How to Care for Baby Chickens That Are Two Days Old
At two days old, baby chickens require food, warmth, space and water. Caring for them requires patience and time. Two day old chicks are weak and cannot survive by themselves. They need the care of their owner in order to grow into adult chickens.
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Things You'll Need
- Box
- Red 250 watt heat bulb
- Water bottle
- Water
- Newspaper
- Chick starter feed
- Instant oatmeal
- Infant cereal
- Peat moss
- Shavings
- Ground corn cobs
Instructions
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1
Keep the chickens warm. Chickens should be kept in a warm box with a heat bulb at approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a red 250 watt heat bulb if possible.
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2
Give the chickens at least half a square foot of space each to prevent them from picking at each other.
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3
Provide plenty of water to the baby chickens. Use a spill-resistant bowl or water bottle. Change the water if you see any sign of dirt or residue. Provide one gallon of water for every 50 chicks.
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4
Feed the baby chickens with a starter feed, available from pet stores or feed stores. A short-term alternative is whole grain cereal such as instant oatmeal or infant cereal. Place newspaper on the ground and sprinkle the food for the chicks to find. After the third day transfer the feed to a trough.
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5
Refrain from handling the chickens more than is necessary. Two day old chickens are fragile and handling them incorrectly can cause injury. If you must handle the chicken, hold one hand under its stomach and the other on top.
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Use peat moss, shavings or ground corn cobs as litter. Spread the litter over the bottom of the cage approximately one inch thick. Cover the litter with newspaper to prevent the chicks from eating it.
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Observe the chicks' behavior. Happy chicks tend to give each other space and make contented sounds. Cold chicks huddle together and chirp unhappily. Adjust the space and temperature according to the reactions of the chicks.
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References
- Photo Credit chicken image by Sergey Goruppa from Fotolia.com
