Caring For Your Newly Hatched Chick: A Quick Guide

Chicks are exhausted after hatching, so they should be left in a warm incubator for 24-48 hours to rest and dry off. During this time, they don't need food or water as they are nourished by the yolk they absorbed before hatching. After this initial period, they can be transferred to a brooder, a heated enclosure that will be their home for the next few weeks. The brooder should be lined with newspaper, hay, or aspen shavings, and paper towels for the first five days to give the chicks traction as they develop their legs. The temperature in the brooder should be maintained at around 95° Fahrenheit for the first week, with adjustments made if the chicks are huddling or staying away from the heat source. Chicks should be handled carefully and limitedly during the first few days. They should be provided with a shallow dish of water with gravel or marbles to prevent drowning, and a small dish of chick starter food.

Keep the chick in a warm incubator for 24-48 hours

After a chick has hatched, it is important to keep it in a warm incubator for 24-48 hours. This gives the chick time to rest and recover after the exhausting process of breaking out of its shell. During this time, the chick will lie close to the egg and may pant rapidly. It is important not to touch the incubator or move the chick during this period.

The incubator should be kept warm and moist to prevent the shell membrane from drying out. This can be achieved by using a warm pad, such as a rice bag, or a warm, damp towel. The egg does not need to be wet, just exposed to some humidity. It is also important to sterilize any tools, such as surgical tweezers, that may be used during the hatching process.

After the chick has been in the incubator for 24-48 hours, it can be transferred to a brooder, which will be its home for the next few weeks. The brooder should be a heated enclosure or box that provides a warm and safe environment for the chick. The recommended size is around 1-2 square feet of floor space per chick, and it should include a heat source, clean water, bedding, and a feeder.

It is important to monitor the temperature in the brooder to ensure the chick is comfortable. The ideal temperature around the heat source is 95° Fahrenheit for the first week. If the chick is huddling or bunching together with other chicks under the heat source, it is too cold. If the chick stays away from the heat source, the box is too hot.

Transfer the chick to a brooder box with a heat source

When transferring a chick to a brooder box, it is important to be very careful and gentle. Do not squeeze the chick and avoid handling them much for the first few days. After a chick hatches, it is normal for it to lie close to the egg for about eight hours before it starts to move around. It is also normal for chicks to pant rapidly after hatching, as breaking out of an egg is exhausting.

Chicks should stay in a warm incubator for around 24 to 48 hours to rest, recover and dry off. During this time, they do not need to be fed, as they are still absorbing the yolk from the egg, but they should be given a small amount of water.

The brooder box should be prepared with a heat source, bedding, a feeder, and water. The safest method for providing heat is a heating plate made for chickens, but a heat lamp can also be used. The temperature under the light should be about 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week, with the rest of the box being slightly cooler. If the chicks huddle together under the heat source, the temperature is too cold, and if they stay away from it, the box is too hot. Adjust the distance of the light or the wattage of the bulb until the temperature is right.

After the first week, the light can be raised to decrease the temperature by 5 degrees, and this can be repeated weekly until the chicks have their feathers. Chicks will need at least 1-2 square feet of floor space per chick, and this space should be increased as they grow.

Provide a shallow dish of water with gravel to prevent drowning

When it comes to providing water for a newly hatched chick, it is essential to take certain precautions to ensure the chick's safety. One recommended method is to use a shallow dish of water with gravel. Here are some detailed instructions to achieve this:

Firstly, it is important to choose an appropriate container for the water. A small dish or jar lid is ideal, as it provides a shallow drinking area for the chick. Make sure the water level is extremely shallow; just enough to cover the gravel. Speaking of which, gravel or marbles are added to the water to create a safe drinking environment for the chick. This prevents the chick from completely submerging its head and drowning, which is a risk with deeper water bowls.

When filling the dish with water, always use fresh, clean water. Contamination can occur quickly due to dust and feathers, so regular water changes are necessary. Place the dish in a corner of the incubator or brooder box, ensuring it is stable and difficult to tip over. The waterer should be the correct size for the chick's age and size. It should be tall enough to keep the water level between the chick's eye and the height of its back, encouraging the chick to drink more and spill less.

It is worth noting that chicks do not necessarily know how to drink right away. You can train them by gently dipping their beak in the water once, and they should be able to drink on their own after that. Chicks should have access to water from day one, but it is not essential until days 2 or 3 of their life, as they absorb nutrients from the yolk during the hatching process.

By following these instructions, you can ensure that your newly hatched chick has access to water in a safe and accessible manner, reducing the risk of drowning.

Food is not needed for 2-3 days due to remaining yolk

When chicks first hatch, they are very weak and exhausted. They should be left in a warm incubator for 24-48 hours to rest and dry off. During this time, they do not need to be fed, as they can survive on the yolk they absorbed during the hatching process for 2-3 days. This is why day-old chicks can be shipped without food.

When chicks arrive, they will be thirsty, so it is important to provide water. You can place a small amount of water in a jar lid or cap and place it inside the incubator. Make sure the water level is extremely shallow to avoid the chicks drowning. You can add gravel or marbles to the water to keep the chick from drowning. It is also optional to add ¼ to ½ cup of sugar to one gallon of water to give chicks a boost of energy.

After 24-48 hours, the chick can be moved to a brooder, a heated enclosure or box that will be their home for the coming weeks. The brooder should have a heat source, clean water, bedding, and a feeder. Chicks should be handled very carefully when being transferred from the incubator to the brooder.

When the chick is in the brooder, it is time to feed it for the first time. You can use a chick feeding starter kit or provide a starting mash from the feed store. Dip the tip of the chick's beak into the water, then into the food to teach it where to find nourishment.

Handle the chick carefully and avoid touching it too much

When handling a chick that has just hatched, it is important to be very careful and avoid touching it too much. Chicks are very weak when they first hatch and will need time to rest and recover. They are also susceptible to malformations, so it is important to handle them with care.

After a chick has hatched, it is recommended to leave it in the incubator for 24-48 hours so that it can dry off and rest. During this time, it is important to avoid touching or handling the chick too much. The chick will likely lie close to the egg for about eight hours before it starts to move around. It is important not to feed the chick until it is completely dry and has been moved from the incubator.

When transferring the chick from the incubator to a brooder (a heated enclosure or box that will keep them safe), handle the chick with extreme care. Do not squeeze the chick, and avoid handling it too much for the first few days. The brooder should be lined with newspaper, hay, or aspen shavings, and paper towels should be placed on top for the first five days to help the chick develop its legs.

It is also important to monitor the temperature in the brooder to ensure the chick is comfortable. The temperature under the light should be about 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week, with the rest of the box being slightly cooler. If the chick is huddling or bunching together with other chicks under the heat source, it is too cold. If the chick is staying away from the heat source, the box is too hot.

In summary, when caring for a chick that has just hatched, it is important to handle it carefully and avoid touching it too much. This will give the chick the time and energy it needs to rest, recover, and develop properly during its critical first days of life.

Frequently asked questions