Hatcheries, breeders, and feed stores seem to be selling out of chicks faster than ever this year. Chickens are a great animal for people who want to start raising their own food, as they can be raised for both their meat and their egg production. With so many different chicken breeds out there, they are also a nice option for people who want them simply as a pet. Not only is this a great animal because of its ability to provide you with food, but they are also very easy to raise and don’t require much space.
Here is all you need to know when it comes to raising baby chicks:
Chicks can be purchased from breeders, through online hatcheries, and at feed stores during certain times of the year. If you purchase them from a hatchery or feed store, they are usually very young (between 1-3 days old) and have often gone through a lot of transportation to get to you. Because of this it is recommended that you give your chicks electrolytes or probiotics by Sav-A-Chick, to give them an extra boost so they can get off to a strong start. These supplements can be purchased online or at most feed stores and are very easy to administer. All you need to do is mix one packet into a gallon of warm water and place it in the brooder box for the chicks to drink.
The probiotics especially come in handy if your chicks are experiencing “pasty butt”. This issue occurs when the chick goes to the bathroom and their feces remains stuck to their bottom. This can clog the chick up and prevent it from fully relieving itself, which could prove fatal if not corrected. Pasty butt can occur if the chicks are not kept warm enough, but it can be fixed by correcting the temperature and gently washing off any waste that is stuck on them with a warm, wet paper towel. Adding probiotics to their water in this situation is very helpful since it improves digestive health by adding beneficial bacteria to their gut.
For the first two weeks of life baby chicks need to be kept between 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit. You can then lower the temperature by 5 degrees each week until the chicks are between 4-6 weeks old. The temperature is often maintained by using a brooder lamp with a red bulb and securely attaching it to half of the brooder box. The reason why you want it aimed on only half of the box is so that if the chicks get too hot, they have the option to move over to the cooler side of the box and escape the heat for a while.
If you don't want to use a heat lamp to keep your chicks warm there are chick brooders that can be purchased online and from hatcheries that will do the job. It is a heater designed for the chicks to stand under, mimicking how they would huddle under the hen if they were left with their mother. As the chicks begin to grow and require less heat, the brooder (or the lamp, if you choose that option) can be lifted higher so that the heat source is farther away, allowing the chicks to adjust to cooler temperatures.
Baby chicks need to be on a chick starter feed that is at least 18% protein. You can buy either medicated or non-medicated feed, and they will do fine on both. I personally use medicated feed for my chicks since the medication prevents coccidiosis, a parasitic disease that attacks the intestines of animals. Regardless of if you use medicated or non-medicated feed, the chicks will need to be on the starter feed for at least 16-20 weeks. If they are moved onto the adult “Layer” feed too soon, their bones will not develop properly, and complications will arise since their nutritional needs for growing will not be met .
You can use a variety of different bedding materials for baby chicks. Some people use paper towels, newspaper, or shavings. My favorite bedding option for chicks is pine shavings. Pine shavings offer a comfortable surface for the chicks to lay on and the pine helps absorb the odor. However, if you use pine shavings for chicks, I recommend avoiding the fine sawdust varieties, as its small pieces can be ingested and cause impaction.
I have heard mixed reviews about offering grit to baby chicks. Some people swear by it and others have had success raising them without it. I offer grit to my own chicks just to err on the side of caution, and they have done perfectly well on it. If you choose to provide grit to your baby chicks make sure you buy the kind that is specifically designed for chicks and not adults, so that it is small enough for them to swallow. Adult chickens on the other hand should always have access to grit if they are not able to find their own by free ranging. Since birds swallow their food whole, the grit helps them break down their food so that it is easier for them to digest.
As the chicks start to get bigger you can start offering them treats, such as mealworms. You can often find freeze dried mealworms at your local feed store. This is not a required part of the chicks’ diet, but it is a useful tool to use if you want to tame your birds and get them used to you. They will learn to associate the treat with your hand, and as a result will quickly begin to enjoy your presence.
As with any animal, make sure your chicks have access to fresh food and water all day, and have a clean environment to grow up in. As the chicks continue to grow you can start taking them outside for brief periods when the weather permits to get them used to their new environment. Make sure they have a secure area to explore and play in, as there are many animals outside that could easily pick a young bird off.
Once your chicks are fully feathered and the weather becomes warm, you can move them outside full time into a secure enclosure equipped with shelter, perches, and access to shade. A form of covering over their enclosure is recommended to prevent hawks from making a meal of your young chicks .
Outside your chicks will continue to grow and mature. They will generally begin producing eggs for you between 6-10 months of age. While it may take a while for that first egg to appear, it is an experience that is always rewarding and worth the wait.
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