Chick rearing.

[p54jes]

Hello,
Just wondering if anyone could tell me what to do after my eggs have hatched. They have been in an automatic incubator for nine days and as far as I can tell doing ok.
Thanks
P54jes

[milly2306]

hi
mine are due to hatch on friday. when they hatch they need to be left in incubator until dry and then moved to brooder box.this is a box with another small box inside. cover floor with sawdust, shredded paper etc and the smaller box inside is for sleeping. you need a ceramic heat lamp to keep them warm. feed om chick crumb and make sure there is plenty of water. also supply a bar for roosting. this is as far as i have got!!!!
good luck with your hatch
xxxmillyxxx

[p54jes]

Thanks milly as I have no idea as to what happens next your advice is a great help.

cheers ,
p54jes

[Hilary B]

If the incubator is an 'autoturner' you will need to stop it turning the eggs as soon as you see signs of 'pipping', or the day before you expect the first to hatch.

[chicken slave]

My chicks are in there 5 week of life. I have had great success with a brooder made from hardboard and a plywood floor. I have a good covering of dust free sawdust a small feeder and waterer. When they were really young I had the heat lamp on all day, at about 2 weeks old I only put it on if it was cold and always at night. For the past week or so I have removed the heat lamp completely, as they now are nearly fully feathered. I must admit I did try newspaper and it got soiled really quickly and held the moisture. The ceramic lamp mentioned seems to be best as the red bulbs are supposed to deplete some vitamins from the chicks.

[Birdie Wife]

Make sure you get a chick crumb feed with an added anti-coccidiosis too - they don't usually need this if they have been raised with a broody hen as she will transfer immunity to most things as she broods but incubated chicks are more susceptible.