Lucas Delgado
Raising chicks is a rewarding experience, but it requires careful planning and dedication. After hatching, chicks are exhausted and vulnerable, so it's crucial to provide a warm, draft-free space, known as a brooder box, with adequate space for each chick. Before the chicks arrive, prepare the brooder with bedding and equipment, ensuring a comfortable temperature. The first few days are critical for the long-term health of chicks, so provide water initially, and then a complete chick starter feed with essential nutrients. As chicks grow, their space, lighting, and nutritional needs change, requiring adjustments to their environment and diet. Integration with existing birds should be carefully managed to prevent bullying. With dedication and care, you can successfully raise healthy chicks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Basic needs | Warm, draft-free space, safe from predators |
| Brooder box space | 6-7 sq. inches per bird (minimum) |
| Brooder setup | Comfortable, circular, and expandable |
| Heat lamp placement | 18-20" above chicks in cold areas, 24-27" in warmer areas |
| Brooder temperature | 95°Fahrenheit |
| Lighting | 18-22 hours of light for the first week, then 16 hours through the growing period |
| Feeding | Feeders with 4 linear inches of space per bird, complete chick starter feed with 18% protein, amino acids, prebiotics, probiotics, yeast, vitamins and minerals |
| Watering | Shallow waterers, cleaned daily, with room-temperature water |
| Brooder bedding | Avoid cedar shavings, hemp bedding is a popular option |
| Food introduction | Wait a few hours after hatching, dip beaks in water to help chicks locate it |
| Food amount | As much food as they want |
| Transitioning outdoors | Once fully feathered, use puppy play yards or large dog kennels to give outdoor space |
| Adult coop | After 8 weeks, they can fend for themselves in the adult coop |
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What You'll Learn
Provide a warm, draft-free space, safe from predators
Providing a warm, draft-free, and safe space for chicks is crucial after they hatch. This space is commonly known as a "brooder box" and can vary in complexity to suit your needs. Here are some detailed instructions to create an optimal environment for your newly hatched chicks:
Space and Setup:
The brooder box should be set up at least 48 hours before the chicks arrive to allow time for bedding and equipment setup, as well as temperature adjustment. Plan to keep the chicks in the brooder box until they are fully feathered and capable of regulating their body temperature. Each chick requires a minimum of 6 to 7 square inches of space to ensure a safe and healthy environment.
Temperature Control:
Maintain a warm and comfortable temperature in the brooder box. Use a heat lamp as a cost-effective solution, placing it carefully about 18 to 20 inches above the chicks in colder areas and 24 to 27 inches in warmer regions. Observe the chicks' behaviour to fine-tune the temperature: if they are too hot, they will pant and move away from the light, while cold chicks will huddle together closer to the light. Adjust the heat lamp height accordingly.
Lighting:
Provide 18 to 22 hours of light during the first week, then reduce it to 16 hours through the growing period or until they reach 20 weeks of age. Ensure proper light intensity with a 40-watt bulb for every 100 square feet of floor space.
Water and Feeders:
Place waterers and feeders inside the brooder box. Use shallow waterers to prevent drowning, and keep them clean and filled with room-temperature water. For every 25 chicks, provide two 1-quart waterers. Additionally, use low-lying feeders or trough feeders, offering 4 linear inches of feeder space for each chick.
Protecting from Predators:
While the brooder box provides a safe haven, you can also create an outdoor space for the chicks once they are fully feathered. Puppy play yards or large dog kennels can offer a transitional outdoor experience. Ensure that the outdoor space is secure and protected from potential predators.
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Use a brooder box with adequate space per chick
When taking care of chicks after they hatch, it is important to use a brooder box with adequate space per chick. The brooder box is the first home of new chicks, providing them with a warm, draft-free, and safe environment. It is recommended to have a minimum of 6 to 7 square inches of space per chick, with at least 3 to 4 square feet in total. This allows for proper circulation and helps maintain a healthy environment for the chicks. The brooder box should also be circular and expandable to accommodate the growing chicks.
It is important to set up the brooder box before the chicks arrive. This includes ensuring proper bedding and equipment, as well as allowing time for the temperature to stabilise. A heat lamp should be assembled in the centre of the brooder to provide warmth, positioned at a specific height depending on the room temperature. The temperature under the heat lamp, also known as the comfort zone, should be maintained at 95 degrees Fahrenheit in the first week, with a gradual reduction of 5 degrees each subsequent week.
To monitor the health of the chicks, it is essential to observe their behaviour in the brooder box. Chicks that are too hot will pant and move away from the light, while cold chicks will huddle together closer to the heat source. Adjust the heat lamp accordingly to ensure the comfort of the chicks. Additionally, ensure that waterers and feeders are easily accessible and cleaned regularly to prevent contamination and potential drowning hazards.
As the chicks grow, their space requirements will increase. After the first few weeks, consider expanding the brooder box or providing a separate coop to accommodate their growing size. This is especially important if you are integrating the chicks with adult hens or roosters, as they will need their own space to feel comfortable and safe. By the eighth week, the chicks should be ready to transition to the adult coop, but keep a close eye on their interactions with the adult chickens to prevent any bullying or stress.
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Set up a heat lamp correctly
To set up a heat lamp correctly, hang it about 18 to 20 inches above the chicks in colder areas, and 24 to 27 inches in warmer areas. The temperature under the heat lamp should be 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and there should be adequate room in the brooder for the chicks to escape the heat if necessary. You can tell if the chicks are too hot or too cold by observing their behaviour. If they are hot, they will pant and move away from the light, whereas cold chicks will huddle together under the lamp.
The lamp should be placed in the centre of the brooder, with 2.5 to 3 feet between the lamp and the guard walls. The bulb can be fragile, so be careful not to knock it.
After the first week, reduce the heat by 5 degrees Fahrenheit each week until you reach a minimum of 70 degrees. You can start weaning the chicks off the heat lamp once they are fully feathered and transitioning to an outdoor space.
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Provide water and food
Providing water and food is essential for keeping your chicks healthy. They can survive up to two or three days without eating or drinking right after hatching because of the nutrients from their yolk sac, but it is crucial to give them water immediately upon arrival as they will be thirsty and dehydrated.
Water
Chicks must have access to fresh, clean water at all times. The water should be at room temperature to prevent the chicks from getting chilled while drinking. The waterer should be the correct size for the flock's size and age. It should be high enough to keep the water level between a chick's eye and the height of its back, and shallow enough to prevent the chicks from falling in and drowning. You can also place marbles, tank rocks, or pebbles in the water foundation base to prevent chicks from submerging in the water. Change the water twice a day, and clean the waterers daily.
Food
Chicks should be fed a starter or grower ration until they are 4 1/2 to 5 months old. The starter feed should include at least 18% protein, amino acids, prebiotics, probiotics, yeast, and vitamins and minerals. You can sprinkle a little starter ration on a paper towel or paper plate to help them find the feed. For the remainder of the first week, put the starter in a shallow lid or tray, and switch to a regular chick feeder when the chicks start scratching out the feed. The feeder should be low enough for the chicks to see and reach the feed, and have a lip to prevent billing out. Clean egg cartons filled with feed also make excellent and easily accessible feeders for young chicks.
Transitioning to Layer Feed
At 18 weeks, you will need to adjust the feed to meet the evolving nutritional needs of the chicks. Transition layer chicks onto a higher-calcium complete feed when they begin laying eggs at 18 to 20 weeks.
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Integrate chicks with other birds carefully
Integrating chicks with other birds can be a tricky process, and it's important to take precautions to ensure it goes smoothly. Firstly, it's crucial to understand that chickens have distinct personalities, and integration can be easy with some groups but challenging with others. If your established hens view the chicks as a threat, they may bully them. To mitigate this risk, you can try the "playpen method". This involves creating a separate enclosure for the chicks that is close enough to the existing birds to allow familiarity without direct contact. This method also gives the chicks time to grow bigger, reducing the risk of bullying. Space is an important factor to consider during integration, so ensure your enclosure is large enough to accommodate all the birds comfortably.
Before introducing the chicks to other birds, it's essential to provide them with a safe and comfortable environment in their brooder box. This should be a warm, draft-free space with adequate ventilation and a heat lamp to regulate temperature. The brooder box should provide a minimum of 6-7 square inches of space per chick. You can use a small thermometer to monitor the temperature, but also observe the chicks' behaviour—if they're too hot, they'll pant and move away from the light, while cold chicks will huddle together under the lamp.
It's also crucial to provide the chicks with proper nutrition from the start. While they don't need food or water during the first 48 hours due to the yolk they absorbed, offering a small amount of water within the first 24 hours is beneficial. After this initial period, you can introduce a complete chick starter feed with at least 18% protein to support their growth. Use shallow containers or egg cartons for water to prevent drowning, and ensure the water stays clean.
Once your chicks are fully feathered and better able to regulate their body temperature, you can start transitioning them to a more traditional outdoor space. However, continue to provide a warm environment using heat lamps, especially at night, until they are fully acclimated to the outdoors. Gradually increase their access to the outdoors while ensuring they have sufficient space to roam and grow.
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Frequently asked questions
Set up a brooder box, which 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. You will also need to assemble a heat lamp in the centre of the brooder for warmth.
Keep the chicks in the incubator for 24-48 hours so they can rest and dry off. They don't need food or water during the first 48 hours due to the yolk they absorbed while in the egg, but you can give them a small amount of water to rehydrate.
After the first 48 hours, provide your chicks with water and a complete chick starter feed with at least 18% protein. You can teach them to drink by gently dipping their beaks in the water. Chicks are typically fed starter feed for two to four weeks to protect them from internal parasites. Make sure to clean and refill waterers and feeders daily.
