Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fairview Hatch-ery (
www.fairviewhatchery.com
), or
Stromberg's (
www.strombergschickens.com
). After hatching
or arrival, baby birds should be provided with a brooder,
food, and water. For a mini-farm-scaled operation, a brooder
need be nothing more than an area enclosed on the sides free
of drafts, an adjustable-height heat lamp, and a thermometer.
(These products are available at agricultural supply stores.)
The floor of the brooder should be smooth (like flat cardboard
or newspapers) for the first few days until the chicks figure
out how to eat from the feeder, and then you can add some
wood shavings. Make sure to clean all the droppings and
replace the litter daily. Feeding and watering devices for baby
birds are readily available.
Baby chicks in a brooder made from plywood.
When the baby chicks are first introduced to the brooder,
duck their beaks briefly in the water so they recognize it as a
water source. Just before hatching, chicks suck up the last of
the yolk so they are all set for up to 24 hours without food
after hatching, but you want them to have food and water as
soon as possible.
Incubators and brooding areas must be thoroughly cleaned
and disinfected before populating them in order to keep a
disease called coccidiosis controlled. Coccidiosis is caused by
