Rearing Chicks - Feeding

Mention was made earlier of the fact that the remains of the yolk in the abdomen provides sufficient food for the first period after hatching. This can be up to 48 hours, which explains why transporting day-old chicks to rearers is a feasible proposition. I always make water available after 24 hours just in case there is a risk of dehydration. In my experience, chicks always want to drink before they feed.

A small plastic drinker is easy to clean and refill, but the chicks do try and climb in so it is a good idea to place it on a tile to raise it slightly above the litter. Alternatively, a suspended drinker can be used, but it is important for the chicks to be able to drink without straining upwards. I use a small plastic drinker for the first week and then go over to a suspended drinker later. On a larger scale, where it is more difficult to keep litter out of the water and vice versa, it is a good idea to have a small platform made of rigid wire mesh so that any spills drain through. In this way patches of damp litter that are conducive to disease are avoided.

Ducklings and goslings present particular problems when it comes to water. They want to swim in it, but they must not be allowed to. If the feathers get wet, they become spiky in appearance and goslings will immediately pull at them, in the way that they do with grass. One solution is to provide a turf of clean, fine grass for their attention, so that they are distracted from misdemeanours. The grass should be short, not long and stringy, in case it causes a blockage in the crop.

A feed ration can be made available as soon as the chicks are in the brooder. Chick crumbs are widely used and provide a complete balance of nutrients. They are available with or without a coccidiostat additive. This provides protection against the disease coccidiosis, a bacterial infection that is usually associated with damp litter or over-used ground. On a small scale, where it is easy to remove soiled areas of litter and replace them with new on a regular basis, it is less likely to appear.

Mixed chick corn is available from feed suppliers. If this is given, either in addition to or instead of the chick crumbs, it is important to provide fine grit so that the gizzard can function properly. There are also starter rations for waterfowl and turkeys available.

The most convenient feeder to use is a cardboard egg carton or a cardboard Keyes tray for larger numbers. They are low on the ground, easily accessible and provide several feed reservoirs from which the chicks can help themselves. Plastic egg cartons are no good because they are easily tipped over.

With a hen and chicks it can sometimes be difficult to provide separate rations, for the hen always wants to eat the more expensive chick crumbs. On a small scale, it doesn’t matter if they have the same diet, but with larger numbers of broodies, it can be expensive. There are chick feeders available which have feeding apertures that are too small for the hen to gain access, and it might be worth considering these. There are also small broody houses available which have a run on both sides. It is possible to feed the hen in one and the chicks in the other, but they still need to be separated.

Occasionally one comes across a chick that is reluctant to drink. If this happens, pick it up carefully and gently dip its beak in the water. Take care not to insert it as far as the nostrils in case you drown it! Usually this works. If not, try it with a little warm water!

Artificially hatched chicks may take some time to get the hang of feeding. The secret here is to emulate the behaviour of a mother hen. Put a clean sheet of paper on the shavings and then drop a few chick crumbs on it so that the chicks are attracted by both the sound and sight of the falling food. If your dramatic expertise extends even further, you could also emulate the slight squawk that the hen makes when she finds food. That will certainly bring the chicks running. Once they’ve got the hang of things, remove the paper and they’ll soon find the egg carton of food.

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Copyright © Katie Thear 2005