By six weeks of age the chicks should have a full covering of feathers.
Raising baby chicks can be carried out successfully as long as the chicks are provided for in the correct way. It is important to keep the chicks in an environment with suitable heat. Chicks can be purchased from a hatchery and they can also be raised at home from the egg stage, but in order to hatch the eggs must be kept in an incubator for 21 days. Chicks can become stressed while being transported from the hatchery to their new home. Check for runny droppings sticking around the anus, which should be cleaned frequently to prevent illness.
Instructions
1. Keep the the chicks in a specialized breeder box , though you can also house them in an aquarium, which will be easy to keep clean. Round-based aquariums are more suitable for groups of five chicks or more as this will prevent any of the chicks being trapped in a corner by their siblings. Line the floor of the aquarium with newspaper. For the first week you should also cover the newspaper with a layer of paper towels or an old bath towel. This will help to prevent leg problems such as spraddle leg, which is caused by the chicks walking on a slippery surface.
2. Keep the chicks warm by placing a heating lamp directly over one end of the aquarium, as this allows the chicks to cool off at the other end if they feel overheated. Set the heat lamp to a temperature of 95 degrees F until the chicks are a week old, and then lower the temperature by five degrees every week until the chicks reach six weeks of age. At this point the chicks should have a complete covering of feathers and will be able to continue without the heat lamp. If the chicks can be heard making loud noises, this means they are too cold.
3. Ensure that water is always available for the chicks. Add a single tablespoon of sugar for the first day of feeding to act as an energy supplement. You may need to dip the chick's beak into the water so it will learn what it is. Feed the chicks on a specialized starter feed, which can be purchased from feed stores. When the chicks reach six weeks of age change to a pullet grower feed until 20 weeks of age. They can then be fed laying feed. In the case of an emergency, crushed hard-boiled egg yolk can be used to feed newly hatched chicks until the suitable feed can be acquired.
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