26/06/2026
🐔 Friday Focus: Brooding
Brooding is the care and management of young chicks from day-old until they can regulate their own body temperature, usually between 4 and 6 weeks of age. Successful brooding starts before your chicks arrive.
Before your chicks arrive, make sure your brooder is clean, disinfected, dry, and ready. Have feeders, drinkers, fresh water, starter feed, bedding, and a heat source in place at least 24 hours before arrival.
The recommended brooding temperature is around 32–35°C during the first week, then gradually reduce it by about 2–3°C each week until the chicks are fully feathered.
Common heat sources include:
✅ Infrared heat lamps
✅ Gas brooders
✅ Charcoal brooders
✅ Electric brooders
Choosing the right bedding is also important. Good bedding helps keep chicks warm, comfortable, and dry. Common options include:
✅ Wood shavings
✅ Sawdust (not too fine)
✅ Chopped straw
✅ Rice husks
Avoid wet, moldy, or dusty bedding, as it can lead to health and respiratory problems.
One of the best ways to judge brooding conditions is by observing your chicks:
🐥 Chicks huddled together under the heat source – too cold.
🐥 Chicks spread far away from the heat source – too hot.
🐥 Chicks gathered on one side of the brooder – possible draft or cold air entering.
🐥 Chicks active and evenly spread throughout the brooder – conditions are just right.
Remember, good brooding lays the foundation for healthy growth, low mortality, and high productivity later in life.
🐔 Friday Focus: Successful Brooding Starts Before Your Chicks Arrive
Brooding is the care and management of young chicks from day-old until they can regulate their own body temperature, usually between 4 and 6 weeks of age.
Before your chicks arrive, make sure your brooder is clean, disinfected, dry, and ready. Have feeders, drinkers, fresh water, starter feed, bedding, and a heat source in place at least 24 hours before arrival.
The recommended brooding temperature is around 32–35°C during the first week, then gradually reduce it by about 2–3°C each week until the chicks are fully feathered.
Common heat sources include:
✅ Infrared heat lamps
✅ Gas brooders
✅ Charcoal brooders
✅ Electric brooders
Choosing the right bedding is also important. Good bedding helps keep chicks warm, comfortable, and dry. Common options include:
✅ Wood shavings
✅ Sawdust (not too fine)
✅ Chopped straw
✅ Rice husks
Avoid wet, moldy, or dusty bedding, as it can lead to health and respiratory problems.
One of the best ways to judge brooding conditions is by observing your chicks:
🐥 Chicks huddled together under the heat source – too cold.
🐥 Chicks spread far away from the heat source – too hot.
🐥 Chicks gathered on one side of the brooder – possible draft or cold air entering.
🐥 Chicks active and evenly spread throughout the brooder – conditions are just right.
Remember, good brooding lays the foundation for healthy growth, low mortality, and high productivity later in life.
We'll be discussing bedding in next week's Friday Focus. Do you use wood shavings, sawdust, straw, or something else? Share your experience in the comments.
