Lucas Delgado
Raising a newly hatched chick is an exciting project for the family. The first few days of a chick's life are critical to its long-term health and happiness, so it's important to be prepared. The three key essentials for raising a healthy chick are warmth, water, and feed. A chick's first home is typically a brooder box, which should be set up 48 hours before the chick arrives. The brooder box should be warm, draft-free, and with at least 3 to 4 square feet of space per chick. Chicks don't need to eat for the first 2-3 days, but once they do, it's important to provide them with clean water and a chick-sized feeder to prevent spillage and disease.
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What You'll Learn
Provide a warm, dry, draft-free space, safe from predators
When preparing a space for newly hatched chicks, it is important to provide a warm, dry, draft-free environment that is safe from predators. This space is often referred to as a brooder box, which can be set up using a cardboard box or a purchased incubator. The brooder box should be lined with bedding such as newspaper, hay, aspen shavings, or hemp bedding—avoid cedar shavings as these can cause respiratory issues. The space should be comfortable and draft-free, with at least 3 to 4 square feet of space per chick.
To ensure the brooder box is warm enough, use a heat lamp or a light bulb to maintain a temperature of about 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week. Observe the chicks' behaviour to determine if the temperature is suitable: if they huddle together under the heat source, they may be too cold, and if they stay away, the box might be too hot. Adjust the distance of the light or the wattage of the bulb accordingly. After the first week, you can gradually decrease the temperature by 5 degrees each week until the chicks have feathered, usually around four weeks.
It is important to keep the brooder box dry to prevent damp conditions, which can lead to disease. Avoid using open dishes or saucers for water, as chicks can walk through them, creating wet and dirty conditions. Instead, use a 1-quart canning jar fitted with a watering base, or a small jar lid filled with water and gravel or marbles to prevent drowning.
If you are using an incubator, follow the enclosed instructions carefully. Do not touch the incubator immediately after hatching, as chicks are very weak and need time to dry off and move around. Wait until the chicks are dry and moving before attempting to feed them, and handle them very gently.
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Use a chick-sized waterer and feeder
It is important to use a chick-sized waterer and feeder when taking care of a newly hatched chicken. Although newly hatched chicks can go without food and water for the first 2-3 days of their lives, as they have a full belly from absorbing the yolk, they must have access to clean water and food after this period.
The easiest way to provide water to newly hatched chicks is to use a 1-quart (1 L) canning jar fitted with a metal or plastic watering base, available from most feed stores and poultry supply catalogs. The waterer should be high enough to keep the water level between a chick's eye and the height of its back, allowing the chick to drink more and spill less. Chicks shouldn't be able to roost over or step into the water, as they will get wet and chilled, and the damp conditions can lead to disease.
For the first week, put the starter feed in a shallow lid or tray, such as a shoebox lid. When the chicks start scratching out the feed, switch to a regular chick feeder. Choose a feeder that works for your space, preventing chicks from roosting over or scratching in the feed and wasting it with their beaks.
Chicks are typically fed medicated chick starters for two to four weeks to protect them from internal parasites.
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Feed medicated chick starters for two to four weeks
When taking care of a newly hatched chick, one of the most important things to focus on is its diet. Chicks have very specific dietary requirements, and it is important to ensure that they are well-fed and have access to clean water.
Medicated chick starters are a great option for newly hatched chicks and are recommended for the first two to four weeks of their lives. Medicated chick feed is designed to protect chicks from coccidiosis, a dangerous and deadly intestinal parasite that can be spread through infected chickens, soiled bedding, insects, wild birds, and human footwear. Newly hatched chicks have an underdeveloped immune system, and coccidiosis can cause progressive damage to their intestinal walls, so it is important to take preventative measures.
Medicated chick starter feed contains Amprolium, a coccidiostat that helps to reduce the growth of coccidia oocysts, allowing chicks to develop immunity to coccidiosis as they grow. It is important to note that Amprolium is not a cure for coccidiosis, and chicks may still contract the disease. However, it helps to slow the growth of oocysts while the chicks develop their own immunity.
When feeding medicated chick starter, it is generally recommended to do so for two weeks to one month. Some experts recommend a longer duration of up to 16 weeks. It is important to read and follow all label instructions for maximum efficacy and safety.
It is also worth noting that there are some potential downsides to using medicated chick starters. Amprolium blocks the absorption of thiamine, an important nutrient for bird health, which can cause neuromuscular problems and decreased appetite, among other issues. Additionally, medicated feed is not necessary for vaccinated chicks, as they are already protected from coccidiosis.
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Use a brooder box lined with newspaper, hay, or aspen shavings
When taking care of a newly hatched chicken, one of the first things to do is to set up a brooder box. This is the first home of new chicks, so it's important to make it comfortable, warm and draft-free, with at least 3 to 4 square feet of space per chick. The brooder box should be lined with newspaper, hay, or aspen shavings, all of which are available at pet stores. For the first five days, paper towels should be placed on top of the lining to give the chicks traction as they develop their legs.
It is important to note that cedar shavings should be avoided, as they can cause respiratory issues and other health problems for young chicks. Hemp bedding is a popular alternative, although some people prefer to use a cardboard box as the base of the brooder box.
The brooder box should be set up about 48 hours before the chicks arrive to allow time for the bedding and equipment to dry and for the temperature to settle. The ideal temperature under the light for the first week is 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit, with the rest of the box being slightly cooler. If the chicks huddle together under the light, the box may be too cold, and if they stay away from the light, it may be too warm. 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 each week until the chicks have their feathers, which is usually around four weeks. It is important to monitor the temperature in the box with a thermometer, especially when transferring chicks from the incubator to the brooder, as sudden temperature changes can be harmful.
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Keep the chicks with their mother for at least the first week
Keeping newly hatched chicks with their mother is essential for several reasons. Firstly, chicks are vulnerable and have undeveloped immune systems, so they benefit from the protection and warmth their mother provides. Secondly, the mother hen plays a vital role in teaching her chicks essential survival skills, such as foraging and finding food.
While chicks can survive without food or water for the first 2-3 days due to the yolk they have consumed, it is important to ensure they have access to nourishment once they start eating. The mother hen will guide her chicks to food and water sources, and keeping them together will help ensure the chicks' nutritional needs are met.
In addition, separating a mother hen from her chicks too early can cause agitation and distress for the mother, potentially leading to abandonment of the chicks or unhatched eggs. It is advisable to wait until there are at least two strong chicks before considering any separation, as a single chick may chirp incessantly due to loneliness.
For at least the first week, it is best to let nature take its course and allow the mother hen to care for her chicks. This means providing a safe, warm, and draft-free environment for the family, ensuring they have ample space to move around and access to food and water.
During this time, the mother hen will also help her chicks develop essential behaviours, such as teaching them to recognise potential dangers and showing them how to dust bathe to maintain feather health.
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Frequently asked questions
Newly hatched chicks can go without food and water for up to 72 hours, as they still have the yolk inside them. However, it is important to ensure they have access to clean water to stay well-fed.
The ideal space for newly hatched chicks is a warm, draft-free area, safe from predators, known as a brooder box. The brooder box should be lined with newspaper, hay, or aspen shavings, and paper towels for the first five days. The space should be set up 48 hours before the chicks arrive.
The best way to provide water is to use a 1-quart canning jar fitted with a plastic or metal watering base. The water level should be between a chick's eye and the height of its back. This ensures the chick drinks more and spills less.
Newly hatched chicks should be fed chick starter feed from day one through week 18. To help them find the feed, sprinkle a little starter ration on a paper towel or paper plate.
