Five Steps to Better Chick Brooding

Improving chick brooding to get new baby chicks off to a good start can impact their growth and performance for their entire time spent on your farm. Chicks require feed and water within 24 hours to jump start their appetite. They also lack the ability to thermoregulate, so we, their mother hens and caretakers, must help them in every way we can.

Before chicks have even set foot on the farm, their new home should have been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to remove any pathogens that were present from previous flocks. Clean feed pans ensures high quality feed is ready and waiting. Clean water lines at the appropriate height helps them hydrate. And nice warm floors keeps chickies comfy cozy as they learn their way around their new surroundings.

This video highlights the house conditions for optimal chick brooding. They should be present when chicks arrive at the farm. Want to learn more? You can read about Best Management Practice for Broiler Brooding here.