Care Sheet for Day Old Chickens

[Peter]

Caring For Day Old Chickens

Setting up the Brooder

The rearing of the chicks after hatching is the make or break part of the whole process. Good rearing cannot improve a poor chick but poor rearing can easily ruin a good bird.

When selecting a brooder, remember that the ambient temperature is the key to the amount of heat required. The more chickens, the less heat required. Choose a brooder that is not to big for the number of chickens within it, as chicks will sometimes wonder away from the light/heat, become cold and die. A brooder that is easy to clean out and is relatively deep is the best choice, made from a preferred material of metal or plastic, although wood is ok but can sometimes harbour harmful bacteria.

Most of the brooders used in small flocks are of the radiant heat type such as a heated lamp. This means that thermometer readings can be deceptive, as thermometers only measure the air temperature. Radiant heaters only heat the objects which the radiation falls on. This means the chicks and the litter. The air is only warmed from the bird’s body heat and the warm litter.

With a small number of chicks, say > 30 and a 75 – 100 watt globe would be sufficient.

The actual heights to set the lamp will depend on the reaction of the chicks when they have settled in the brooder area. If the chicks are huddled together under the heat, then the brooder is too cool, lower the lamp. If the chicks are spread out against the surround then the brooder is too hot, raise the height. If the chicks are all on one side then there is a draught. If the chicks move freely over the whole area then the heat is about right.

Allow the brooder to warm up for a while before placing the chicks in it. Check the brooder again as the temperatures fall at night. If the brooder is in a windy area, draughts can also cause temperature fluctuations.

Food and Water

Adequate feeder space and drinker space are important in the first few days. Feed day old chickens chick starter and day old birds such as guineafowl and peafowl turkey starter which is higher in protein. This can be purchased from City Farmers or other stock feed places. Water should always be available but in a shallow dish to prevent drowning. Both food and water should not be directly under the lamp to prevent it going bad.

Chicks will be old enough to go without constant heat when they are almost fully feathered, or if the weather is quite warm. Weaning them off constant heat is a good option providing the lamp only at night, and/or putting them in the sun during the day.


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