Instructions
Set up a cardboard box during a baby chick's first four weeks. Cover the box with a screen or wired mesh to protect the chicks from predators such as cats. Add a textured surface, such as wood shavings or straw, to the bottom of the box to help prevent the chicks from slipping. Make sure the box is placed in an area with good ventilation and is protected from any wind drafts.
Maintain a temperature of about 90 degrees Fahrenheit for the first four weeks after a chick is hatched. Reduce the temperature by 5 degrees Fahrenheit each week until it reaches about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A gradual reduction in heat will help the chicken become acclimated to room temperature.
Use a heat lamp to provide your baby chicks with adequate lighting. Pay attention to how chicks respond to light. For example, chicks stay near the heat when it's too cold, and chirp loudly or have diarrhea when it's too cold. Take your chicks outside for fresh air and natural light. Move the chicks' food and water away from direct sunlight.
Drip water lightly on the beak of newly hatched chicks to familiarize them with water. Water helps a baby chick's metabolism, digestion and respiration systems and regulate their body temperature. Make sure the box contains fresh, clean water. Clean out any dropping that have landed in the chicks' water.
Provide baby chicks with a chick starter feed for food. A chick starter feed provides the chicks with a balanced nutrition to help prevent disease. Make sure the supply on hand is big enough to feed approximately one pound of chick starter feed to each chick per week. Place the chick starter feed in a shallow dish that easily accessible to the chicks. Fill up the dish two-thirds full to help prevent spillage when chicks scratch the food out with their beaks.
Care for Newly Hatched Chickens
Many people with chickens have seen firsthand the development of an egg. Hens are normally very successful at protecting and caring for eggs. However, it can be a challenge for them to care for newly hatched baby chicks, which require even more nurturing. Unfortunately, there are many factors, such as temperature, that cannot always be regulated by the hen. If you know how to care for newly hatched chicks, you can help them grow into healthy chickens.