In order to grow into healthy chickens, chicks need sufficient light and space as well as food and water.

 

1-28 day old chicks

To teach the chicks to eat independently, it is best to place a piece of newspaper under the filled feeder and sprinkle some chicken feed suitable for chicks on the paper. The chicks will find the food on the paper more easily and learn to recognise the location of the food. On the first day, they should be placed directly in front of it with their beaks and dipped briefly onto the feed. Regularly dip the beak of each chick in fresh water so that they absorb liquid.

Chicks need a lot of warmth and should be kept under a red light lamp or a 250 watt lamp. In hot weather, a 100 watt lamp is sufficient. The lamp should be about 30cm away from the cage. A corner of the cage should be left without heat so that the chicks can retreat there if necessary. A temperature of around 32 degrees should be maintained for the first week. After that, the temperature can be lowered evenly and gradually to around 22 degrees. The sides of the cage should be covered so that the chicks do not get a draught.

The cage is lined with sawdust. Each chick needs about 40 square centimetres of space.

 

>28 days

The chicks now need more space, each bird should have approx. 60 square centimetres available. An extra water dispenser should also be provided. From 4 weeks, the chicks can often already eat chicken feed for adult birds.

From now on, the growing chickens should be given the opportunity to run around freely outside on warm, sunny days.

 

Tips: There are drinking water supplements that provide the chicks with vitamins and minerals.

Sick chicks should be separated from the other birds.