Once the chicks have hatched, the most important part begins: their first weeks shape their future health. This guide covers setting up the brooder, week-by-week temperature, feeding and when to move the chicks outside.
How long should chicks stay in the incubator?
Let chicks dry and rest for 12 to 24 hours in the incubator after hatching, without feeding them. Thanks to the yolk sac absorbed just before hatching, a chick can go 24 to 48 hours without eating while the whole clutch hatches. Only move chicks to the brooder once they are fully dry and fluffy.
Setting up the brooder
The brooder is a warm, dry, draft-free space: a large tub, a sturdy box or a chick pen all work. Provide a heat source (heat plate or lamp), a waterer, a feeder and absorbent bedding. Allow at least 250 cm² (about 0.3 sq ft) per chick in the first week, then expand the space as they grow.
What temperature, week by week?
Keep 32 to 35 °C (90 to 95 °F) in the first week, then lower it by about 3 °C a week until you reach room temperature (around 20 °C) by the fifth or sixth week. The best guide is behaviour: chicks huddled under the lamp are cold, chicks fleeing the heat and panting are too hot, chicks spread out evenly are just right. A heat plate, safer than a lamp, lets chicks choose for themselves.
What do chicks drink and eat?
Offer clean, lukewarm water as soon as they reach the brooder, in a shallow drinker to avoid drowning. For food, a chick starter feed at around 20% protein covers all their needs in the first weeks. You can dip the first chicks' beaks in the water to show them where to drink. Avoid table scraps and treats at this stage.
Bedding and cleanliness
Use absorbent bedding such as wood shavings (never cedar, which is toxic) or non-slip paper for the very first days. Plain newspaper alone is too slippery and can cause splayed legs. Change soiled bedding regularly: a damp brooder encourages diseases such as coccidiosis. Keep water and food clean and raised if possible.
Spotting a healthy chick
A healthy chick is alert, curious, eats, drinks and cheeps normally. Watch for pasting (pasty butt), a build-up of droppings blocking the vent: clean it gently with warm water if needed. Isolate any listless chick with drooping wings or that stays apart, and keep it warm. Regularly tracking each chick's weight and condition helps catch a problem early.
When can chicks go outside?
Chicks can move outside for good once they are fully feathered and the outdoor temperature allows, usually around 5 to 6 weeks. In mild weather, short supervised outings are possible from 3 to 4 weeks. Harden them off by lowering the heat before the transition, and make sure the outdoor space is predator-proof.
Introducing youngsters to the adult flock
Never throw youngsters straight in with adult hens: the pecking order is harsh and injuries can happen. Wait until the young birds are close to adult size, then use the look-but-don't-touch method: separate the two groups with wire mesh for one to two weeks so they can see each other without fighting, before combining them, ideally at night on the roost.