Claire Thompson
Raising day-old chicks is a delightful experience, but it requires careful preparation and dedicated care. The first few weeks of a chick's life are critical, and they require extra care during this time. The three key essentials for raising strong baby chicks are warmth, water, and feed. Brooders are essential to provide warmth, as chicks cannot regulate their body temperature until they are 12 to 14 days old. Heat lamps are commonly used but can be dangerous, so alternatives like radiant heat plates or space heaters in small bathrooms are recommended. Chicks also need access to water and feed at the right height, and their bedding and brooders must be kept clean and disinfected regularly. Overall, observing their behaviour and providing comfort, care, and nutrition are crucial for happy and healthy chicks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brooder | The brooder is the first home of new chicks. It should be comfortable, warm, and draft-free with at least 3 to 4 square feet of space per chick. |
| Heat source | Heat lamps are commonly used but can be dangerous. Safer alternatives include radiant heat plates, space heaters, or a brooder in a warm bathroom. |
| Temperature | The ideal temperature for the first week of life is 90–95° F (or up to 100° F according to another source), decreasing by 5° F each week until reaching a minimum of 55° F or the same temperature as the natural environment. |
| Bedding | Absorbent wood shavings (pine shavings are recommended) should be placed 3 to 4 inches deep in the brooder to keep it dry and odor-free. Do not use cedar shavings or shavings with a strong odor. |
| Water | Room-temperature water should be provided in quart-jar waterers, with at least one waterer for every 25 chicks. Waterers should be elevated a few inches off the ground and cleaned daily to prevent contamination and bacterial growth. |
| Feed | Start with a chick starter feed with at least 18% protein, including amino acids, prebiotics, probiotics, yeast, vitamins, and minerals. Feeders should be low enough for chicks to see and reach the feed. |
| Pasty butt | All chicks should be checked for pasty butt upon arrival. If droppings are caked on, they can be loosened with warm water or a damp cloth and gently removed. Petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment can be applied afterward to prevent further sticking. |
| Cleaning | Brooders should be spot-cleaned daily, removing droppings, soiled material, and uneaten food. A complete wash and disinfection with a coop cleaner or bleach solution should be done at least once a month. |
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What You'll Learn
Prepare a brooder house
The brooder house is the first home of new chicks, and it is essential to have it ready before the chicks arrive. The purpose of a brooder house is to keep chicks warm, as they cannot regulate their body temperature until they are 12 to 14 days old.
Firstly, decide whether you will build a new brooder house or adapt an existing structure. Clear away any debris or trash around the brooder house and fix any leaks in the roof, gaps in the floor, or rat holes. Ensure the house is draft-free by closing all the windows and covering any sizable openings with tarps or plastic sheets. However, avoid making the house airtight, especially if using vent-free propane brooders, as carbon monoxide can build up to dangerous levels. Install a carbon monoxide alarm if necessary.
The brooder house should be set up at least 48 hours before the chicks arrive to allow time for bedding and equipment to dry and for the temperature to stabilise. The brooder should be comfortable and provide adequate space for the chicks, with a recommended minimum of 3 to 4 square feet per chick.
For warmth, you can use a heat lamp, a radiant heat plate, or a space heater, ensuring a target temperature of 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week of the chicks' lives. Gradually decrease the temperature by 5 degrees each week until reaching a minimum of 55 degrees or the same temperature as the natural environment. Adjust the height of the heat source weekly to accommodate the chicks' growth.
Provide absorbent wood shavings, such as pine shavings, as bedding on the floor of the brooder. Place the bedding 3 to 4 inches deep to keep the area dry and odour-free. Avoid using cedar shavings or shavings with a strong odour, as this can affect the birds' long-term health.
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Provide warmth and water
Providing warmth and water for your day-old chicks is essential. Firstly, you must ensure that your brooder is set up correctly. The brooder is the first home for your chicks and will keep them warm, as they cannot regulate their body temperature until they are 12 to 14 days old. Use a large cardboard box, a plastic tub, or section off some floor space—whatever suits your space. Make sure the brooder is draft-free, with at least 3 to 4 square feet of space per chick.
To provide warmth, you can use a heat lamp, a heat plate, or a heater. A heat lamp with a red, 250-watt bulb is the most common heat source, but it can be dangerous, expensive, disruptive, and unhealthy. A heat plate is a safer option, and you can leave a 15-watt red light on at night so the chicks can see it and gather around it for warmth. If using a heat lamp, place it in the centre of the brooder, about 20 inches above the litter, and maintain a temperature of 90–95° F for the first week of life, decreasing by 5° each week thereafter. If using a heat plate, adjust the height as the chicks grow. If you opt for a heater, an oil-filled space heater in a small bathroom is a good option for the first few days. Observe your chicks' behaviour to gauge whether they are too warm or cold and adjust accordingly.
Now, for water. Provide room-temperature water in quart-jar waterers, with at least one waterer for every 25 chicks, but ideally one per 15 chicks. Clean the waterers daily, and elevate them a few inches off the ground to prevent droppings from contaminating them. As the chicks grow, raise the height of the waterers so they remain level with the birds' backs.
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Feeding techniques
Feeding day-old chicks is a crucial aspect of their care, and there are several techniques and considerations to ensure they receive proper nutrition.
Firstly, it is important to provide chicks with a complete chick starter feed from day one. This feed should be specifically formulated for chicks, containing at least 18% protein to support their energy needs and early growth. Examples of suitable feeds include Purina® Start & Grow® and Purina® Organic starter-grower. The feed should also include amino acids, prebiotics, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals to ensure the chick's overall health and development. It is recommended that chicks stay on this starter feed until they are 4.5 to 5 months old.
When introducing chicks to their feed, you may need to “show” them where to eat. This can be done by gently placing the chick at the food source and touching their beak to the food. Feeders should be designed specifically for baby chicks and placed in a way that prevents contamination from droppings. Shallow pans or trays can be used initially, and as the chicks grow, the height of the feeders should be raised to accommodate their increasing size. It is important to ensure that there is enough feeder space to reduce competition and allow all chicks access to food.
In addition to the starter feed, it is recommended to supplement with scrambled eggs and their starter feed to prevent and treat "pasty butt," a condition caused by stress, diet, or temperature fluctuations. Always provide grit to baby chicks when supplementing their diet with anything other than a starter ration.
Water is just as important as feed for day-old chicks. Provide room-temperature water in quart-jar waterers, with at least one waterer for every 25 chicks. Keep the waterers clean and fresh, and raise their height as the chicks grow, similar to the feeders.
Finally, it is essential to observe the chicks' behaviour and adjust their feeding techniques accordingly. Happy and content chicks will be dispersed throughout the brooder, quietly going about their business. If they are too warm, they may pant and stay away from the heat source, while huddling together and cheeping noisily indicates they are too cold.
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Bedding and hygiene
Bedding
Provide a comfortable and warm environment for your chicks by using the right bedding materials. Large pine shavings are a good option, but avoid small shavings or sawdust as chicks might eat them, leading to health issues. Rice hulls, straw, or hay also make suitable bedding. Ensure the bedding is at least 3 to 4 inches deep to maintain dryness and absorb odours. Place the bedding in the brooder, which serves as the chick's first home, providing warmth and protection from drafts.
Hygiene
Hygiene practices are essential to prevent health issues and ensure the well-being of your chicks. Here are some key hygiene measures:
- Clean and refill waterers and feeders daily to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
- Raise the height of feeders and waterers as the chicks grow to prevent contamination from droppings.
- Wash your hands before and after handling the chicks to maintain biosecurity.
- Regularly clean and disinfect feeders and waterers, removing any residue or odours.
- Spot-clean the brooder daily, removing droppings, soiled material, and uneaten food.
- Observe your chicks' behaviour to ensure they are comfortable and healthy, adjusting the temperature if needed.
- Provide a dust bath by adding a shallow container of clean sand, peat moss, or diatomaceous earth to the brooder, aiding in dirt and oil removal.
- Ensure adequate ventilation in the brooder to prevent respiratory issues.
- Check for any signs of stress or health issues, such as "pasty butt," and take appropriate measures, such as cleaning and applying ointment.
- Disinfect the brooder thoroughly before housing a new group of chicks to prevent the spread of any potential diseases.
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Common health issues
One of the most common issues with chicks is something called "pasty butt". This occurs when droppings are caked onto the vent area, and it can be resolved by gently removing the droppings with a damp cloth and applying petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment to the area. If several chicks are affected, the brooder may be too hot, and the temperature should be adjusted.
Another common issue is feather-picking, which can be caused by boredom, stress from bright lights, overcrowding, or a lack of fresh air. Chicks may also peck at each other's new feathers, which can cause bleeding. To prevent this, ensure your chicks have enough space and access to fresh air, and consider using red lights instead of bright white lights.
Chicks are also prone to respiratory illnesses and Marek's disease, although these issues are less common. Keeping their brooder clean and providing clean water will help prevent these issues. It is also important to keep their bedding dry, as wet bedding can cause coccidiosis, a protozoan infection.
Finally, it is important to monitor your chicks for any signs of illness, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, or abnormal behaviour. If you notice any of these symptoms, isolate the affected chick and consult a veterinarian if necessary.
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Frequently asked questions
The ideal temperature for the first week of a chick's life is between 90-95° F (32-35° C). The temperature can be maintained using a heat lamp or a heat plate. However, heat lamps are considered dangerous and expensive, so heat plates are recommended.
Feed a day-old chick with a chick starter feed with at least 18% protein. The feed should also include amino acids, prebiotics, probiotics, yeast, vitamins and minerals. You may need to show" the chicks where to eat and drink.
Large pine shavings make good bedding for baby chicks. Do not use small shavings or sawdust as chicks may eat them. Rice hulls, straw, or hay also make good bedding.
