How long should the chicks stay in the artificial hen?
After the eggs hatch, the chicks should be placed under an artificial henhouse, a device in which the eggs receive the required temperature and humidity.
When a hen is not available to care for the chicks, in fact, a special heating plate can be used that will provide them with the proper conditions to hatch. It has a built-in thermostat that adjusts its heat level based on the temperature of the environment in which it is placed.
Artificial hen is a more effective solution than infrared lamps: compared to the latter, it does not produce light, and in this way the baby poultry do not suffer stress from unnatural lighting and grow more naturally. Artificial hen houses are very convenient since they do not consume as much energy as infrared lamps need.
The chicks must have enough space available. In the first 14 days of life we should not concentrate more than 40 chicks per square meter. After 15 and up to 42 days of age we must not collect more than 20 specimens per square meter. After 42 days we must limit ourselves to 10 specimens per square meter.
After 5 to 8 weeks the chicks will start to show their adult feathers, and based on that you can base on removing them from the incubator. As early as three weeks, you can think about taking them out of the incubator in the middle hours of the day, but be careful that they do not experience too great a change in temperature.
How to tell if chicks are hot
If we see that chicks move away from the heat source, tend to drink a lot and ruffle their feathers, they are probably feeling too hot, a condition that can lead them to become dehydrated.
How to tell if chicks are cold
If we see that chicks tend not to move, move closer to the heat source or if they tend to huddle together, it is a sign that they feel cold. We can also touch their feet to ascertain if they are cold, and figure out if we need to increase the heat.
How to protect chicks from the cold
The chicken coop is intended to house roosters, hens and chicks, and to be cozy it must keep them safe from drafts and moisture. That is why it is necessary in winter to clear away all traces of snow, perhaps by arranging a layer of straw to make sure that the poultry’s feet stay warm. If the cold is too bitter, a heater can be placed in the chicken coop to be turned on when temperatures drop below 5 degrees Celsius.