Chicks are tender and adorable creatures that grow into wonderful laying birds. They need special care, including an incubator to keep them warm and nutritious nutrition specifically adapted to them, so that they grow up healthy and happy. Learn more about how to install an incubator that is safe for their health, provide food and water in adequate portions, and move them to an outdoor coop as they grow.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choosing the Chicks
Step 1. Learn about poultry farming laws
Breeding chicks is allowed, but there is legislation in place in each region or local constituency. To start you must have all the equipment according to the law and the ASL is very tax on these things. Therefore, you will need "minimum requirements": spaces large enough for a free-range chicken to need at least 15 square meters of space, you need egg incubators for generational turnover and continue breeding. It is good to contact associations such as Coldiretti, Confagricoltura, Cisl, Apa or others always belonging to the agricultural category. Among the regulations present, also read the Decree Law on the breeding of laying hens of July 2003, no. 267.
- There are also rules on the maximum stocking density, as well as on the size of the cages to be kept in the barnyard.
- Others limit the number of male chickens, or roosters, that are allowed to have. They are more common in densely populated areas.
Step 2. Decide which breed to breed
Chicks may look the same when they are young, but each breed grows by diversifying significantly. Some hens lay large quantities of eggs, others have a more pet-like temperament, and still others are great for meat production. Do some research to find out which breed to choose before you start building your chicken coop.
- For example, if you want a breed that reliably produces great eggs, choose a laying breed. Among the Italian ones, consider the Paduan and Leghorn hens. Among the foreign layers are the Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington and Australorp.
- If you are interested in laying hens that also guarantee good meat, you need a dual purpose breed. Among the most common on the Italian territory, consider the Ermellinata di Rovigo, the Robusta Maculata and the Romagnola Argentata. Among the foreign ones, there are the Silver Laced Wyandotte, the Ameraucana and the New Hampshire.
- Broilers, i.e. chickens intended for consumption, are raised primarily for meat. Among the Italian breeds, keep in mind the Pepoi and the Valdarno; among the foreign ones, instead, the Jumbo Cornish Cross and the Heavy Man Special.
Step 3. Decide how many chicks to buy
Chickens are very sociable birds, so it's a good idea to get more than one. Generally, a healthy hen lays five or six eggs a week, so don't forget this when deciding how many chicks to buy. Most small co-ops start with 4-6 chickens. If one gets sick or is eaten by a predator, you will have other chickens that will guarantee you egg production.
- Once you are sure how many chicks you want, you can choose to buy them in small quantities from a breeder or specialty store. If you prefer to order and receive them via shipping, you will probably need to make a minimum purchase of 20 or 25 chicks.
- Unless you feel ready to breed a rooster, be sure to only get females. Males can be aggressive and are more difficult to care for than chickens. In addition, they do not lay eggs.
- If you want to see the eggs hatch, you will need to make several preparations. Read the article How to Hatch Eggs for more information.
Step 4. Create suitable space before bringing the chicks home
For the first two months, they will have to live in an incubator. It is a device consisting of a small container or cage, which can be kept indoors at a controlled temperature. Once they are about two months old, you will need to move them to an outdoor coop within a courtyard for them to move.
- The coop structure must be 2-2.5m high and wide enough to accommodate the artificial nests, placed side by side. Each nest is seen to be about 25 cm wide.
- It is good practice to allocate a yard space of 1.20 square meters to each bird. It will be enough for the chick to move around comfortably. Of course, if you have more space, your chickens will appreciate having a larger yard to explore.
Part 2 of 3: Caring for Newborn Chicks
Step 1. Install a chick incubator
It is a small container in which the chicks will live for the first few months. During this period, in fact, they begin to develop the plumage they will have as adults, so they must be kept in a warm, safe and protected environment. Therefore, the incubator should be placed inside the garage, in the laundry area or in another covered and sheltered area.
- A sturdy plastic or cardboard box will be perfect as an incubator. Otherwise, if you prefer, you can get a special wooden incubator for chicks at a farm pet store.
- After a week or two, place a bird perch, perhaps consisting of a rod or a thin stick, in the lower part of the incubator. The chicks will learn to hop on the slope.
Step 2. Prepare the incubator floor
You will need to add a soft and comfortable cover that you can change easily and frequently. A pine chip bedding will do. You could also use finely shredded newspaper, but keep in mind that the ink can stain the chicks if they have a lot of feathers. To coat the floor, do not use slippery or glossy printer paper.
- The litter should be changed every few days to prevent the chicks from getting sick. Chickens are predisposed to contracting diseases that can easily spread when they live in an unclean environment.
- If the incubator floor is made of wire, be sure to cover it with a layer of solid cardboard or wood so that the paws do not slip into the grate.
Step 3. Install a lamp and check the temperature
Chicks can die if they get very cold, so it is essential to buy an incubator lamp so they can maintain the right body temperature. A light bulb with a reflector will provide the correct amount of heat. You can use a 100 watt light bulb or an infrared lamp. Attach it to the top of the incubator along with a thermometer you can use to monitor the temperature.
- The temperature must be kept between 32 and 37 ° C when the chicks are just one week old. After that you can reduce it by 2-3 degrees every week. Continue in this way until the chicks have developed their plumage, which is about 5 to 8 weeks.
- Adjust the heat by raising or lowering the light or changing the wattage of the lamp.
- If the chicks pant or press against the sides of the incubator, it means that they feel too hot and, therefore, you need to lower the temperature. If they cluster under the light, they are probably cold.
Step 4. Provide water and food
You will need to purchase a special type of chicken feed, which is presented as crumble at farm supply stores. This food satisfies all the nutritional needs of chicks under two months of age. You can buy it both medicated and non-medicated. Have them have fresh food at all times in a shallow metal or plastic bowl. Also provide fresh water in a shallow container.
- Medicated feed contains drugs that prevent the spread of diseases. If you choose non-medicated food, be sure to clean the incubator often and pay close attention to the health of your chicks.
- Make sure you change the water every day. If it looks dirty, replace it even more frequently.
- It is allowed to administer some "snacks", such as worms or garden insects. Avoid giving food intended for human consumption until they get older.
Step 5. Play with the chicks
Get used to your presence since they are small so that future coexistence is easier. Take them out of the incubator from time to time during the day to play. Pamper them, make them jump in the grass and help them get used to physical contact.
- Try not to leave them unattended. If you're not careful, a cat or other predator could take them away.
- Handle them gently. Their body is puny, so they shouldn't fall or be crushed. Make sure the children know how to handle contact properly.
Part 3 of 3: Moving the Chicks Outside
Step 1. Bring the chicks to their outdoor coop
When the chicks are a couple of months old, they will be ready to be moved to a larger cage outside. You can buy a pre-made coop at farm supply stores or you can build your own. It should provide shelter from the elements, protection from predators, and a cozy place to sleep. Make sure it has the following characteristics:
- An elevated and sheltered perch. The coop should offer the hens a place to sleep comfortably several inches off the ground. Chickens naturally prefer to perch away from the ground when sleeping, as this position protects them from predators.
- Artificial nests. In the roost area, make sure each hen has its own separate compartment, about 25cm wide in which to lay eggs. Line the compartments with straw or wood chips. In larger nests you can place more than one hen.
- Create space for the chickens to run around. They will be happier if they have space to run around and forage for food. The coop should have a door leading to an outdoor area at least 1.2 x 2.4 m wide for 3-5 chickens. They will be safer if the area is fenced off to the side and above (to protect them from hawks). The holes in the fence should not be wider than 2, 5 cm2.
Step 2. Provide food and water
Once the chicks are over two months old, start buying crumbled or pelleted chicken feed to get the nutrients they need to lay their eggs. You can find it at agricultural supply stores. Additionally, you can also choose to feed older birds with kitchen scraps, fruits and vegetables, and garden weeds. Place the feed in a chicken feeder which you will need to empty and clean once every week and a half.
- Chickens like raw fruits and vegetables of all kinds, cooked pasta, cooked rice, cooked beans and any other type of grain. Don't feed them food that is high in fat or salt.
- Place a bowl of sand or heaped eggshells in the coop. Chickens use them for digestion, as they have no teeth for mincing food. Eggshells also provide a greater supply of calcium.
- Put the water in a chicken trough. During the winter it may be necessary to use a heated drinker to prevent the water from freezing.
Step 3. Clean the coop regularly
The straw inside the nests and the chips of the floor should be eliminated and replaced with new material every week and a half or so. Every four months empty and clean the entire area by shoveling out the waste, spraying water with a hose, letting it dry and adding a new bed. If you neglect this, there is a risk of disease spreading inside the coop.
Step 4. Play with the chickens
Even when they have just reached maturity, these animals like to surround themselves with people. Name each one, pick them up and pamper them. You can feed them directly from your hands so that they gain more confidence in you. After some time they will come to you when you call them, just like a dog would. Many people find chickens to be intelligent and fun animals.
Step 5. Collect eggs regularly
The hens will start laying eggs between 20 and 24 weeks of age. There is some difference depending on the breed, but most lay five or six eggs per week in spring, summer and fall. When daylight drops to minus 12 hours, egg production also drops.
- Collect eggs every day to encourage higher production. Don't leave them in chicken compartments for too long.
- Hens usually start producing fewer eggs after 3-5 years of age.
Advice
- Be very careful when catching chicks - they have very fragile bones.
- Never help a chick if it stops or doesn't hatch, otherwise you risk killing it.
- These steps may not be suitable for turkey, flamingo, pukeko, pheasant, or any other bird you are considering adopting.
Warnings
- Do not use cedar shavings, sawdust or curls of treated wood as bedding for chicks.
- Never take a chick away from its mother. This article offers guidance on caring for domesticated chicks.
