Backyard chicks need brooding care during initial 6 weeks of age to
maintain the required body temperature and to protect from predators.
Prepare the brooder house well before the arrival of chicks by
uniformly spreading the clean litter material like saw dust, paddy
husk, rice husk, coconut husk etc. of 1-2 inches on the floor of the
house.
Litter materials are used to absorb moisture from poultry droppings
and provide warmth in winter and coolness in summer.
Litter material should be raked frequently and treated with slaked
lime to avoid caking. Moist litter may be replaced or removed
immediately.
Spread newspaper on the litter material to avoid chicks feeding on the
litter material.
In the brooder house, the chicks are reared on standard chick starter
ration.
Brooding can be classified as natural and artificial brooding. The
natural brooding involves a broody hen, while the artificial brooding
may involve heat sources, reflectors, electric bulbs etc.
Secure the brooding area with brooder guard/chick guard which may be
of materials like cardboard sheet, GI sheet, wire mesh, mat etc. They
can also be used to restrict the movement of the chicks near the heat
source.
