PHASE I: THE BROODER
Young chicks must have a brooder for warmth and protection. Prepare the brooder by cleaning and
disinfecting it before the chicks arrive. Once it has dried, cover the floor with 4 to 6 inches of dry litter material. Pinewood shavings or sawdust is recommended to aid in disease prevention. Place the
brooder in a draft-free location. Carefully position an incandescent bulb about a foot above the box
floor to provide heat and add a second light in case one bulb burns out.
Newly hatched chicks will find their perfect temperature in the brooder. If it’s too hot under the bulb
chicks will move away from the heat; if too cool they’ll move closer. Give chicks space to move about.
Baby chicks huddle together when they’re cold, which can cause smothering or suffocation, so check
your chicks regularly to be sure they are comfortable. Raise the height of the lights as they grow,
because their need for artificial heat will diminish as they grow feathers.
Clean, fresh water is the most important thing to give your chicks. Make sure it is always available and t ] H