Farm & Ranch

Texas crop and weather, Nov. 10, 2015

Published

11 years ago

November 11, 2015

NTFR

By: Blair Fannin

Cattle prices softening due to U.S. herd expansion

Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, b-fannin@tamu.edu

Contacts: Dr. David Anderson, 979-845-4351, danderson@tamu.edu

Dr. Clark Neely, 979-862-1412, cbneely@tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION – The nation’s beef cattle producers are in expansion mode and record-high cattle prices have likely seen a top, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock marketing economist.

“Over the long term, we are continuing to expand and prices are coming down from record highs because we are expanding herds,” said Dr. David Anderson, College Station. “We are starting to increase supplies and calf prices have been coming down. However, we will still see high prices since it will take some time to build our inventory back up.”

Calves continue to be sold at local auction markets across Texas as part of fall livestock activities. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin)

Dr. Clark Neely, AgriLife Extension small grains specialist in College Station, said recent rains will help forage and wheat growth, benefiting stocker cattle operators across the state. “As of right now with all the rain we’ve had, we’ve got full soil profiles,” he said. “Right now we are just having issues with portions of Central, South Central and Eastern Texas getting the crop in the ground. The High Plains and Rolling Plains did get it in the ground in a timely manner and have an above-normal crop rating. With all the moisture we’ve had, we’ve got good grazing potential for stocker cattle operators.”

Beef demand continues to be strong and Anderson said this has helped during times of record retail prices.

“I don’t think we’d have had prices where they were if it weren’t for consumer demand,” he said. “If you put consumer demand and price together, I think that’s pretty compelling for higher prices.”

Anderson pointed to the rise in gourmet hamburger chains across the U.S.

“You have this huge growth in these specialized burger restaurants,” he said. “This coincides with one of the fewest supplies of cows in several decades. The second driver is the popularity of Texas style barbecue. We’ve seen huge growth in barbecue restaurants nationwide. This comes at a time when we’ve also got the fewest cows. Overall, this is the strongest demand for beef in 25 years.”

Beef cattle demand continues to be strong during times of record retail prices, said Dr. David Anderson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock marketing economist, College Station. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin)

Looking ahead to future cattle prices, Anderson said there are currently 2 percent more cows and 2 percent more calves in the U.S. than a year ago.

“Through 2017, I’ve got every quarter of the year projected with more beef production than the year before,” he said. “I think we can continue to look for strong cattle prices and positive-side demand for beef.”

Recent declines in calf and cattle prices are largely due to record-high cattle weights resulting in more beef production, Anderson said.

“More imported beef and reduced exports are pressuring prices lower, too,” Anderson said. “But, as the fed cattle backlog is reduced, then price will rebound higher.”

Anderson said for the first quarter of 2016 he projects Southern Plains #1 500-600-pound steers at around $216 to $222 per hundredweight. Second quarter prices in 2016 are projected at $220-$227 per hundredweight, while third quarter prices are projected at $215-$224 per hundredweight. For the fourth quarter, Anderson projects prices to be $207-$216 per hundredweight.

Currently, some estimates of annual cow costs are around $700 per cow. Factoring in an average selling price of $1,100 per head for calves leaves cow-calf producers in a profitable position.

Dr. David Anderson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock economist, College Station. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin)

“But, longer term, increasing cow numbers and beef production means prices are headed lower,” Anderson said.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

SOUTH: Scattered showers continued through parts of the South Region during the past week. Most of the rainfall occurred in the northern and western parts of the region. Forage on range and pastures showed very good improvement. In the northern part of the region, peanut crops were being harvested and winter oats and wheat crops were mostly planted in the Atascosa County area. La Salle County received more rainfall during the past week, as it had the previous week, helping improve range and pastures throughout the county. Live Oak County also received rainfall of 1 to 5 inches. Range and pastures greened up well, throughout the McMullen County area, as a result of continuous rainfall, but forage growth slowed down due to cooler temperatures and shorter days. Cattle body condition scores remained in fair shape. In the eastern parts of the region, mild conditions persisted throughout the Jim Wells County area. Wheat producers were hesitant in planting wheat this year, as most had a difficult time harvesting their crops during the wet spring months. Row crop producers, on the other hand, were set for a good start on next year’s crop growing season. In the western parts of the region, wet conditions remained. Heavy rainfall fell across the Zavala County area. Cotton ginning activities were completed in two Zavala County gins. Also in Zavala County, pecan harvesting was completed, prior to the rainfall event at the end of the week, and no supplemental feeding activities took place due to good to fair grazing conditions on range and pastures. In the southern parts of the region, the Cameron County area remained saturated. Some fields have begun to dry out, but it will be a while before any field activities take place. Spring planting was halted due to fields remaining saturated throughout the area. Despite wet field, range and pasture conditions, there was plenty of good to excellent forage for livestock grazing. Also in Cameron County, corn fields were progressing well. In the Hidalgo County area, fall corn progressed, and sugarcane harvest will begin soon. Fall vegetable crops progressed well in the Starr County area.

Download or preview a two-minute MP3 version of this report

COASTAL BEND: Recent light rain added to good soil moisture conditions. Winter pasture planting was almost complete with early-season moisture providing favorable growing conditions. Some producers were top-dressing fertilizer. Low-lying areas of the Guadalupe River flooded and caused problems with some of the pecan harvest. Cattle continued to be in good condition with calves weaned and sold at local auction markets.

SOUTHWEST: Adequate moisture was received throughout much of the area as a result of recent rains. Winter pastures have benefitted from rainfall and range conditions were showing signs of improvement. Field conditions continued to be wet after recent rainfall. Pecan harvest has slowed due to wet conditions. Wheat and oats had been planted and were emerging. Planted wheat and oats were looking good with recent rains. Native winter grass was in good condition as a result of rainfall. In many cases, fields were still too wet to get into because of recent heavy rains.

SOUTHEAST: In Walker County, the rain has helped the past two weeks. Cool-season forages, small grains and legumes, had germinated and began to grow. Wet field conditions in Brazos County prevented many cotton farmers from completely destroying harvested fields. Volunteer cool-season annual grasses were emerging. Grimes County had another weekend full of rain and high winds. All standing water has subsided. Fields were stable enough to drive a tractor on and hay was being baled. In Montgomery County, recent rainfall allowed producers to become involved with winter annual planting. Temperatures were still above average, which promoted Bermudagrass growth recovery. Fort Bend County recently received more than 9 inches of rain. Some cattle producers have planted ryegrass for winter forage. Livestock were in good condition.

SOUTH PLAINS: In Floyd County, warm dry days have helped harvest activities. Nearly all corn and milo harvest was complete. Cotton was the main focus now and was progressing nicely. Heavy dew or moisture the past three weeks has caused Swisher County farmers to stop harvest and wait for drier conditions. Pasture and range were in good condition with light supplementing reported. The wheat crop was excellent and stocker cattle were moving onto wheat at a steady pace. A bumper year for haygrazer was expected, but sugarcane aphid colonization in these fields has drastically lowered the protein content making a surplus of fair condition hay available in the $45 to $50 price range per round bale. Bailey County producers had several mornings with light frost and one morning low of 22 degrees. Harvest continued for all crops. In Cochran County, soil moisture levels were in good condition. Peanut and corn harvests were finished. Cotton, sunflower and sorghum harvest was ongoing. Pasture, range and winter wheat were all in good condition. Lubbock County received frost in low areas with one morning low of 33 degrees. A freeze is needed to condition remaining crops for harvest. Cotton harvest reached the halfway point, with harvest furthest along in the Slaton area. In Garza County, cotton harvest resumed after rainfall with approximately 20 to 25 percent of the crop harvested. Yields were coming in a little better than expected due to warm weather late in the growing season that allowed the late crop to mature. Range and pastures should improve over the next few days due to rainfall on cool-season grasses. However, some locations were limited due to weed pressure. Cattle were in good to excellent condition with no supplemental feeding being reported. Scurry County had mild weather last week and received no rain. Cotton harvest will resume once producers can get back in the fields.

ROLLING PLAINS: Fall-like weather prevailed over the past several weeks in the Rolling Plains. Thus far, there has been no early freeze/frost, which could be beneficial for cotton producers, especially in fields that were planted late. Early planted fields have been defoliated and producers were beginning to harvest. This year’s cotton crop was variable with some fields very poor, while others were in excellent condition. With cotton prices very low compared to previous years, producers were looking to cut costs and were defoliating fewer acres than in the past. Some producers were opting to wait for a freeze. Over the past few weeks moisture was recorded and has helped rangeland and pastures. Wild ryegrass has flourished. This has helped ranchers save money on supplemental feeding costs. Winter wheat was looking better as producers have finished planting fields and have just enough moisture to hopefully get the wheat up and going in a reasonable amount of time. Grazing may be limited due to late planting. Range and pastures were in good condition as were livestock.

CENTRAL: Continued rainfall has caused erosion, leaving producers out of the fields due to soggy conditions. Washed out bridges prevented transfer of equipment. Oats already planted have emerged; wheat was up in some places with some being flooded or held back and stunted due to the extreme wetness. Cotton growers lacked dry days to harvest their crop. Growing conditions were good for small grains. Cooler temperatures have arrived. All counties in the region were reporting soil moisture as good, while overall range and pasture conditions were rated at 95 percent. Overall crop conditions stood at 85 percent and overall livestock conditions in the region were rated at 95 percent.

FAR WEST: Cooler, fall-like temperatures were reported district-wide with producers awaiting the first frost. Livestock producers were finishing fall work with calf weaning weights reported on the heavy side. Pregnancy rates on heifers and mature cows were all very good. Overall condition of cattle good. Clean-up bucks have been put out to finish the breeding season. Cotton harvest was in full swing with average yields and good lint quality. Fall planted onions had emerged and were at the two-leaf stage. Pecan shucks were opening, but needed the first frost to assist in defoliation. Pastures and rangeland were in good condition.

EAST: More rain was received across the region causing conditions to go from extremely dry to extremely wet. Fields remained saturated. Most counties reported subsoil and topsoil moisture levels adequate or surplus. The rain caused some decline in vegetable crops. Lakes and ponds were overflowing. Damage assessment continued from flooding in Henderson County. Anderson County reported a tornado in a lightly populated area of the county, which caused minimal damage to trees and fences. The Trinity River was out of its banks in many places. Winter pastures were coming up for those who planted before the rain. Rain came too late for summer pastures to produce, which led to many producers feeding grain and hay to livestock. Cattle remained in fair to good condition. Market sales has slowed due to the inability to gather cattle. The cattle market showed steady to slightly higher prices on calves and slaughter cattle. Feral hogs were moving and causing damage.

WEST CENTRAL: Days were warm with cool nights. Scattered showers were reported in most areas. Recent rains improved soil moisture and helped decrease chances of wildfires. Cotton harvest was delayed due to wet conditions, but will be back in full swing as conditions allow. There was some concern regarding lint quality due to weather conditions. Early planted winter wheat has emerged and was in good to excellent condition. Wheat planting will resume as soon as fields are dry enough to start sowing. More wheat will be planted as cotton comes out and conditions allow. Sesame harvest was underway. Range and pasture conditions improved with recent rains. Winter pastures were coming along and should provide good forage soon. Lots of cool-season annuals were emerging in pastures, including Texas wintergrass. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Supplemental feeding was underway. Cattle prices have moderated somewhat. Sheep and goat markets continues to be strong. Early variety pecans were harvested.

NORTH: Topsoil moisture varied from adequate to surplus. Rainfall amounts have varied across the county from 1 to 3 inches. Nighttime temperatures were cooling off. Rains were beneficial for newly planted small grains and winter annual pastures. Warm-season grass production was coming to a close. Cool-season grasses were starting to grow. Many small grain farmers were still waiting to plant. Hay supplies seemed to be adequate, but the quality overall was not as good as usual. Wheat struggled due to weather patterns. Ponds were filling. Livestock were stressing as temperatures fluctuated. Feral hog activity increased.

PANHANDLE: Texas Panhandle temperatures were near normal. Moisture was received in the north and northeastern counties. Amounts ranged from a trace to 1.5 inches. Soil moisture was rated adequate. Peanut yields have been average to below average. Sorghum was nearly all out of the fields. Cotton harvest was almost halfway complete and yields appeared to be average to above average. Deaf Smith County producers were running combines in corn and grain sorghum fields. Corn harvest was starting to wind down with a good week of harvest activity. Dryland grain sorghum was lodging. Recent winds caused lodging to become more of a problem. Sprouting of grain in the head was also a concern. Winter wheat was being planted in many fields where corn was harvested. Wheat in general looked good and many early planted fields were starting to be grazed. Hall County wheat and pasture conditions improved due to rains. Cotton harvest slowed because of rains and wet mornings. Cattle conditions continued to improve. Rain and wind in Hansford County slowed harvest. Some fields of corn and milo were starting to lodge from rain and wind.

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Farm & Ranch

Tracks in the Sand

Published

4 weeks ago

July 28, 2026

NTFR

This morning, I walked out into my arena and noticed something that gave me pause. The roping steers had been in there the day before, and even though the ground was wide and level, the sand carried their story. Hoofprints crossed every direction, but in several spots, the same trail was pressed deeper than the rest. Twelve steers had been turned out, yet more than a few chose the exact same path, wearing it down until it stood out from all the other tracks.

Cattle are creatures of habit. Anyone who has spent time around them knows this. They like routine: the same feed, the same water trough, the same shade tree in the pasture. When they are turned loose, they rarely wander without purpose. More often than not, they move together, following the same course as the steer in front of them. There are reasons for this: efficiency, safety, instinct. Walking a beaten path conserves energy, and following the herd is their natural defense. Even in an arena with no real destination, those instincts come through. By the end of a short turnout, you will see the evidence, lines where they have chosen the easiest way to travel and stuck with it.

Out on the range, those lines last longer. Before fences and highways, cattle drives cut deep paths across the land. The Chisholm Trail, which carried herds north from Texas through Oklahoma into Kansas, was walked by millions of cattle in the late 1800s. More than a century later, faint traces of those trails remain, worn so deep by hooves and wagon wheels that the land still carries the mark. On ranches today, you can see the same effect in pastures where cattle walk the same lines between water and grazing. From the ground those trails might look like nothing more than dusty ruts, but from the air, they sometimes stand out as sharp lines winding through otherwise open fields. Cattle do not simply pass over the land; they shape it. Every step adds up.

That simple truth extends beyond livestock. We all make tracks. Our habits and routines are our trails, worn in by repetition, sometimes efficient, sometimes limiting. Like the cow paths, they can serve a purpose, keeping us steady and helping us move forward. But when repeated without thought, they risk becoming ruts, keeping us from stepping into new ground. History offers perspective here too. The old cattle trails built towns and economies, but once railroads and fences changed the landscape, those paths were no longer useful. Sticking to them would have meant going in circles. Progress required something new.

The Tracks We Leave

Standing in the arena, I thought about the kind of tracks I leave behind. Most of mine are not visible in the dirt. They are pressed into my daily life, how I work, the way I handle challenges, the example I set. Some are helpful and worth keeping. Others may have outlived their purpose. The difference comes in knowing when to stay in the track and when to step out of it.

Tomorrow I will drag the arena and smooth it all clean again. The next time the steers are turned in, they will make the same trails. That is their nature. But unlike them, I have a choice. I can decide which paths are worth walking, which ones to change, and what kind of tracks I want to leave for others who might follow.

Tracks tell a story. Sometimes they are only temporary, fading with the next rain. Other times they last for generations, reminders of where herds and people once walked. This morning, the cattle showed me again that even the smallest things on the ranch carry meaning. Their tracks in the arena were not just marks in the sand. They were a lesson: every step matters, and the paths we choose shape more than just the ground beneath our feet.

Farm & Ranch

Sideoats Grama

Published

1 month ago

July 24, 2026

NTFR

In 2015, we introduced this “Grazing North Texas” series by highlighting one of our most important forage plants, Sideoats grama. On this 11^th anniversary, we will take a closer look at this unique and valuable species.

Every Texan should be aware that Sideoats grama is the Texas State Grass. It was recommended for this honor in 1971 by the Texas Council of Chapters of the Soil Conservation Society of America and the Texas Section of the American Society of Range Management, and was officially adopted by Senate Concurrent Resolution 31 in 1971.

Resolution 31 states, in part, that “Although there are many desirable forage species native to the State, one variety, Sideoats grama, occurs on a greater diversity of soils than any other grass; on rangelands of West Texas it is the backbone of the ranching industry.”

Sideoats grama is a deeply rooted summer perennial bunchgrass. It is a mid-grass in height, reaching from 8 inches to 36 inches, depending upon variety and growing conditions. As a mid-grass, it does not produce the total pounds of forage that the tall grasses produce, but the quality of the forage is very good.

Sideoats grama produces high quality, nutritious forage that is relished by all classes of livestock. Crude protein can reach 11 percent in spring green up, decrease to 5 to 8 percent during summer months, and maintain a very respectable 3.5 to 4.5 percent protein after frost, making it one of our most important forage species.

Sideoats has rather wide leaves that take on a characteristic color and curl as the plant matures. The seed head is a zigzag stalk containing small spikes dangling from one side, thus the name Sideoats. Depending upon variety, Sideoats can spread by seed and by small stout rhizomes. It is often found in colonies.

Sideoats is most at home in the mid-grass prairie section of the Great Plains that receives 12 to 20 inches of annual rainfall, but can be found in all areas of Texas (except the far eastern counties), and is adapted to most of the central and western US. It blends well with other native summer grasses such as Little bluestem, Indiangrass, and many mid and short species. It is the most productive of the grama family.

Being adapted to almost all soil types, it has the widest range of soil adaptation of almost all summer perennial grasses. But the best stands are found on medium to fine textured upland sites. It is also better adapted to calcareous and moderately alkaline soils than to neutral or acidic soils.

Sideoats grama can serve many uses, but the best use is as high quality nutritious forage for all classes of livestock. It is also recommended as part of a planting mix for earth fill and bank stabilization, and for establishing grass on critical areas. It was noted in 1944 that it was one of the important grasses remaining in large areas that were affected by the drought of the 1930s, and played an important role in reclaiming those damaged acres. Successful stands can be obtained on rocky and shallow soils.

Sideoats provides some forage for antelope and deer when actively growing. Elk use it for forage throughout the year, and wild turkey consume some seed.

Several varieties have been bred and produced over the years. One of the early varieties was ‘El Reno’ Sideoats grama, bred and released in Kansas in 1944. Another variety, Haskell, was released in 1983 by the James E. (Bud) Smith Plant Materials Center in Texas. Haskell is still widely used in plantings today.

Farm & Ranch

Raising Chicks

Published

1 month ago

July 17, 2026

NTFR

By Landon Moore

If you keep or are interested in keeping poultry, you will have the desire to raise young birds at some point. If you order chicks, or decide to incubate and hatch eggs, it will be necessary to learn how to brood the resulting hatchlings. While this will vary in specifics between species, the basic rules remain the same. In this article, the word “chicks” will be used, but the general information following also applies to goslings, ducklings, keets, poults, etc.

Brooding poultry is caring for the chicks during the period when they are growing their first feathers. Chicks hatch with a thin coat of down that leaves them susceptible to chilling. The mother keeps them warm by continuing to sit on the young for the first weeks after hatching. If you plan to hatch your own flock’s eggs you may wonder why you should bother to do it artificially, especially if you have broody birds. The answer is that modern incubators are much more likely to result in live chicks, can incubate far more eggs and keep the extremely vulnerable hatchlings safe as they emerge, especially from ants. Of course if you are purchasing chicks, brooding is your only option.

Before your eggs hatch or the chicks arrive, you will want to have the brooder set up, and ready to go. The first issue to decide is location. You will want a covered and secured place to set up the brooder. Be sure it has plenty of air flow; as anyone who has spent any time with birds can attest, fowl of any age produce an unpleasant smell without adequate ventilation. A barn or other outbuilding could work, but be sure it is well secured. A cat, raccoon or other predator could easily kill your chicks if they get the opportunity. A garage is a great option, offering protection and close access to water and electricity. If it lacks windows you will need to open the garage door a few times per day for ventilation. Inside the house is another option (such as in a disused bathroom) especially for very small poultry. This may seem ideal, offering complete protection, easy temperature regulation, water and electrify, but there are drawbacks. Aside from smell, chicks are unbelievably messy and will require extensive and daily cleaning if the room is to remain in even slightly good condition.

The next choice is what the brooder box will be. You can purchase large metal brooders built for hundreds of chicks or expensive tiered systems on rollers. However the best option is usually a plain, heavy-duty plastic storage box. Cheap, easy to move, simple to clean and sanitize, these are the most versatile and efficient option.

The chicks will require (in addition to shelter) heat, bedding, feed and water. The heat will come in the form of a small heat lamp or even a very strong and hot light bulb suspended above one end of the brooder box. Be sure it is securely prevented from falling into bedding or you could end up with a fire. You can make a metal screen to place over the box which protects them from predators in addition to falling lamps. Place a thermometer at the surface of the bedding before adding the chicks and adjust the heat lamp until the thermometer measures 95 degrees. You will reduce this by 5 degrees each week until their feathers have grown out. Even if the weather reaches or exceeds this temperature a lamp will be needed at night.

You may be intimidated by charts showing the exact temperature requirements of various poultry species and wonder how you can possibly keep the heat exactly right during daily temperature shifts. You do not need to be overly worried about this. Why? Because the chicks will tell you if they are comfortable through their behavior. After placing them in the brooder simply watch them for a few minutes. Do they crowd underneath the heat, piling on each other to conserve heat? Lower the bulb a bit. Are they straining against the opposite wall and cheeping in stress? Move it further away. Are they fairly evenly spread out, some exploring their new environment and some sleeping under the heat? Perfect. This is why the heat should be placed over one end of the brooder. If it is over the entire box you will have no way of knowing if your chicks are over-warmed.

The next issue is bedding. When the chicks are first placed in the brooder the bedding should be a layer of paper towels or (non-slick) newspaper. This even surface provides good traction for the birds preventing splayed legs and also prevents them from getting stuck somewhere and dying or else ingesting bedding before they learn what feed is and dying. It is always good to keep in mind that chicks of all kinds are morbid little things that will jump at the first opportunity for death in their initial couple weeks of life. It is up to you to deny them the opportunity until their self-preservation instinct kicks in. Chicks mature shockingly fast and in just a couple of days the bedding may be exchanged for pine shavings. You may still want a layer of paper at the bottom to make cleaning easier. You do not want to disturb the chicks without necessity, so you can add a fresh layer of shavings a couple of times as needed before you completely clean the box.

Commercial chick feed is available that is meant to be suitable for all species. For game birds, guineas and turkeys it’s often better to just use an adult gamebird crumble feed as their protein requirements are extremely high. For waterfowl, be sure the feed has enough niacin if it isn’t specifically formulated for them. If it does not have enough, you can sprinkle some brewer’s yeast over the top. Medicated feed is usually formulated for chicks specifically and may not be safe for other species (especially for waterfowl), so be sure to check before feeding. Chicks aren’t especially bright and may not be able to figure out how to operate the feeder at first. You can help them by placing a small pile of their feed on a paper plate (or paper towel for quail) where they can see it more easily.

For waterers, their basically two main types; open waterers and bottles. The bottles can be complicated with multiple pieces and nipples to drink from or simply a two piece plastic quart jar and base that screw together. The open waterers will usually be a miniature trough with a hinged or sliding lid that allows the chicks to stick their heads in without falling into the waterer and drowning. Generally the bottle type waterers will stay cleaner and hold more, but for waterfowl open waterers are preferred so they may submerge their bills for cleaning. Quail should be given bottles with special quail bases which are very small to prevent drowning. It can be extremely beneficial to dissolve a couple tablespoons of sugar (or commercially-made chick electrolytes) into the water for the first few days, especially if the chicks came by mail. Provide chicks with warm water the first few days (use your inner wrist to determine a suitable temperature, as you would milk for a bottle) to prevent chilling them. Be sure to carefully dunk each chick’s beak into the water when they are placed in the brooder so they learn what it is.

Chicks are most fragile for the first three days and should be handled as little as possible. When shipped, they will arrive stressed and possible chilled and care during this period is the most crucial. For the first three days after hatching, chicks are still absorbing their egg yolk and will not require outside nutrition and therefore may eat sparingly. It is best practice to sanitize the feeders and waterers regularly, but be aware that all birds will leave manure in their water. Don’t let the water remain filthy, but don’t expect it to remain sterile, either. Likewise, a stinking bog will not yield thriving poultry, but it is unnecessary to fanatically clean the brooder constantly. When the chicks are fully feathered will vary by species (three weeks for quail, six weeks for chickens), but once this happens it will be time for your young feathered friends to graduate to their new pens.