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 brooding your chicks. In brooding, you act as the hen would if she was raising the chicks. Your job in brooding the chicks is similar to the hen's. You are to protect, feed and provide warmth for these fluffy little birds.
Instructions
1. First priority in brooding your chicks is to provide them with a safe draft free location in which to grow that is safe from predators. Ideally this location is circular and without corners. The size of this area depends on how many chicks you have. For as few as twenty-five chicks, a tub covered with a metal mesh may be adequate at least initially but never try to raise your chicks in the house because the chicks create a dust that can be harmful to you and your family. Be sure there is no way for the chicks to escape or any other animal can get into the pen.
2. The next item to consider is the heat source. Be sure that your heat source is adequate but not too intense because you don't want to roast your little birds. I use a heat lamp with a 100 watt bulb to keep 25 or so chicks warm. If you are using a thermometer, the temperature should be close to 90 degrees to begin with gradually decreasing the temperature over the next month until the chicks no longer need the heat. The best way I have found to be sure the temperature is right for the chicks is to listen to them. If they are peeping loudly and are huddled under the lamp, they are too cold and you need to get the heat lamp closer to them. If they are trying to get away from the heat lamp, the lamp is too close and putting more distance between the lamp and the chicks thus lowering the temperature in the pen.
3. Once you have the pen ready and the heat source in place, pour some sand and grit at the bottom of the pen to line the pen. Some people use newspaper to line the floor of the pen but chicks naturally scratch so they have a tendency to scratch up newspapers. Chicks need grit at the bottom of the pen because they need grit to help them digest their food. With just a few chicks, you can buy the same grit they use for parakeets.
4. The next item needed to prepare for the arrival of your chicks is a waterer. The waterer I use for very young chicks is a round plastic dish that fits to an inverted mason jar that is filled with water. You can buy one of these from the local animal feed store. The water used should be warm, about 90 degrees to prevent chicks from getting chilled from drinking the water.
5. The next thing needed for the chicks is the feeder. I buy my feed from the local animal feed store. When you ask for the chicken feed they will ask you what kind. Tell them you want either chick starter or chick crumbles. They will then ask you if you want medicated or unmedicated. For chicks, the choice is yours. For me, when I buy chicks from a hatchery, I use one bag of medicated then switch to unmedicated. when I incubate my own chicks, I ask for unmedicated exclusively. I don't want to be exposed to any more chemicals than I have to be. When I get the chick food home, I put the feed in a small chick feeder. I have two different sized feeders that I use as the chicks grow. I have used screw top jar lids to start and then switched to paper egg cartons with the tops cut so that the chicks couldn't scratch in the food. Like I said before, the chicks like to scratch. If using egg cartons for feeder, don't use Styrofoam because the chicks will peck the Styrofoam and that isn't good for the chicks.
6. When the chicks arrive, gently place them into the pen and watch them. Introduce them to the waterer by dipping their beaks into the water. Make sure only to wet the beaks and not the feathers. Chicks are easily chilled. The chicks will figure out eat on their own.
7. Now that the chicks are in their new home and you are sure they are drinking and eating and staying warm, keep an eye on them and keep their food and water clean. They are dependent on you to make sure they have a long and birdie life.
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