Newbie Question

[RoosterRehab97]

Do you HAVE to use a brooder?

 

[silkiechicken]

If you and not the hen are raising the chicks, I think anything you use to keep the chicks warm, fed, dry, and clean will be called a "brooder".

 

[Mahlzeit]

If you don't have a hen playing the momma role then you will need a heatlamp to keep them warm and as silkiechicken said whatever it is you keep them in then becomes the "brooder"

 

[Mrs Stumpgrinder]

How long will new chicks need to stay in the booder. I have barred rocks that are hatching as we speak. so far I have 16 babies.

and I'm waiting on the others to hatch out. this is my first time incubating. I have 20 adult barred rocks total

 

[Judy]

Quote:
They need to be kept at about 90-95 degrees the first week, then drop 5 degrees each week. So it depends on outside temps.

There is a lot of basic chick care information on this site. Here is a good starting point, from the FAQ page:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=409847#p409847

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/lcenter.html

The above link to the Homepage - Learning Center is a great place to find out everything you need to know to raise little ones from hatch to coop.