The very first step in caring for your newly hatched baby chicks is to ready their brooder before they’ve hatched, you’ve picked them up, or they’ve arrived via post. A brooder can be as simple as a large cardboard box or plastic tub/container, or you can purchase a commercial chick brooder. Most importantly, you want to be assured that everything is in working order well before you need. So, several days prior to hatching/arrival, set up the brooder, clip on the heat lamp and plug it in. Be sure to locate the heat lamp on the side of the brooder and not directly over the centre, so as to offer your chicks an easy egg-scape if they become too warm. Set a thermometer inside and after a while, check to see that the temperature has risen to 32-35 degrees Celsius. If so, turn off the lamp and repeat “I will be patient” as often as necessary, until hatch day. On the morning of hatch day, set up your brooder with bedding, feed, water, thermostat and plug in the lamp. Feed chicks a commercial Chick Starter, which is available as medicated or non-medicated up until 8 weeks of age.
Check out the full article by ” Back Yard Chicken Coups” HERE
Below is a GREAT video on raising baby chicks !
In this episode of Welcome to My Farm, host Lisa Steele will show you how to prepare and care for day old chicks. Lisa also shares her tips for setting up a brooder, creates DIY mobile nesting chair, shows how to turn a broody hen into an insta-mom and prepares a delicious scotch egg recipe.