Characteristics of Chicks and Key Points of Feeding and Management Techniques

Chicks are young chickens that have just hatched out of the shell not long ago, generally referring to chicks from hatching to about six weeks of age. This stage is also often called the brooding period, and the specific division varies slightly depending on the breed and the purpose of rearing. At this time, chicks are covered in down all over their bodies, have weak thermoregulatory ability, and their digestive organs are not yet fully developed. They are very sensitive to environmental changes such as temperature, humidity and ventilation, and their disease resistance is also relatively low.

When purchasing chicks, you should choose reputable farms with reliable breeding sources and standardized incubation management. Healthy chicks hatch within a concentrated period, have clean and glossy down, bright and spirited eyes, a well-retracted navel, a soft abdomen, and struggle vigorously when held in the hand. Any chicks with ruffled down, poorly healed navels, listlessness or a swollen belly tend to have a low survival rate and should be culled when purchasing. If sex identification is needed, methods such as the vent-sexing method can also be used.

In terms of feeding and management, the key to successful brooding lies in temperature control, which should follow the principle of high first and then low, with a smooth transition, while also taking into account suitable humidity and fresh air. After hatching, chicks should be given water and started on feed in a timely manner, and opening health-care drugs can be reasonably used in the drinking water or feed to help clean the intestinal tract and prevent early diseases. In daily management, frequently observe the distribution of the chicks, their feed intake and their droppings. If abnormalities such as huddling, open-mouth panting or diarrhea are found, the cause should be identified and adjustments made promptly.

High temperature is one of the common causes of chick death, and special caution is needed when brooding in summer or when overheating from excessive warming. If chicks are found staying away from the heat source, breathing with their mouths open, or showing a marked increase in water intake, ventilation and cooling should be carried out immediately. In addition, vaccination, isolation and disinfection, and daily hygiene management are also important links in reducing disease incidence and improving the survival rate. As long as the gates of selection, environment, and feeding management are well controlled, chicks can smoothly pass through the brooding period and lay a good foundation for later rearing and egg production.