4 Effective Ways to Prevent Stress in Day-Old Chicks
Stress is one reason so many day-old chicks die. Learn how to prevent stress in day-old chicks and spot the warning signs early.
Day-old chicks (DOC) are the key to a successful chicken farm. Do not expect your chicken farm to succeed if you only give the DOC half-hearted care. It takes enough knowledge and skill to keep the chicks alive through their first 14 days. Those first 14 days decide whether the farm succeeds or goes bankrupt. If many DOC die during the first 14 days, the farm is all but certain to fail, and vice versa. That is why you should never underestimate DOC care during the first 14 days.
One thing that can cause many DOC to die is stress. Stress cannot be ignored, because it leads to chick deaths. Here are several effective and efficient ways to prevent stress in day-old chicks:
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Let the Chicks Rest for a Few Minutes
Some poultry farmers have to source super-quality DOC from other farms far from their own. The longer the route, the more likely the chicks are to get stressed. Putting them straight into the coop will stress them, and stress is bad for chickens and their health. To avoid this, farmers can let the DOC rest for a few minutes in the crate used to transport them. Only once they have calmed down and been given a sugar solution should the chicks be moved into their coop.
A Comfortable Coop
One tip for preventing stress in day-old chicks is to give them a comfortable coop. The coop is a crucial part of any chicken farm. If it is not ideal and comfortable, the chicks will feel uneasy inside it. For DOC care, a comfortable coop comes with lights and heaters and is protected from both hot and cold air. A DOC coop differs from one for chickens in the grower or finisher phase, so make sure it is ideal before the chicks move in.
A Comfortable Environment
Besides a comfortable coop, the area around the coop also needs to be comfortable. Avoid making noise or carrying out activities that make the chicks uncomfortable and unsettled in their new surroundings. DOC will feel threatened if there is too much activity or noise around the coop.
Vitamins
Stress in day-old chicks can be minimized with vitamins given on a regular schedule. Regular vitamins give the chickens a stable immune system and also help keep the DOC from getting stressed. For layer chickens, these vitamins can also help the reproductive system mature fully.
Also read How to Care for Day-Old Chicks the Right Way
Signs of Stressed Chicks
The earlier stress is dealt with, the better for the chicks. If it is handled too late, the stress can get worse. To deal with stress quickly, farmers need to know what stressed DOC look like. Here are some signs of stressed chicks that every farmer should know:
- Restless chicks
One sign that day-old chicks are stressed is restlessness. Restless DOC should be separated right away so they do not affect the other chicks.
- Drinking more often
Keep an eye on chicks that drink more often than usual, because this is one sign of stress. Farmers can watch these chicks closely, and if other signs follow, treatment should start right away.
- Loss of appetite
The last sign is a loss of appetite. Why do stressed chicks get sick easily and then die? Because they lose their appetite, even though food is what supports a chicken's growth and development.
Do not let your chicks stay stressed. If stress in DOC is left unchecked, the farmer will lose money, because many chicks will die and never make it to the next stage.
