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| this brooder for 27 chicks lasted 1 week - then we moved them to a bigger space, about 4 times the size. they are still in that space at 1 month, but at 3 weeks also got to go outside into a covered run during the day. - and they love that!!! |
your brooder - a predator safe, enclosed and ventilated space with water (not deep, they can drown) and food (chick starter and semi cooked veggie treats are good, little insects too), litter (kiln dried wood chips, no cedar), a warming bulb in a brooder lamp - red is good, and things for the feet to get exercised ...branches of various diameters, nothing slippery or flat to prevent injury to their legs. give them some grass with earth on it, give them a forage tray to scratch around in. you might want to put the food and water not directly under the lamp. if your chicks explore about all over the brooder - your doing good. temp should be 95 the first week, go down 5 degrees per week after that - though it seems they feather out faster if they get to go outside early on.
after a week or 2, move them into a bigger space, or, if your brooder is big to begin with, you can wait 3-4 weeks. if the weather is warm enough - they will be ready to go outside for part of the day at 3 weeks.(if not before) - caution - chicks are very small and will find any opening to a larger or unsafe space. not only that, while they are good at getting out - they mostly will not find their way back in.
keep it interesting for them, spend time observing them.
pasting: little chick's vent can get poop stuck on it making it impossible to poop any more. this is deadly, meaning they will die and even if you catch it, the chick might be weak and not make it. once weak at such a young age, it is difficult to recover. this is mostly something in the first week of life.
be vigilant and use warm water to help get things unstuck.
pecking - chicks peck out of curiosity, heat stress, not enough space stress, boredom and establishing pecking order. nothing need to be done about the curiosity other than have only chick safe things around, nothing much can be done about them establishing a pecking order - as early as 2 weeks, everything else - observe and handle it. chicks can be pecked so badly they can die.
getting wet - dying from exposure after getting wet can be deadly - no rain or morning dew early on.
handling - establish a sound, like gently banging a metal pot or something, before you call them with your chicky chicky sound to give them treats. this conditions them to that sound = treats/food and makes it easy for another person than you to later call them for feeding. offer food from your hand early on, and handle them gently. once on the ground, walk around them with your tai-chi chicken walk. fond a phrase/sound that will mean: it's ok. you might want to do stuff around them and then give them treats - positive association.
feeding - chick starter and other stuff. after about 3-6 weeks, grower feed is ok, or - continue chick starter and let them forage till they start laying, then layer feed or make your own. imo - if you feed organic, and expose them, as much as possible, to things a mama hen would - medicated feed should not be required for the homestead and pet chicken. immunity to coccidiosis happens naturally and is desired.
grit - small stones necessary if you feed anything other that chick starter.
hygiene - clean is good, sterile not only not necessary - it is not desired.
dusting - something chickens do to keep clear of mites and lice and such - and they seem to like it too. if no dusty ground is available, provide a dust box.
nothing wrong with playing music for them, even if they will be outside and free range ;)
remember - chicks LOVE to scratch and dust-bathe - giving them a chance for both will make for happier chickens. giving them something else to explore other than each other will make for healthier and happier chicks.
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