Well done! You’ve made the bold decision to bring day-old chicks home. Although these little bundles of fluff have a lot of potential, during their first few weeks of life, they are also extremely vulnerable. They require a cozy, secure, and warm environment to flourish, much like human newborns do. This is the role of the brooder, which serves as their makeshift residence while they develop their strength before leaving for the outside world.
For chicks to survive and develop normally, the brooder must be set up properly. Given the wide variations in temperature here in Kenya, it’s crucial to comprehend and apply the fundamentals. Let’s start by discussing how to set up a brooder that will keep your chicks warm, content, and on track to becoming productive flock members.
Selecting the Appropriate Brooder Space:
Consider the brooder to be a sanctuary. It must be:
Enough Space: Avoid crowding your chicks! For the first several weeks, it’s a good idea to provide each chick at least 0.5 square feet (46 square centimeters) of floor space. A brooder size of roughly 1.25 square meters would be suitable for a batch of 25 chicks. As they expand, you’ll need to make more room.
Draft-Free: Women are more vulnerable to cold temperatures. Pick a spot inside that isn’t near open doors or windows that could let cold air in. You can use a garage, a spare room, or even a big, robust cardboard box.
Simple to Clean: Maintaining good hygiene is essential to avoiding illness. Choose a brooder that is simple to clean and sanitize. Repurposed cattle troughs, wooden boxes lined with plastic, or even plastic tubs can work well.
Secure: Keep your chicks safe from rodent, dog, and cat predators. Make sure the brooder’s walls are sturdy and that it has a wire mesh top if needed.
2. The Crucial Heat Source: Mother Hen Impersonation
Chicks that have just hatched are unable to control their body temperature. Like they would cuddle under their mother hen, they are totally dependent on an outside heat source.
The most often used and efficient technique is the heat lamp. Use a red-bulb heat lamp that is suspended above the brooder and has a starting power of about 250 watts. Importantly, avoid hanging it in the middle. This enables the chicks to locate their comfort zone by moving to warmer or cooler areas of the brooder.
Positioning is Crucial: Place the bulb’s bottom approximately 18–20 inches (45–50 cm) above the brooder floor to begin. Pay great attention to your chicks. Lower the lamp a little if they appear cold, are cuddled right beneath it, and are chirping loudly. Raise the lamp if they are panting and attempting to escape the heat by going to the brooder’s edges.
Temperature Monitoring: Purchase a thermometer and position it at chick level, just below the reach of the heat light.
Week 1: Aim for 90–95°F (32–35°C)
Week 2: Lower the temperature to 85–90°F (29–32°C) by 5°F (around 3°C).
Continue lowering by 5°F per week until you reach room temperature, or around 70°F (21°C), which is often achieved by weeks 4-6.
Contingency Plan: Keep a backup heat source on hand, such as a towel wrapped around a hot water bottle, especially in places that frequently experience power outages.
Cozy Beddings: An Absorbent and Soft Floor:
The brooder’s floor must be both absorbent to keep the chicks dry and comfy for them to walk on.
Good Options: Shredded paper (avoid glossy paper), rice husks (available in some regions of Kenya), or wood shavings (not cedar, which can be hazardous) are also great options.
Avoid: fine sawdust (which can cause lung difficulties if inhaled) and newspapers (which are overly slippery and might cause leg problems).
Depth: Begin with a layer that is roughly two to three inches (5 to 7.5 cm).
Cleanliness: Every day, spot clean the bedding to get rid of any filthy or damp spots. To avoid ammonia buildup, replace the entire bedding every several days.
4. Food and Water: Fuel for Development:
Chick development depends on having easy access to clean water and fresh food.
Feeders: To keep chicks from getting inside and contaminating the meal, use shallow feeders made especially for them. Use chick starter mash first, as it is prepared with the proper nutrients for their early development.
Waterers: Always use chick waterers to supply clean, fresh water. These have a thin lip to keep girls from drowning if they fall in.
Placement: To keep the water from becoming too heated and to promote movement among the chicks in the brooder, keep feeders and waterers away from the direct heat source.
Hygiene: Every day, clean and restock waterers and feeders.
5. The Greatest Thermometer: Seeing Your Chicks
A thermometer is useful, but the best way to tell if your chicks are comfortable is to watch how they behave.
Happy chicks are energetic, mobile, eat and drink frequently, make gentle chirping noises, and sleep soundly.
Chirping loudly and shivering, the cold chicks were huddled together right beneath the heat source.
Hot Chicks: Lethargy, holding their wings away from their bodies, panting, and moving near the brooder’s boundaries.
Just Right: Distributed uniformly throughout the brooder, allowing unrestricted movement between the warmer and colder areas.
6. Brooder Maintenance: Maintaining Hygiene and Purity:
A healthy brooder is one that is clean.
Eliminate filthy and damp bedding as part of your daily spot cleaning.
Complete Cleaning on a Regular Basis: Change all of the bedding every few days.
Disinfection: Use a poultry-safe disinfectant to lightly clean the brooder floor before replacing the bedding.
Fresh Water Every Day: At least once a day, ideally twice, change the water.
Fresh Feed Every Day: Make sure that clean feed is constantly available.
Building a cozy and contented brooder is an investment in your flock’s long-term well-being and output. You’ll be giving your chicks the best start in life if you pay close attention to these fundamentals and watch how they behave. Keep in mind that the first few weeks are crucial, so spend time properly setting up and caring for the brooder. Cheers to raising a girl!