past. This worked really well for about a week until Mischka discovered she could take the lid off. Upon going into the bathroom to check on everyone, I found the lid on the floor, several chicks running around the bathroom, and Mischka laying contentedly next to the brooder, covered in chicks. 

I love how much Mischka loves her chickens!