Before bringing newbaby chickshome to rest , it ’s imperative to be prepare . While poulet are birds and raspberry are rather hardy creatures , solar day - old dame ( even 5 - day - old babe chicks and 14 - day - older infant chicks ) are delicate little lives that require and demand superfluous care without a dedicated mamma biddy . Here are some things you’re able to do ahead of time to make certain they come home to a nurturing environment .
1. Do Your Research
You get wind this all the time , but it ’s so of import . The risk in bringing home baby chicks — or any animal — before you ’re ready to give care for them is that their basic penury will , at some distributor point , go unmet while you figure out what to do . While accidents happen that we ca n’t always prepare for , wecanprepare to leave adequate nourishment and comfort to avoid starving , unwellness and even death .
You and your chickens will gain from extensive inquiry before they arrive at your home , and they will thrive under your continued enquiry . Because chickens grow very tight , so does the demand for your chicken geezerhood - appropriate knowledge . Become knowing long before you have to find out by doing , and you ’re sure to do fewer wrongs in the long ravel .
2. Build Shelter
Shelter in the form of abrooderis important for protection from marauder , Thomas Kid , cats , dogs and drafts . A incubator can be any enclosure that provides guard and protection , such as an old aquarium , a converted credit card storage tote or a composition board brooder system designed specifically to admit apace growing baby chicks . ( Note : Cardboard incubator are ardor hazards when paired with a heat lamp . ) afterwards , when chicks outgrow the incubator , they ’ll necessitate to move outside to a hencoop . The big move befall sooner than you would expect , so get a coop work up or fork up rather than you think you ’ll need it — to be on the safe side , have it ready before the chicks arrive .
3. Stock Up On Feed
Baby doll need starterfeed , either medicated or non - medicated , that is give voice for their specific nutritional need . chick ’ rapid growth surprise everyone raising crybaby for first meter . They seem to duplicate in size of it every twenty-four hour period . The right feed for growing babies is very mellow in protein to support that rapid outgrowth and the immediate feathering , which continues for several month .
4. Have A Fresh Water Source
The water source should stay fresh for the chicks ’ health and shallow to prevent drowning . Baby doll have no manners and walk through everything , include their poo and their water . Expect to clean the waterer several time per daytime . And to serve prevent inadvertent drowning , which takes very little water , put marbles in the dish antenna to prevent a chick from dipping its beak into the body of water further than it should go .
5. Provide Warmth
Chicks call for to be kept very warm until they ’re feathered out . During the first calendar week of aliveness they should have access to an average temperature of 95 degree F , with a decrease of about 5 degrees each week . The protection and heat source should be constructed so that each wench is capable to move nigher to or farther away from the heat source to one by one regularize consistency temperature .
6. Go Easy On The Love
Whensmall childrenhold their new infant chicks , they tend to agree on tight to keep chicks from pass over off . They also tend to squeeze . As cute as chicks are , they ’re not kittens or puppies . Pet chicks gently , hold them with a gentle helping hand , and allow them to bequeath your manus when they want to . refuse the urge to smother them with love to avoid really smothering them . minor need continuous reminders about this .
7. Remember: Chicks Are Animals, Not Toys
Gift chicks for Easter daybreak squeals are a really fun idea , but only when one has really contrive on raising chickens , has prepared a incubator , and has purchased provender , a water boy and a high temperature informant . For child chicks that have to forgo right food , body of water , shelter and heat to take up abidance in ornament basket of chocolate bunny rabbit and jellybeans , Easter is no fun at all — not even if they ’ll be take a tripper to a friend ’s farm afterwards . If you ’re considering buying chicks for Easter forenoon , sympathise that chicks can be foul with Salmonella without expose symptoms of malady .
Whether you ’re thinking about pop afall flockor are just now starting to prepare for spring biddy , stacks of playfulness awaits you in your chicken - keep ventures . And with a slight cooking before your little voyeur arrive home , your flock will settle in swimmingly .
