Baby Chicks 101
This time I used a metal planter bed as a brooder.
Spring will soon be here and for many of us, you know what that means…it’s baby chick Season!!! Having baby chicks for the first time is SO MUCH FUN!!! Well, it’s always fun even if it’s not your first time. My girls and I still get excited over them every time a new baby is hatched or we pick up a box from the post office! Sigh…so sweet. Now, if you're reading this before getting chicks, great job! You'll know ahead of time what's needed to get you set up before you're at the feed store buying them, haha!
Here's what you'll need to get started:
A brooder box. This can be a large Rubbermaid tub or something similar. You could also set up something more permanent in your coop or designated chicken area if you plan to keep raising birds. That’s what we ended up doing since we have a steady supply from raising meat birds.
Pine shavings or straw
A water container
A feed container
A heat lamp or light bulb for a consistent heat source
This one is optional, but I also add about 1tbsp of apple cider vinegar to their water to help prevent pasty butt, which happens sometimes from the stress of the transition home.
This is our built-in brooder that is in one of our chicken coops now.
Baby chicks need to be kept at around 90-95 degrees, 24 hours a day for their first week of life, slowly reducing the heat about 5 degrees each week until they are feathered and able to maintain their own body heat. You can reduce the heat by moving the light further away each week. You'll know your chicks are the right temp by observing their behavior. They are too cold if they are huddling together in a ball under the warmest part of their area. They are too warm if they are trying to get as far away as possible from the heat source and their mouths are open gaping. They are just right if they are dispersed around the brooder, some eating, some drinking, some face down in the shavings sleeping, or all spaced out sleeping happily.
Raising baby chicks is really simple and a lot of fun. Consistent care each day, making sure they always have access to fresh food and clean water at all times goes a long way and should help you to avoid many issues. On occasion, sad things do happen though, despite our best efforts…baby chicks are super fragile little creatures. But don't let that discourage you, the payoff is well worth it and the enjoyment you'll experience from watching them grow and eventually going out and collecting their beautiful, fresh eggs, is a gift that keeps on giving.
Enjoy!