The invention relates to a method for brooding or growing poultry, wherein eggs of the first 3-5 layings of young animals, preferably hens younger than 29 weeks, usually starting from about 26 weeks, are collected and are hatched together, directly after hatching the hatched chicks are provided in crates with about 10-500 animals arranged in stacks in an incubator chamber, in which incubator chamber food and drinking are provided to each crate and the temperature, humidity, CO2 level and flow rate of air are controlled.