Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
warm themselves in the rays, but once the sun goes down, they are going to need heat.
As the chicks grow and the season warms up, they will spend more and more time away
from the heat source.
If you're using heat lamps in a large open brooder space, steadily decrease the
250-watt bulb to 125 or 100 watts. In a smaller tub brooder, you move from 100 watts to
60 watts and so forth, until eventually you withdraw it altogether when the birds reach
the age when they no longer require heat. You'll be able to tell when it is time to de-
crease the wattage by looking at where the birds congregate at night: If they are all piled
up together when you first find them in the morning,
they are too cold
. If they are piled
up in the end far away from the heat source,
they are too hot
. If they are spread all
around the brooder,
they are just fine
.
Keep in mind that birds that are too warm, and constantly trying to avoid the heat
source, will not feather properly. This is usually not a problem for most raisers but can
occur in warm climates and during the heat of the summer.
The First Few Days
Baby fowl sent through the mail may arrive slightly stressed. They may be chilled or
jostled about during the shipping process. Occasionally they arrive overheated, panting,
and in desperate need of a drink.
It is always best to offer
warm, not cold
water to your new baby chicks for their first
drink whether they've been shipped or not. To give them a boost, add a couple table-
spoons of sugar per quart of water or find a vitamin supplement powder to add. Many
brands of supplement are sold, and regional availability will vary. Be sure to read and
follow the label directions carefully.
It is always a good idea to dip the chicks' beaks in the water upon arrival to give
them a little strength and to let them know where the water is. This can make a world of
difference in the success rate of the shipment.
Hatcheries often won't recommend products to be added to the water for the first
couple of days. There are many different remedies and methods out there promising to
get the birds off to a good start. Whatever you decide to use, remember it's not a good
idea to just dump the chicks in the box and leave them with regular water. Meticulous
care on the first day is crucial for directing them down the steady road to health.
Guard against Handling
Once the baby birds are home, avoid handling them. It is very hard for small children
(and some adults) to understand that even though the chicks are very cute and cuddly,
they should not be held during the first 72 hours (even if they weren't shipped in). Each
chick has a yolk sac inside its tiny abdomen. If you squeeze too hard or let the chick fall
