Chicks need
to be kept quite warm (90 to 95 degrees) for the first 60 days or so until more insulative feathers replace their baby fuzz. If you intend to raise chicks regularly, you may wish to purchase a pre-constructed warming box (or "brooder") from a feed or farm supply store or build a sturdy one out of wood. For occasional use, a cardboard box, plastic storage container or even an aquarium will suffice, provided you prepare it properly for your fuzzy new friends.
Instructions
1. Decide what type of container will work best for the number of chicks you'll be housing, keeping in mind your budget and space restrictions. Chicks need 9 to 12 square inches of space for their first 4 weeks. Possible containers include a simple cardboard box, a plastic container, aquarium or a cage.
2. Cut or punch holes in the top and sides of the container (unless holes currently exist) to ensure adequate ventilation. Small holes help allow circulation of oxygen without permitting a draft.
3. Cover the bottom of the container with approximately 1 inch of untreated wood shavings. Shavings help hold in created heat and provide traction to discourage slipping.
4. Purchase a 250-watt infrared heat lamp or a red, 100-watt light bulb and reflector to suspend above the floor of the brooder. The height of the lamp or bulb is determined by its ability to maintain the proper temperature for the chicks' living environment, so you may need to experiment with its position.
5. Attach a small thermometer to the side of the brooder to ensure that you are keeping temperatures in the appropriate range. New hatchlings should be housed at 90 to 95 degrees. Decrease the temperature by 5 degrees each week until chicks develop feathers (5 to 8 weeks old).
6. Place corrugated cardboard around your brooder if it remains drafty after installation of your heat lamp. Surrounding the container with cardboard or a similar material allows heat to build and keeps chicks from becoming scared or overstimulated by their surroundings.
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