Chick Care

Temps

Week 1: 101deg in direct light 92deg approx at far side of brooder. Place food and water on cooler end to encourage moving between temps so they find their comfort spot.

Week 2: drop temp 3-5deg for 3 weeks

Week 5: Turn light off and allow birds to acclimate to natural temp rises and falls.

Week 6: Birds are ready to go outside but make sure to have a shelter with a heat light on 24/7 to allow them to warm up if needed.

Feed

Week 1-6: 28% protein game bird starter

Week 6-12: approx 23% protein game bird feed with high protein scratch

Week 12 and on: 15-18% protein game bird maintainer with game bird scratch. Your birds will let you know what they like and dislike as far as scratch feed, find one they like and keep with it.

Water

You will see this across the board: FRESH CLEAN WATER! Change water daily for chicks, they tend to get wood chips, poop, and other contaminants in their water that is then ingested. Also once introducing the chicks into the brooder, dip their beaks in the water so they find where it's at ( Do not dunk their beaks or water will go into their nostrils. Just touch the tip of the beak to the water and break the surface of the water). It just takes 1 to remember and the rest should follow just out of pure curiosity for what the one is doing. We use a vitamin and electrolytes powder in the water for the first 3 weeks to boost their immune system and give them some energy.

Aggression

Since you cant put blinders on chicks until about 8 weeks old you have to get resourceful to help combat pecking and feather pulling. We hang strings with wooden beads from the lid of the box for them to peck at and they love them! Some people draw circles on the walls or stick figures to give them something to peck at. Also, having things to climb on gives them something to do. This could be a perch, some clean bricks, or just a platform to have various elevations. Boredom is a huge cause of pecking!

Questions