Chicks need enough space to move comfortably.
Baby chicks are like yellow cute balls of fluff, but they also quite delicate and can quickly become unwell. However, by knowing what to do when you get your chicks and by making correct preparation for their arrival, they should have a good chance of survival. They need to be warm, hydrated, fed and to be kept safe from predators.
Instructions
1. Prepare a home or a brooder for the chicks before they arrive. This can be made of wire or cardboard, and it should have a floor. Place it in a well-ventilated area that is free from drafts. Line the floor with newspaper. This can be used for a few days, but you should then remove it, as it can hold bacteria and can become damp and damage the chicks' feet. Line the box with 2 inches of wood chips (not cedar).
2. Heat the brooder with an heat lamp or a light bulb. Suspend it over the center of the brooder, approximately 18 inches from the bottom of the brooder. Newly hatched chick needs a temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be gradually lowered by 5 degrees a week as they grow. Make sure the lamp is not near any objects that could cause a fire.
3. Equip your brooder with a chick feeder and a water drinker. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sugar to 1 gallon of water, so the chicks can drink this when they arrive. Dip each chick's beak in the water when they arrive. Scatter some feed on the floor so that the chicks can learn peck. It is crucial that you use a high-quality starter feeder for the first six to eight weeks. You can then give them a grower feed up until 20 weeks.
4. Open the windows to expose the chicks to outdoor air when they are approximately 4 weeks old. When they are about 8 weeks old they can be moved to an outdoor environment during the day (as long as the weather is mild) and moved back indoors at night. If nighttime temperatures are warm, they can be left outdoors all night, but make sure they are in a protected area and cannot be harmed by predators.
5. Keep a close eye on the chicks. If you see any worrying signs such as sore eyes or bedraggled wings, isolate the chick, and consider adding appropriate antibiotics to the chicks' feed.
Related posts
When you use an incubator to hatch chicks, or if you buy your chicks from a hatchery, hatching the chickens is only part of the battle. The second part of the battle of raising chicks is known as...
Raise Buff Orpington Chickens From Baby ChicksThe Buff Orpington chicks are dual purpose birds that originally came from Great Britain. Their 2 purposes are as layers and meat. As for the eggs, th...
Feel free to combine different breeds in a flock.Throughout history, families have raised chickens in their backyards. Then and now, chicken owners raise these creatures for their nutritious eggs,...
Ducklings thrive when they're warm, dry, hydrated and well fed.Ducklings are resistant to many of the diseases that affect poultry, according to the University of Missouri Extension. They also gro...
Many health problems in baby chicks are caused by unsanitary living conditions.Once strictly regarded as farm stock, chickens increasingly are raised as pets, from new hatchling to adulthood. Heal...
