Brooding chicks is a process that requires careful attention and preparation. It involves providing the right environment for the chicks to grow and develop. The first step in brooding chicks is to make or purchase an egg incubator, which will provide the necessary temperature and humidity for the eggs to hatch. Once the eggs have hatched, you will need to provide a warm, safe environment for your chicks. This includes providing them with food, water, bedding material, and a heat source such as a heat lamp, heat plate or heating pad or a mixture of these. Additionally, you should also ensure that your poultry house is well ventilated and free from predators. With proper care and attention, you can successfully brood your chicks into healthy chickens!
Components of a brooder
- A container
- Food and water
- Feeders and drinkers – make your own or buy here
- Heat source – e.g. heat plate, lamp or heating pad
- Floor materials
Step 1: selecting a containers
It is important to have a brooder container set up ready for your chicks when they hatch or arrive. A plastic storage container is a good option as it is easy to clean, you can observe the chicks and they can view their surroundings more. You may also find it useful to use a small container to start with and move to a larger box as the chicks grow and explore their surroundings more. There is a multitude of container types to choose from but the key things are to make sure they are not too slippery, can be cleaned, are not at risk of fire from the heat source and will protect the vulnerable chicks from cold draughts and possible disturbance (e.g. pets).
The general consensus for how much space is required is around 6-7 inches per chick, however the best way of calculating is to observe your chicks behaviour. If you see an increase in bad behaviour such as feather pecking and bullying, or the bedding becomes dirty very quickly, then increase the space.
Step 2: choose floor materials
As mentioned, you want a container that is not too slippery as this can cause chicks to have splayed legs. The bottom of the container will quickly get messy with chick poo so you will need to clean or replace it often. A common solution is pine shavings; this is easy to find and inexpensive, it composts down and keeps the chicks warm, however be aware it can get everywhere as the chicks kick it up. Another option is non-slip shelf lining possibly with paper towel on top, or sand (but be aware this can heat up considerably under a lamp).
*A light coloured surface allows the chicks to see their food better (as well as allow you to see any mess).
Step 3: set up the heat source
It is important to have a reliable heat source to keep the chicks healthy. The chicks fluffy down can’t protect them well from the cold and it is not until they develop their feathers that they can regulate their own temperature. After leaving the incubator, the temperature of the brooder should be maintained around 35 C. The temperature should then be gradually decreased at a rate of around 2-3 C per week until reaching 21 C at week 6. Bear in mind that the temperature will be affected by their surroundings so you should exclude any chilly draughts and if it is a hot summers day, you may need to reduce the emitted heat. Use a thermometer to monitor temperature of the container and adjust accordingly. Also, observe chicks behaviours as this will give you the best indicator, for example birds that are cold will huddle together in a very tight group. Chicks that are too hot will pant and appear drowsy. Chicks that are comfortable will be evenly dispersed within the cage and be active except during periods of rest. For the heat source you could use a lamp/bulb, heat pad, heating plate or a mix of these. A heat lamp suspended above the brooder is what many people use. It's inexpensive and it works to some extent. An infra-red bulb is more efficient than white, as it doesn't affect the chicks sleeping, which white light does, and can help prevent pecking.
*If using heat lamps, be mindful of the risk of fire or burning the chicks.
Step 4: provide food and water
Water should be provided straight away for the chicks. There are various DIY options for how to provide water, such as by using an upside down bottle with nipple attachment, or a shallow dish. You can also buy automatic poultry drinkers which are cheap and effective.
Chicks don't need feed and water until about 24 hours after hatching. In the egg, chicks absorb the egg yolk which provides them with nutrients for 24-72 hours. When you do provide feed, use a commercially produced starter feed, ideally, using a trusted brand, preferably organic and non-GMO, which contains between 15% and 20% protein.
When you do introduce food a good way to start is to sprinkle some around the floor of the container, this will help them learn what food is and get used to them pecking for it. Once they are feeding, be mindful that chicks eat a lot, so you will want to introduce a feeder. You can make these yourself and there are many options to buy from so choose what suits you and your container.
As your chicks grow over a few weeks you may wish to introduce treats as well chicken grit. For more details on what to feed chicks, see this article. https://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/what-do-chicks-eat.html
*It's very important that you buy the right kind of feed for baby chicks.
Finally, after around 6 weeks you can start to move your chicks outside or into a pen.