Claire Thompson
Raising two-week-old chicks is an exciting time, and there are several important care considerations to ensure they grow into healthy chickens. Firstly, maintaining the right temperature is crucial; the brooder lamp should be raised to lower the temperature to 85°F (29.4°C) in their second week of life. You should observe their behaviour to ensure the temperature is comfortable: if they huddle under the lamp, they're too cold, but if they're at the corners of the brooder box, they're too hot. Chicks need a clean, dry environment, so keep their bedding dry and free from soiled litter, and provide fresh water daily, as their water can quickly become sour and smelly. Feed them a pre-mixed commercial chick starter with 20% crude protein, and watch them carefully to ensure they're eating and drinking. Keep an eye out for health issues like pasty butt, where droppings harden and seal their vent, requiring gentle cleaning with warm water. With the right care, your chicks will continue to grow and thrive!
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What You'll Learn
Keep the brooder warm and clean, and the bedding dry
Keeping the brooder warm, clean, and dry is essential for the health and happiness of your chicks. A brooder is a draft-free pen with a heat lamp or plate that provides warmth and helps to reduce pecking and cannibalism among chicks. The ideal temperature for two-week-old chicks is 85°F (29.4°C). You can adjust the temperature by raising or lowering the heat lamp or plate. For example, if the chicks are huddled together under the heat source, they are too cold, and you should lower the heat source to warm them. On the other hand, if they are panting and staying at the corners of the brooder box, away from the heat, they are too hot, and you should raise the heat source.
To keep the brooder clean, remove any foreign material from the chick feeders and waters daily. Wash the waterers with soap and water once a week. Keep the bedding dry by using absorbent wood shavings, such as pine, and avoid using shavings with a strong odour, as this can affect the birds' long-term health. Clean the bedding regularly, especially around the waterers, and remove wet and soiled litter daily, replacing it with clean, dry bedding.
Chicks need access to fresh water at all times. Change the water several times a day, as it can quickly become sour and smelly. You can also hang the water dispenser to keep it cleaner.
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Feed them a pre-mixed commercial chick starter with fine grit
To care for two-week-old chicks, it is important to provide them with the right feed, environment, and care. One of the most important aspects is their diet, and it is recommended to feed them a pre-mixed commercial chick starter, which is available at feed stores. These pre-mixed feeds are formulated to provide the essential nutrients that growing chicks need. They are typically medicated and contain around 20% crude protein, vitamins, and minerals, ensuring the chicks' nutritional requirements are met.
When feeding your two-week-old chicks, it is advisable to scatter the chick starter on newspaper or a similar surface to encourage them to peck at it. This method stimulates their natural feeding behaviour and makes mealtimes more enjoyable for them. Along with the starter feed, you can add fine grit to their diet in a 1:10 ratio. Fine grit aids in the chicks' digestion and provides additional nutrients.
It is essential to monitor the chicks' feeding habits and ensure they are adjusting well to the feed and grit mixture. Observe their behaviour and make adjustments as necessary. Additionally, always provide clean, fresh water alongside their feed. Chicks require constant access to water, and it is recommended to change their water several times a day to maintain hygiene and prevent sour odours.
As your chicks grow, their dietary needs will change. Pre-mixed commercial chick starters are suitable for the first six to eight weeks of their lives. After this period, you can introduce treats to their diet, gradually transitioning them to a more varied diet. However, always ensure that their feed is appropriate for their age and nutritional needs.
Overall, providing your two-week-old chicks with a pre-mixed commercial chick starter and fine grit is a great way to ensure they receive the necessary nutrients for their development. Remember to supplement this with ample fresh water, a clean environment, and the necessary space to move about comfortably.
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Provide fresh water regularly, and add sugar to their water upon arrival
Providing fresh water regularly is essential for two-week-old chicks. They should have access to water at all times, and it is important to ensure that their water source is clean and free of any debris or soiling. Wash the waterers with soap and water at least once a week, and remove any foreign material that may have accumulated in the waterers daily.
Upon arrival, chicks will be thirsty, so make sure each chick gets a good drink. You can introduce them to the water source by gently dipping their beaks into the water, helping them locate it. This is especially important if your chicks have travelled a long distance and may be dehydrated.
To boost their energy levels, you can add sugar to their water upon arrival, especially if they appear lethargic. The recommended amount is ¼ to ½ cup of sugar to one gallon of water. This practice is optional but can be beneficial if your chicks seem to need an extra boost.
As your chicks grow, you will need to adjust the height of their feeders and waterers. Raise them gradually until they are at the back height of the growing birds. This will help keep the feeders and waterers cleaner and prevent them from being heated by the heat lamp.
It is worth noting that some sources suggest providing "Magic Water" for the first two weeks, which includes honey and apple cider vinegar in addition to water. This is said to be beneficial for the health of the chicks, but it is optional and regular fresh water is also sufficient.
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Monitor their behaviour to get the brooder temperature right
To monitor the behaviour of your two-week-old chicks to get the brooder temperature right, observe their behaviour and positions in the brooder. Two-week-old chicks can tolerate temperatures of around 85°F (29°C). If the brooder is too cold, chicks will huddle together directly under the heat lamp and exhibit signs of distress, such as rapid, high-pitched, or very shrill cheeping. In this case, lower the lamp closer to the floor of the brooder and/or use higher-wattage bulbs. If the brooder is too hot, the chicks will spread out around the perimeter of the brooder to move away from the heat source. They may also be silent and exhibit signs of discomfort, such as panting and head drooping. To address this, raise the heat lamp a few inches higher and/or switch to lower-wattage bulbs.
A thermometer is a useful tool to help you monitor the brooder temperature. Additionally, ensure that the brooder is draft-free and that the bedding is kept dry to prevent hypothermia, one of the most common causes of baby chick deaths.
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Watch out for pasty butt and treat it immediately
Pasty butt, also known as pasted vent or pasting up, is a common condition in baby chicks that can be fatal if not treated quickly. It occurs when droppings stick to the chick's vent area, blocking the only way for poop to leave their body. This blockage can cause the chick to become sick and die within hours.
To treat pasty butt, first, check that you are examining the vent and not the belly button. The vent is the orifice from which chickens pass bodily waste and is located just below the tail, while the belly button is further down towards the belly and legs. If the chick has pasty butt, gently wipe away the poop with a warm, wet cloth or cotton ball. If it's a larger spot of poop, you can dip their bottom in a bowl of warm water, being careful to keep the chick warm as they can't regulate their body temperature. Work quickly in a warm room to prevent chilling.
Once the blockage is removed and the vent is clean and clear, dry the chick thoroughly and place it back in the brooder. If the chick is prone to pasty butt, you can place a small amount of gentle oil on their vent area to prevent poop from sticking. However, this is not recommended by everyone as it may draw unwanted attention to that area, resulting in pecking from other chicks.
Pasty butt is often caused by stress and can be more common in chicks that are shipped through the mail or purchased at a farm store. It can also be caused by poorly digestible ingredients in their feed, leading to thicker and stickier digesta in the intestine. To prevent pasty butt, it's important to keep the brooder clean and warm, provide fresh water, and listen to the chicks' cheeping to ensure they are happy and healthy.
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Frequently asked questions
The ideal temperature for two-week-old chicks is 85°F. You can adjust the temperature by raising or lowering the heat lamp. If the chicks are huddled together under the lamp, they are too cold, and if they are at the corners of the brooder box, they are too hot.
You can feed two-week-old chicks a pre-mixed commercial chick starter, which should be about 20% crude protein. You can scatter the feed on newspaper to encourage the chicks to peck at it.
Each chick should have about half a square foot of space for the first two weeks.
Clean the brooder regularly by removing wet and soiled bedding daily, especially around waterers. Wash the waterers with soap and water once a week.
