subject: 3 Things You Must Do Before Bringing Your Baby Chicks Home [print this page] There are numerous things which you must do before bringing your baby chicks home. No matter if you ordered your baby chicks by mail or you are picking them up, there are things which can make the transition for you and the baby chicks run more smoothly. Here are three very important things which you must remember in welcoming home your baby chicks.
1. Remember to turn on your brooder. You want to ensure that your brooder is set up and tested out. Turn your brooder on the night before picking up the baby chicks. Check the temperature of the brooder which should be approximately ninety-five degrees during the first week and lower the brooder five degrees every week afterwards. You also want to remember to fill the waterers while adding electrolyte powder and vitamin. This ensures that the water will be warmed by the brooder for your baby chicks to drink. You do not want to give cold water to your baby chicks, they will not drink it. The baby chicks will not drink right away but once they do, they will also want to eat. Consistently check the temperature of the brooder.
2.If you have ordered your baby chicks via the mail system, you should contact the post office to find out when they will arrive so you can be there to greet them. You want to ensure the number of baby chicks you ordered are present. You want to get the baby chicks home as soon as possible to get them in under the brooder. Make sure you bring some type of heat source with you so you can tuck in the box of baby chicks. Heat is very important. If the chicks are cheeping very loud, this primarily means they are cold. Insert your heat source into the box and get them home as soon as possible to the brooder.
3.When transporting your baby chick's home, make sure that you avoid cold drafts and any unnecessary moving around. If your chicks become chilled, they will become what is commonly called "pasting up". If your chicks paste up you have to wash the chick's butts. Do not utilize soap; just carefully wash it off with half warm water and half hydrogen peroxide. Dry the chick off and place the chick under the brooder with the others.
Once you get your chicks home, ensure that you take each chick out individually from the box and transfer them to the warmed brooder. Chicks are naturally curious and they will peck at virtually anything which interests them. They might begin eating on their own, if not, then you need to tap on the food for them and eventually, they will get the idea.
