Hot Chicks
During the long winter, it can be helpful to think of warmer times. What better way to shake off the cold and heat up than with some SMOKING HOT CHICKS!? Let’s do this.
Oh man, these are some hot chicks. Keeping young chickens warm is very important if you want to have a successful brood.
They might be hot just yet but once these little peeps get into the kitchen and start making dinner you can bet they’ll be sweating, or whatever it is that birds do.
The ideal temperature for brooding varies from about 95 degrees in the first week to about 70 degrees five weeks later. More info here. Be sure to note which kind of setup you have.
Duck chicks like it a few degrees cooler than their chicken cousins. Start at somewhere around 92 degrees and go down by 5 degrees each week once their feathers start to come in. Be careful not to overheat them though.
In spite of living in very cold temperatures, penguin chicks need plenty of warmth in the early stages of life. After leaving the safety of the egg, they huddle with their parents and other members of the colony to stay warm.
Chicks will be fully feathered by 5-6 weeks of age. A bare spot of two is common but if more than 10% of the skin is exposed, it might be a good idea to call a vet.
When fully feathered, it’s ok to let chicks explore their outdoor surroundings, so long as the weather is good. Start with a few minutes and increase by half an hour every other day.
Once fully grown, decapitate the chick and pull all their innards out. Pluck their feathers and wash the inside thoroughly. Coat the skin with oil and rub a mixture of salt & pepper over it. Cover with foil and cook in an over at 425 degrees until full cooked (interior temperature of 165 degrees).
