Brooding box Questions.

[bahamas]

After i hatch my chicks can i putthem in a carboard box with wood chips and a lamp for light and heat and a bowl of a small amount of water and another with food.

 

[epidgeon]

For the first couple of days i would cover the wood chips with plain white paper towel, as baby chicks will eat anything that catches their attention, and you don't want them full of wood, make sure the water dish is really shallow as they will try and drown themselves if possible, and to start with scatter the food over the paper towel until they get the hang of it.
Once they seem to be eating etc ok, you can remove the paper towel and put the food in a dish, they can and will make a mess and try and scratch at the food and scratch at the wood chips etc.
The lamp should be fine, watch the chicks to see their reaction, If they are huddled under the light they are cold, If they are as far from the light as they can get then they are too hot. If they are just strolling around, some asleep etc, the heat is about right.
Good luck
Eleanor

 

[They Call Me Pete]

Put a thermometer under the light to get the right temp. Thats how I did mine. A couple of inches makes all the difference. Also make it predator proof. Good luck and have fun.

 

[bahamas]

thanx 2 u all.

 

[MuranoFarms]

I usually put a little box in also. I've been using heatbulb boxes with the top flaps cut off. They figure out pretty quick that its cooler in there.
If your water dish is kinda steep, put some pebbles are marbles in the bottom so they dont drown.

Good luck!

 

[Lollipop]

Good advise from all. Let me add a thing or three. First, ya wanna give them enough room to get away from the heat if they get hot. Second, when they`re first hatched, that is within a day of hatching, dip each ones little beak in the water to make sure they get their first drink. That way they`ll know what to do. Change the water often and have fun with`m........Pop