Be Ready!
Do all necessary cleaning of houses and equipment several days before the chicks are scheduled to arrive. All equipment should be in place and brooders should be checked at least 24 hours ahead of time. In conventional curtain-sided houses, brooder temperatures should be 90 degrees F (32.2 degrees C) at the edge of the hover and 2 inches above the litter. In environmentally-controlled houses, satisfactory results can be obtained with starting temperatures as low as 85 degrees F (29.4 degrees C). For more detailed information, obtain a copy of Georgia Extension Bulletin No. 855, Environmental Factors to Consider When Brooding Chicks.