Prepare the shed, the temperature and the first 72 hours so chicks start strong even on a cold January night.
The first week decides most of what happens later. In winter, cold nights and damp air make brooding harder, and a weak start shows up as high mortality and a poor FCR weeks afterwards. Use this checklist before every winter placement.
Three days before chicks arrive
- Clean and disinfect the shed, drinkers and feeders, then let everything dry fully
- Spread fresh, dry litter about 2 to 3 inches deep
- Fix gaps in curtains, doors and walls that let cold draughts reach the floor
- Service brooders and heaters and check gas or fuel is enough for the first week
- Reduce the brooding area with partition curtains so heat is not wasted
Twenty-four hours before
Start heating the shed. The floor matters as much as the air: cold litter pulls heat from the chicks. Aim for litter around 30 degrees Celsius and air under the brooder close to 32 to 34 degrees. Put drinkers and feed in place and fill them with warm water so chicks do not drink cold water on arrival.
When chicks arrive
- Unload quickly and keep boxes out of the wind
- Count and note any dead chicks in the boxes
- Place chicks gently near water and feed
- Give light for most of the day and night in the first days so they eat and drink
Read the chicks, not only the thermometer
Spread evenly with soft chirping means the temperature is right. Huddled under the heater means too cold. Pushed away to the edges and panting means too hot. Walk the shed several times a day, and at night as well, because the coldest hours are before dawn.
Ventilation without chill
Closed sheds trap moisture and ammonia, which harms the lungs of young chicks. Give small, regular air exchange even in winter, directed above the birds, never straight on them. If the air smells sharp at chick height, you need more ventilation.
What to record in the first 72 hours
- Chick count and first-day deaths
- Temperature morning and night
- Crop fill check at 8 and 24 hours after placement
- Feed and water use per day
A crop check is simple: gently feel a sample of chicks, and the crop should be soft and full in nearly all of them by 24 hours. If many are empty, adjust the temperature, feed access and water right away. Record the day 7 weight too, since a weight that meets the breed target on day 7 is the best early sign of a good batch.