Free tool
What do I need before my chicks arrive?
Enter how many chicks are coming and the day they land. See what to buy, what it costs, how big to make the brooder, the temperature for each week, and when to expect the first egg.
Use this total as your setup cost in the cost per egg calculator.
Your calendar
A heat plate uses less power than a heat lamp and doesn’t carry the same fire risk. Check it’s rated for your number of chicks, and try it before they arrive.
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Brooder temperature by week
| Week | From | At chick level |
|---|
This is the schedule most extension offices use: 95 °F in week one and 5 degrees less each week. Measure about 2 inches above the bedding. A heat plate works by contact instead: set it so chicks can touch it with their backs, and raise it a little each week.
Watch the chicks, not just the thermometer
- Huddled under the heat and peeping loudly: too cold.
- Pressed against the walls, away from the heat: too hot.
- Spread out, eating and sleeping: just right.
In a warm climate
In Puerto Rico and the South, the room may reach the week’s temperature early. When it does, turn the heat off during the day and keep it for the nights. There’s no need to follow the schedule if the chicks are already comfortable without it.
The first day
- Turn the heat on the day before and check the brooder holds steady.
- Dip each chick’s beak in the water as it comes out of the box, so it knows where to drink.
- Check their vents for the first few days and clean with warm water if one gets blocked.
- Wash your hands after handling them, and have kids do the same.
Medicated or not
Medicated starter helps against coccidiosis, but it can cancel the vaccine if your chicks were vaccinated for it. Ask the hatchery before you buy.