There have been some good replies to this topic so far. Let me just add that, not only is it necessary to have the small box for the chicks to stay warm, but it is also necessary to help keep the chicks from getting too banged up.
Stop and think about this for a minute...
These are very fragile and delicate day old chicks in a cardboard box that is slick to their feet. Now, imagine someone constantly pickin up and moving your box around. First of all, the U.S. Postal service is well known for their super careful handling of packages, right? NOT! They toss boxes around like cord wood regardless of what labels are on the package like, "Fragile", "Handle with care", "Glass", and yes, even, "Live Baby Chicks Inside." The fact is that they often are so preoccupied with getting the packaes to where they are supposed to go that they hardly read the labeling. They figure, if something gets broke, well that is what isurance is for. They are not emotionally attached to these chicks and they know that they will never see you either. Thus, the rough handling.
Now, if the baby chicks were placed in boxes that allowed them a lot more free movement room, then there would be a lot more room for them to slide around and get baned up. As it is, in the small boxes, the chicks act as padding or packing material for one another. That is one of the reasons that they are in so small of a box, so they don't have room to slide around and get banged up. The other, of course, is to keep each other warm.
If you look at the baby birds in your brooder pen, they will huddle up in that small of a space when they are cold or sleeping anyways unless they are right under a heat lamp.
Stop and think about this for a minute...
These are very fragile and delicate day old chicks in a cardboard box that is slick to their feet. Now, imagine someone constantly pickin up and moving your box around. First of all, the U.S. Postal service is well known for their super careful handling of packages, right? NOT! They toss boxes around like cord wood regardless of what labels are on the package like, "Fragile", "Handle with care", "Glass", and yes, even, "Live Baby Chicks Inside." The fact is that they often are so preoccupied with getting the packaes to where they are supposed to go that they hardly read the labeling. They figure, if something gets broke, well that is what isurance is for. They are not emotionally attached to these chicks and they know that they will never see you either. Thus, the rough handling.
Now, if the baby chicks were placed in boxes that allowed them a lot more free movement room, then there would be a lot more room for them to slide around and get baned up. As it is, in the small boxes, the chicks act as padding or packing material for one another. That is one of the reasons that they are in so small of a box, so they don't have room to slide around and get banged up. The other, of course, is to keep each other warm.
If you look at the baby birds in your brooder pen, they will huddle up in that small of a space when they are cold or sleeping anyways unless they are right under a heat lamp.
Last edited:
