Chick Care in the First 24 Hours for Healthy Baby Chicks

You can give baby chicks a strong start with a few simple, repeatable steps. The first 24 hours matter because warmth drives digestion, hydration supports recovery from hatching or shipping, and clean footing prevents early stress injuries.

Key Takeaways

• Use a warm zone plus a cool zone: target about 95°F at chick height in the warm area, not one “average” temperature for the whole brooder.

• Water before food: hydrated chicks find feed more reliably and recover faster from travel stress.

• Start with paper towels: clean, dry, non-slip footing reduces early leg strain and helps you see droppings.

• Handle less, observe more: short checks prevent stress and avoid temperature swings.

• Hatching at home: consistent incubation reduces weak chicks and makes the first 24 hours calmer. If you incubate at home, consider an Automatic Egg Incubator to reduce manual handling and keep routines consistent.

First 24 Hours SOP (Simple and Repeatable)

Safe Environment

Start with a brooder that is sturdy, draft-free, and tall enough to prevent escapes. For small chicks, walls around 12 inches work at first, but many setups need taller sides as chicks grow and jump. Place the brooder away from pets, small children, and direct drafts.

Tip: Line the bottom with puppy training pads under paper towels to keep cleanup fast and keep moisture off the base.

Give chicks enough room to move between the warm zone and the cool zone. Overcrowding increases stress because chicks cannot choose a comfortable spot, which causes piling and chilling. Start with a roomy setup and expand as they grow.

If you are building your first brooder kit, use this checklist for essentials: Top 10 hatching supplies every newbie needs.

Bedding Choice

Bedding is not just comfort. It controls moisture and traction. Slippery footing causes leg strain, and damp bedding chills chicks and raises hygiene risk. For day one, paper towels are an easy “monitoring layer” because you can see droppings and keep the surface dry.

For a broader post-hatch care workflow (cleaning, warmth, and growth routine), see: Incubation Guide Part 6: Post-hatch care.

Heat Lamp vs. Brooder Plate

Chicks cannot regulate temperature well at first. The most reliable approach is a warm zone and a cool zone. Target about 95°F at chick height in the warm zone. Do not chase the hottest spot under the heat source. Your chicks should choose where to rest.

Unpacking Chicks

Unpack chicks in a calm, dim space. Sudden movements and loud noise raise stress, which can delay drinking and feeding. Support each chick gently and place them directly into the brooder so they can self-regulate warmth.

• Keep the room warm and draft-free.

• Use slow movements and soft voices.

• Place chicks in the brooder first, then do water demo.

Tip: If a chick looks tired, warm it first near the warm zone and offer water. Warmth supports swallowing and digestion.

Reducing Stress

Stress rises when chicks cannot find comfort (too cold, too hot, too wet, too crowded) or when the environment changes constantly. A stable brooder reduces stress because chicks spend more time resting, drinking, and learning where feed is.

Immediate Needs

Water First

Offer clean water immediately. Use a shallow waterer to reduce drowning risk, and keep it clean so chicks actually drink. Cool, drafty conditions reduce drinking. Stable warmth helps chicks hydrate and recover.

First Feed

Once chicks are drinking, offer chick starter feed. Many keepers wait about 1–2 hours after arrival so chicks can hydrate and calm down first. Keep feed in a shallow tray or on a clean paper towel so chicks can find it easily.

Temperature Check (Comfort-Based)

Use a thermometer at chick height in the warm zone. Then confirm comfort by behavior. The right setup creates a warm resting area and a cooler escape area.

Health Checks

Signs of Distress

Watch for early warning signs so small problems do not turn into crashes. In the first 24 hours, the most common causes are chilling, overheating, dehydration, or a brooder that is damp or drafty.

• Cold stress: tight huddle, piling, loud distress peeping.

• Heat stress: panting, wings spread, avoiding the warm zone.

• Low energy: droopy wings, half-closed eyes, staying still while others move.

• Not drinking: dry-looking chicks that ignore water need a fast check of warmth and water access.

Common Issue: Pasty Butt

Pasty butt is common after shipping or stress. It happens when droppings stick and block the vent. That reduces output and can weaken a chick quickly.

Emergency Troubleshooting

If a chick declines quickly, isolate it in a small, warm space so it can recover without being stepped on. Warmth comes first. Once warm, offer water. If a chick continues to worsen or will not drink, contact a local poultry vet or your hatchery for guidance.

Tip: Avoid forcing fluids into a weak chick. The safest approach is stable warmth, easy access to water, and fast escalation if the chick does not improve.

Daily Log (One Line per Day)

FAQ

How often should you check on chicks in the first 24 hours?

Do short checks more often in the first few hours, then switch to quick visual checks every few hours. If you hear loud distress peeping, check immediately. The goal is to confirm warmth, water access, and dry footing without constant handling.

What temperature should the brooder be for new chicks?

Aim for about 95°F in the warm zone at chick height, with a cooler escape zone. Use chick behavior (huddling vs panting) to fine-tune placement and heat level.

Can you use newspaper as bedding for chicks?

Avoid newspaper because it is slippery and can contribute to leg strain. Paper towels are a safer day-one surface because they are grippy and easy to replace.

What should you do if a chick looks weak or is not eating?

Warm the chick first, then offer water. Keep it calm and separate if needed. If the chick does not improve quickly or refuses to drink, contact a poultry vet or hatchery for guidance.

What should you prepare before chicks arrive?

Preheat the brooder, set up a shallow waterer, place starter feed, and line the base with paper towels. If you want a simple pre-hatch planning checklist, read: 5 common mistakes to avoid before you start hatching chicks.

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Data authenticity note: This guide reflects practical at-home chick care for the first 24 hours. Outcomes vary with chick age, shipping stress, brooder design, room drafts, bedding moisture, stocking density, and how stable your heat setup is. Use a warm zone plus a cool zone, keep water clean, keep footing dry, and change one variable at a time while logging what you changed.