7 Ways to Care for Laying Hen Chicks the Right Way

Laying hen day-old chicks (DOC) need special care and attention. If they are not cared for properly, the chicks will not survive. To survive and thrive, layer chicks must be of good quality from the start. Poultry farmers cannot buy ungraded DOC, which would drive up mortality. Good-quality chicks get even better when they are raised properly on the farm; the reverse is also true: if quality DOC are raised poorly, their quality will decline.

How to Care for Laying Hen Chicks Properly

Caring for laying hen chicks is one of the keys to a successful chicken farm. Don't expect your farm to succeed or run as planned if you don't raise your DOC properly. Here are the essential ways to care for laying hen chicks that every farmer should follow:

An Ideal Coop

The first thing farmers must do is provide an ideal coop. A proper coop is one of the requirements for successfully raising laying hen chicks. Without an ideal coop, the chicks will not survive. The ideal coop for DOC is one that keeps out strong drafts. Too much wind coming in can make the chicks susceptible to disease.

Also read Dehydrated Day-Old Chicks? Fix It Fast With These Steps!

Heat and Light

DOC still need light and a heat source because they cannot yet regulate their body temperature. On top of that, their feathers are still thin, so they cannot tolerate cold. That is why a brooder heater is needed. Light is also needed to improve visibility at night. In a poorly lit coop, rats and cats will prey on the chicks.

Vitamins

Giving vitamins is an essential part of caring for laying hen chicks. Laying hens depend heavily on humans, so if the farmer is not patient and skilled, many of the chicks will die. To keep chick losses down, farmers should give vitamins that boost the DOC's immune system. Chicks that receive vitamins are healthier than those that get none at all.

Feed

The next step in caring for laying hen chicks is providing feed rations. Highly nutritious rations are essential for the chicks' growth and development. To keep DOC healthy, farmers need to know which nutrients the chicks require and make sure none are left out.

Enough Water

Providing enough water is an important part of raising DOC. If water is not provided regularly, the chicks cannot fully absorb nutrients.

Vaccines

Even at the DOC stage, chicks still need to be vaccinated. The vaccine can be mixed into their drinking water, so no injections are needed. Vaccines protect laying hens from a range of diseases that can be dangerous and even fatal.

Probiotics

High feed prices can drive up a farm's operating costs. Farmers can work around this by giving probiotics. Probiotics help cut feed costs because they allow the digestive tract to work at full efficiency. They can also boost the chickens' immunity and protect them from a range of diseases.

Also read 5 Common Coop Mistakes Farmers Make With Day-Old Chicks

To make sure your care routine is working, weigh the chicks regularly. If the DOC weigh less than normal, review how you have been caring for your laying hen chicks to see whether your approach is right or still needs some improvement.