The Brooder Box

What is a brooder box?
After the chicks hatch they need a warm environment similar to nestling under the mother hen. To do this, you need a cardboard box or aquarium. A cardboard box has the advantage of easy disposal and no cleaning. An aquarium allows you to look in and watch the chicks. You need a heat source to keep the chicks warm. The easiest way to provide heat is with a clip on light or gooseneck lamp with a 60-watt bulb. Keep the light on all the time. It's a good idea to prepare your brooder box before the chicks hatch.

How will I know if the chicks are warm enough?
The chicks should be walking around the brooder box, leaving the light area to eat and drink. Chicks normally sleep in a pile, but if you see the chicks are always huddling together, they probably aren't warm enough. Move the light closer to the chicks or increase the wattage of the lamp. For very young chicks, you may want to cover the top of the brooder box with a towel. Be careful not to cover the lamp with the towel.
What kind of bedding should we use in the brooder box?
Put a layer of PLAIN paper towels in the bottom. Change it twice daily or as often as necessary for odor control. Do not use cedar shavings, as it will sometimes give the chicks diarrhea.

How should we feed and water the chicks and how often?
Keep food and water in front of the chicks all the time. Chicks should not get wet or they can get pneumonia. To avoid soaking in the water dish, put marbles or gravel in the bottom of the water dish or use the special waterer provided. The chicks can still drink, but can not get all the way into the dish. Food should be kept in a low dish or chick feeder we provide.

Can the students handle the chicks?
Yes, your students may handle the chicks, and they will want to pick up the chicks. To do this, put one hand under the chick's feet, and lightly put two fingers of the other hand around the chick's neck. That way you can hold the chick and it's not going to jump or fall. Remember that chicks are fragile and need to be handled very gently. Remind your students that the chicks might peck them, but it will not hurt. Children often ask if the chick will bite them. Since chicks don't have teeth, they cannot bite. Handling the chicks is an option, and not mandatory. Some children and adults are afraid of the chicks. They should be encouraged to observe the chicks without touching them. Always wash your hands both before and after handling the chicks. Please post the enclosed signs near the brooder box. On the first day of the hatch, handle the chicks as little as possible since they are so young.
When you have the chicks out of the brooder box, do not leave them on a smooth surface like a desktop. They can slip on the smooth surface and displace a hip. Always keep the chicks on a layer of paper towels. Remember the chicks are not "potty trained."

Can the students get salmonella from the chicks?
Technically, it is possible to get salmonella from contact with the droppings of the chicks. This has never happened to students in the PA 4-H program, which involves over 50,000 students each year. Washing your hands with soap and warm water any time you handle the chicks or their bedding can eliminate the danger of salmonella. Remind your students of this. Young children who might put their hands in their mouths after touching the chicks should be discouraged from handling the chicks. This is one of the reasons we do not offer the embryology project to kindergarten and preschool classes.