Chick Care

PRINTABLE CHICK CARE SHEET LINK

Chick Care

Please read this information carefully. Poultry need: Feed, Water, Heat, Light & Space.

FEED: Use a medicated commercial chick starter for the first 8 - 10 weeks. The medicated starter will help to prevent several common chick diseases. Use a 2-foot feeder for every 25 chicks.

GRIT: Sprinkle baby grit on the feed daily as if you were salting your food. Avoid putting too much at any one time as the bird may fill up on it instead of the feed.

WATER: Have a 1-gallon chick waterer (fount) for every 50 birds. Never let your birds run out of water.

HEAT: The temperature where the birds are should be 70 degrees. A good source of heat is a 250-watt bulb. (Red bulbs are better than white. They cause less picking.) Hang it 18 inches from the floor. The temperature directly under the bulb will be higher than 90 degrees but the birds will adjust themselves to the area they like.

LIGHT: If you use a heat bulb, this will also serve as the light you need. Otherwise, be sure to give your birds light. Use a 75-watt bulb on dark days. Have a small light for night - 15 watts or similar.

SPACE: Try to provide 1/2 square foot per bird at the start.

DRAFTS: Cardboard put in a circle about 12 inches high around the cage helps cut down drafts on the floor. Be sure the circle is large enough to allow the birds to get away from the heat if they want to.

LITTER: Wood shavings, rice hulls, or ground cobs make good litter. Do not use cedar chips, sawdust (it is too small and the birds may eat it instead of their food), or treated wood chips. Sand, straw, or dirt will also work but are not as good as the others. Put the litter all over the floor at least 1 inch thick.

PICKING: Baby birds will often pick each other if they are too hot, too crowded, or without fresh air. Occasionally bright light also causes them to pick. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to picking. Sometimes, however, they pick for no apparent reason. To stop it try putting in fresh green grass clippings several times a day and darken the room. As a last resort, debeaking might have to be done. Try cutting off about one-third of the top bill. Do not cut the lower bill, just the top one. To treat birds that have been picked, smear pine tar or black grease on the injured area.

WHEN THE BIRD IS FOUR WEEKS:

1. Increase floor area to 3/4 square feet per bird.
2. Increase feeders to provide 2-1/2" to 3" of space per bird.
3. Make sure grit hopper is filled with proper sized grit. Check with your feed man.
4. Install roosts at back of brooder area. Allow four inches per bird with roost poles six inches apart.
5. Prevent water puddles around waterers. Place them on low wire platforms.
6. Birds can range outside on warm, sunny days, but only if clean range is available.

FAQs

How long does it take for a hen to lay eggs?

Most hens will start laying eggs between 5-7 months of age. They will lay best at 1 to 2 years of age. All pullets (female chicken under 1 year of age) lay small eggs at first and after a while will lay larger eggs. Younger hens will lay 1 egg every 3-4 days. A hen 30 weeks old can lay 2 eggs every 3 days. Some have been known to lay an egg a day. All breeds have different laying abilities.

How far should my nest be off the floor?

By nature, hens like dark out of the way places for laying eggs. The nest you provide can encourage them to lay eggs where you can get at the eggs for collection. Nest boxes for heavy breeds should be about 14" wide by 14" high by 12" deep. Allow one nest for every 4 to 5 hens. Nesting boxes can be purchased. Nests should be 18 to 20 inches off the ground.

At what temperatures do hens lay eggs the best?

Hens will lay best when the temperature is between 45-80 degrees.

Can you mix together chickens of different ages?

It's not a good idea. The big ones may pick on the smaller or younger ones. You could try when the birds reach the same size as the flock you are introducing them into.

Suggested Reading:

Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow