Essential Preparations Before Raising Layer Day-Old Chicks
Before raising layer chicks, wash the coop, leave it empty for at least 21 days, disinfect it, add a brooder guard and set up a heater or DOC box.
Healthy layer day-old chicks (DOC) usually come from healthy parent stock and a sound hatching process. That is why layer DOC should come from hens that lay eggs in good numbers and of good quality. As you get ready for layer eggs to hatch, there are several preparations to make for the layer DOC coop.
Every part of the layer DOC coop must be washed thoroughly. The coop must be guaranteed free of pests and disease, and it should be left empty for at least 21 days before the layer DOC move in. After the chicks hatch, the coop must also be sprayed with disinfectant before the layer DOC are moved in. Sterilizing the coop has to be done very thoroughly, because newly hatched layer DOC are still highly sensitive and can catch diseases that adult birds may carry.
Also read How DOC Coop Conditions Affect Chicken Growth
The coop needs a brooder guard so the layer DOC do not wander too far from the brooding area and the feeders and drinkers. A guard is also needed because layer DOC still have a very limited range. The guard also keeps the layer DOC protected and safe from threats outside the coop and around the farm, such as predators, and stops them from getting lost. The guard in the layer DOC coop should be widened as the chicks grow, to give them more room to move.
Layer DOC need warm air to grow well. That is why the temperature in the layer DOC coop must be controlled with a coop heater. The heater helps layer DOC adapt to the coop more easily after leaving the warmth of a brooding hen. A brooding hen is usually warmer than the air around the coop, and swings in temperature between day and night can make it hard for layer DOC to adjust if the coop temperature is not controlled. So to keep layer DOC comfortable and prevent them from falling sick because of temperature changes, the coop must be properly heated to keep them warm. An artificial brooder is usually used so that layer DOC get the right amount of heat. This artificial brooder, also called a DOC box, is an external heat source that acts as a mother hen to keep layer DOC warm.
