Raising chicks for beginners can seem overwhelming at first. There is so much to consider from the brooder, maintaining a constant temperature, and ensuring they have enough food. But with a little know-how, raising baby chicks can be very rewarding and fun. You’ll soon be collecting those fresh eggs!
One Saturday morning a coworker, who also works for farm supply store on the weekends, told me they had barred rock chicks available. I agreed to them on a whim, and a few hours later I was mom to fifteen new babies.
Since then, we have gone from 15 chickens to over 150 chickens. They are the gateway drug after all.
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Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian or a bird expert. I am simply a chicken keeper sharing my experiences with you. This article is for informational purposes only. You should always consult a veterinarian when you have a sick or injured animal. Please do your research on products and treatments when it comes to the health of your chickens.
Raising Chicks For Beginners
I love having my own backyard flock, is I decided to put together this guide for raising chicks for beginners.
If you’re wanting to have your own fresh eggs at home, there’s no better way than to raise a few backyard chickens. Not only will they provide you fresh eggs, they’ll also help to take care of your kitchen scraps.
You can purchase older hens that are ready to lay, but I personally love raising baby chickens. Having them at a young age gives you the opportunity to handle them and build trust between you and your flock. Plus they’re just so cute!
Where To Find Baby Chicks
Finding baby chicks isn’t hard if you know where to look. Before you set out to get that backyard flock there are several things you should consider. Consider the climate you live in, the size of the coop you’ll have, and whether or not your flock will be able to free range around your yard.
Some breeds will be happy in a confined space, but others won’t.
After deciding on which breed of chicken will be best for you, being looking around for your chicks. You might check with a local farmer to see if they have any chicks available. Often times a local feed store will have chicks available in the spring. You can also have day-old chicks delivered straight to your post office from hatcheries all over the United States.
Ask some of your friends who are chicken keepers where they got their flock from. You might be surprised at how readily available chicks are.
Straight Run Vs. Sexed Chicks
While You’re shopping for own chicks you might see terms like “straight run” or “pullets”. These are important terms for you to know.
A straight run of chicks are ones that are unsexed. It’s very hard to sex young chickens due to their internal anatomy. If you’re purchasing a straight run of chicks, you’re going to get a combination of males and females. depending on where you live, you might not be able to keep a rooster.
Also, you don’t need a rooster for egg production. Hens will lay eggs regardless of whether you have a rooster or not. They just won’t be fertilized eggs.
Many hatcheries sell chicks that have already been sexed so you can choose only females. While this isn’t a 100% solid method, it will help you to mostly have hens.
I personally love having roosters on my farm, and don’t consider them to be a problem. However, this is unique to every situation.
There are breeds of chickens that are easily sexed by their appearance. You may want to consider one of these breeds if owning a rooster isn’t for you.
More Chicken Article You’ll Love!
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A Brooder For Raising Chicks For Beginners
A brooder in a safe spot is very important. Young chicks need a space with a heat source that gives them enough room to not be over crowded. A good rule of thumb is 7 inches of space per chick. You can even use a large plastic tub as a brooder box. It’s sturdy, easy to clean and has the required space for the chicks.
The chicks also need bedding for the proper development of their feet. A smooth surface isn’t good for them. Pine shavings are great to use the brooder (cedar is toxic to chicks). Straw is also a good option. Newspaper alone isn’t’ a good choice unless you’re using it under a bedding. It will become moist and soggy.
Ventilation is also very important. The chicks need adequate ventilation in order to stay healthy. Modifying the top of the tote with ½” wire mesh using zip-ties is a great solution. I liked that modification, however given the last-minute arrival of my chicks I simply placed the wire mesh on top of the tote. This still allowed adequate ventilation and heat to reach the chicks.
Learn more about brooding chicks and what to do during that first week on post all about it!
Keeping The Chicks Warm
Heat is very important for new chicks. You should keep them warm until they are around 4 weeks old, or until they have all of their feathers. A heat lamp is a great option to provide heat to the chicks. The lamp allows the chicks to somewhat self-regulate because they could move out from under the heat if they were hot.
Watch the chicks closely when you are adjusting the lamp. If they’re huddled together underneath the lamp, they’re too cold. If you find them on the opposite site of the brooder away from the heat, they’re too warm. They should be moving about in the brooder freely.
Watch your chicks closely and they’ll tell you what they need. Move the heat lamp higher every week to reduce the amount of heat directly on the chicks.
Having a thermometer in the brooder is also important. You can keep an eye on the brooder temp chicks at a glance. However, always watch your chicks closely to ensure they’re comfortable. Don’t just rely on a thermometer.
Entertainment for Baby Chicks
Toys are a welcomed addition to the brooder. Chicks enjoy rocks to climb on and little roosts to perch on. This will keep them happy while they spend time inside the brooder. Around week 4 if the temperatures permit, start taking them out in our yard for some “field trips” just to see how they react. They will love scratching around the grass and stretching their wings. Entertainment is often overlooked when raising baby chicks.
Transitioning Baby Chicks Out of The Coop
Around week 3 you can start taking the chicks out to the coop during the day as long as the temp is above 75°F. You don’t want to suddenly put them in the coop full time without being acclimated to the outdoors. When they are 4 weeks old, turn the heat lamp off during the day in the brooder. You can keep if off as long as the temperature stay above 70° F.
At weeks 4-6 the chicks can move to the coop full time if the outdoor temp is greater than 60° F. Check on them often to ensure they aren’t stressed. They will enjoy this space much more than the brooder.
Potential Chick Illnesses
- Coccidiosis is a disease of concern in chickens. It spreads through feces, contaminated water, and contaminated food. Keeping your chick bedding clean and the water fresh will help to prevent against this disease. Medicated chick starter will also help to prevent the infection. If you have a chicken that you suspect has coccidiosis, isolate the chicken for a while, and treat it with Amprolium.
- Pasty butt can also affect your chick health. The stool will cover the chick’s vent preventing them from elimination. This can be caused from the stress of shipping the chicks or a sudden chance in temperature. If you have a chick with pasty butt, wet a wash cloth with warm water, and lightly dab the area to soften the stool. Use coconut oil to lightly remove the stool. Be very careful not to damage the chicks vent.
What Does Baby Chicks Eat?
If you’re receiving day old chicks in the mail, they’re pretty dehydrated. Give them plenty of fresh clean water for 2 hours before giving them feed to eat. This gives them a chance to recover from their journey prior to eating.
Chicks have enough reserve to live a couple of days after hatching without food. This is become chicks under a broody hen will naturally hatch at different rates. The older chicks will have to wait a while until Mama hen gets off the nest and takes them to eat.
Chicks will need a starter feed with around 18% protein for the first 16-18 weeks of their life. The protein will help them to grow at a healthy rate. Starting with crumbles will make it easier for the chicks to eat the food. You can change to a grower feed once they are a few weeks old.
After they reach maturity, provide them with a layer feed that is higher in calcium. Hens especially need the extra calcium when they start to lay eggs.
Don’t feed baby chicks layer feed. The extra calcium can cause them to have kidney damage.
FAQs about raising chicks for Beginners
How long to chicks need a heat lamp?
Chicks need a heat lamp for the first 3-4 weeks of their life depending on the temperature and where they are being kept. Start the chicks at a brooder temp of 90° F. Decrease the temperature by 5° every week. If you are brooding your chicks indoors, or the temperature does drop below 70°F, you can remove the heat at week 4.
At what age can chicks go outside?
Chicks can be moved outside at around 4 weeks old as long as the temperature doesn’t drop below 70° F. If the outdoor temperatures are lower, wait until he chicks have all their feathers. This is usually around 5-6 weeks old depending on the breed you have.
What does baby chicks eat?
Initially feed your chicks a starter feed that contains as least 18% protein. They can also eat some vegetable scraps, mela worms, and eggs from other chickens. You want to avoid any plant in the nightshade family.
When the chicks reach laying age at, usually 16-20 weeks old, they’ll need more calcium. You can switch them to a laying pellet then, or provide them with free choice supplemental calcium.
Raising Chicks for Beginners-Final thoughts
Raising chicks is exciting and rewarding, but there are some steps you need to take before you get started.
Make sure you have an adequate brooder. The chicks will need to be in there for 6-8 weeks.
Monitor your chicks closely for illness, and make sure you have a few things on hand to treat them.
Keep your chickens entertained. A board chicken will get into trouble.
Transition the chicks out of the brooder and into the coop slowly. Make sure they are acclimated to the temperature first.
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