How to Care for Chicks: Getting Started

Raising chickens is fun, educational, and rewarding. You will need a few things in place to be successful. Today I am sharing a quick guide on how to care for chicks, and everything you’ll need to get started.

The feed stores are peeping, and social media influencer’s egg baskets are overflowing…it’s got you thinking that you want to try your hand at raising your own backyard flock. Raising chickens is fun, rewarding, and a great educational tool for children. Plus, there’s nothing better than fresh eggs and food security. Let’s talk a little today about what you’ll need to care for chicks, and the things you’ll want before you bring them home!

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A quick note before you buy your chicks: Know your breeds, and what you want. It is vital to know which breed will be a good fit for you. For instance, you don’t want to come out of the farm supply store with a box full of broiler chicks. Yes, they’re adorable and yellow, but they will likely not live longer than a couple of months on their own. Next week we’ll talk a little about my 5 favorite egg laying breeds!

Supplies you’ll need:

Brooder box – this can be as simple as a cardboard box to something as elaborate as a specialty made box for your little flock. Essentially a brooder keeps your babies safe. You want your brooder box to be secure from predators and have good ventilation. It also needs to be able to be cleaned easily. I really like using a plastic bottom wire rabbit cage. (Like this one: Rabbit hutch) You’ll want the chicks to have plenty of room to run around as they are fairly active little things. They grow very quickly, and tight quarters can lead to bullying
Heat source – Most farm supply stores will have heat lamps available, but I am a fan of using this kind from Premier 1. Warming plates work well too. The chicks will huddle underneath of them. These are a much safe option, especially for outdoor brooders. It’s been my go-to for the last several batches of chicks we’ve raised. Chicks need to be kept 90-95F, so a warmer is a must!
Litter- There are several types of little to choose from. I personally prefer to use pine shavings from the feed store. You can also use chopped straw, peat moss, dry leaves, shredded paper, pellet bedding, or sand. I have only ever used chopped straw and pine shavings. Whatever you choose you’ll want to buy plenty. You’ll be doing quite a bit of brooder clean up.
Feeder & Waterer – Obviously, this is a must. Really any type will do, but I do like this kind quite a bit. If you only have a few chicks, one feeder and waterer will likely be enough.
Food and Supplements – You’ll want to start feeding your babies starter-grower. It has a higher protein count and contains all of the nutrients they’ll need for the first several weeks of life. You may also want to use “chick saver” in their water for the first few days. It gives them a little extra boost of electrolytes and vitamins. After that, plain water will suffice. The only other “supplement” they’ll require is grit. They won’t need this until they’re a couple weeks old and you start giving them treats. A small bowl will be plenty.

That’s it! After you’ve gathered your supplies, you’ll be ready to bring home your new flock, and care for chicks. It’s a good idea to test everything before you need to use it.

Preparing for Chick Arrival Day

Whether you’ve special ordered your peeps or you snagged them at the farm supply store, you’ll want to do a few things when they arrive.

First of all, you’ll place them in the container inside the brooder. Trust me…I know it’s tempting to take them out of the box and place them into the brooder, but they are FAST. You don’t want to chance once of them making an escape.

Once the box is in the brooder, you can take the chicks out one by one and gently dip their beaks in the water. THIS IS IMPORTANT. After this, place the chick under the heat source to warm up.

Chickens are always pecking, and in my experience have never had an issue finding food. If it makes you more comfortable, though, you can also dip their beaks in the food to show them where it is.

You’ll want to check on them throughout the day to be sure they’re not too hot or cold.

If they’re all scattered around the edges of the brooder, they’re too hot. You can move the lamp up an inch or so. If they’re huddled together in a big mass in the middle, they’re cold. You’ll want to readjust the heat source. If they’re scattered about, peeping and pecking, the temperature is just right.

Day one is done…now what? Let’s care for chicks!

Chicks are messy. They will poop everywhere. You’ll want to make sure the bedding is clean and dry. Chicks can get sick quickly from wet bedding, so it’s best to keep it as clean as you can.

Every week the chicks will grow and feather. The heat requirements will change with each growing stage. With each new week, you’ll drop the temperature in their brooder by 5 degrees. So, week one, 95F, week two 90F, and so on.

You’ll also want to handle the chicks daily, and examine their tiny rears for a nasty condition called
“pasty butt”…No explanation needed. If they do look pasty you can hold a warm, wet wash cloth to the vent and gently peel off the paste. Hey, nobody said farming was neat lol!

After a few weeks, your chicks will be feathered, and can enjoy some time outside as long as it’s at least 65F. Just make sure they’re in a safe and secure area to have fun and enjoy fresh air.

By the time they’re 6 weeks old they’re full feathered and ready to be moved into their coop.

Congratulations on your new flock!

Are you ready to bring home your first flock of chicks? Can you imagine the satisfaction of gathering the eggs, and making breakfast from your back yard? It is as rewarding as it sounds.

As with anything new, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Often times the employees in the farm supply stores are a wealth of knowledge and love to help! I’m always here to help, too. If I don’t know the answer, I promise to help you find someone who does.