Raising chicks is a lot easier than many people think. Give them food, shelter and water, and they are pretty self-sufficient.
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Bringing home chicks for the first time is a really exciting and also daunting experience. When you don’t know what to expect, it can seem overwhelming to take the plunge in purchasing them.
Fortunately, chicks are one of the easiest farm animals to care for and are often the first farm animal of choice for those wanting to establish a little food security.
Even if you aren’t looking to start a farm or homestead, having a few chickens to give you fresh eggs every day is really gratifying.
Related: 7 Reasons to Start a Backyard Flock
What chicks need
There are a few items you need before you bring home chicks for the first time.
- Food
- Feeder and Waterer (you can get both in a kit like this)
- Bedding
- Brooder
- Heat plate
Now, let’s get into the details.
How to care for chicks
Keep them warm.
For the first few days, chicks need to stay at 95-98°F and since they can’t regulate their own body temperature, they rely on an outside source to keep them warm.
I don’t recommend using a heat lamp as they pose a fire hazard and are unhealthy for the chicks.
Instead, use a heat plate like this one.
Heat plates are more natural for chicks as they can come and go from under the heat just as they would from a mama hen. (And you don’t need to worry about it causing a fire.)
Note: Chicks should stay indoors with a heat source until the outside temperature is 55°F and they have feathered out, which happens at about 6 weeks old.
Keep them fed.
Chicks need access to food and fresh water daily.
Until the chicks start laying, they need to be fed a starter crumble. Your local feed store will have a variety of brands to choose from. Choose a chick starter that aligns with your goals.
Tip: When you first introduce chicks to their new home, dip their beaks in the food and water so they know where to find it.
Keep them safe.
Your chicks will need to stay in a brooder until they are old enough to go into the coop. You can use a large plastic container, rubber tub, or a metal trough to home your chicks.
Really, any large container will do. They just need a container large enough to hold their food, water, and heat plate. Plus, a little extra space to run around and scratch in.
Add about 3-4 inches of bedding, either pine shavings or saw dust, to the bottom of your brooder.
Note: Remember to change the bedding in the brooder every few days to keep the chickens healthy.
What to watch out for
Pasty Butt
Pasty butt is a condition where the feces cover the bowels of the chick and they are unable to relieve themselves as normal. This condition is fatal to the chicks and needs to be handled as soon as it is noticed.
Salmonella
Salmonella is naturally occurring in the chicken’s gut and can easily transfer to humans. Wash your hands after handling the chicks or their items.
Injuries
Remember that chicks are fragile. Children will want to pick them up and play with baby chicks, but they need to be gentle. Chicks are not toys and can be seriously injured or killed.
Chickens are actually a lot easier to care for than many people think. Give them food, shelter, and water, and they are pretty self-sufficient.
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Until next time –
