How to Raise Chicks: Essential Tips and Tricks
If you've decided to start raising chicks, you’re taking a step into a rewarding aspect of homesteading. Given the recent surge in interest due to egg shortages and high prices, it's crucial to know the ins and outs of proper chick care. Here’s a detailed guide to help you ensure your new chicks thrive right from the start.
Getting Your Chicks: Understanding the Options and Risks
Ordering Chicks Online: Many homesteaders order chicks from online hatcheries because you can select from a variety of breeds. However, there are risks involved:
Shipping Risks: Chicks are vulnerable during shipping, especially due to extreme temperatures. Cold or hot weather can lead to high mortality rates among the chicks.
Health Risks: Stress from transport can weaken chicks’ immune systems. Ensure the hatchery is NPIP certified to lower the risk of contagious diseases like Avian Influenza.
Picking Up Locally: Buying chicks from your local feed store is a safer alternative in many cases. You can visually inspect the chicks for health issues and avoid the risks associated with shipping.
Availability: Feed stores typically stock chicks from early spring to June, and sometimes in early fall. Arriving early on delivery days increases your chances of getting the healthiest chicks.
Local Breeders: Another excellent option is to acquire chicks from a local breeder. Local breeders often offer barnyard mix breeds, which can be more genetically diverse and robust, making them less prone to illnesses. These mixes are well-adapted to local conditions and can be hardier overall. I recommend checking platforms like Facebook, where local farming groups often advertise, or using Google and Google Maps to find breeders in your area. This method not only supports local businesses but also gives you the chance to see the conditions the animals are raised in, ensuring their health and welfare.
Each of these methods has its benefits, and your choice will depend on your specific needs, such as breed preferences, health considerations, and your desire to support local businesses. Whichever method you choose, thorough research and careful consideration will help ensure that you bring home healthy, happy chicks ready to thrive on your homestead.
Essential Needs of Chicks: Temperature Requirements
Chicks require careful management of their environment and diet to thrive:
Temperature Requirements: Chicks need a warm environment to compensate for their inability to regulate body temperature initially.
First Week: 95°F
Second Week: Reduce by 5°F to 90°F
Each Subsequent Week: Reduce the temperature by 5°F per week until it reaches 70°F or they are feathered enough to regulate their own temperature, usually by 6 weeks of age.
Here's a quick reference chart for temperature adjustments:
Temperature Control: Getting the temperature right is crucial. I use a digital thermometer to keep things exact. Start at 95°F in the first week and decrease by 5°F each week. I’ve found that a reliable heat lamp and bulbs can make all the difference. We also recommend you use a hot brooder plate (we love the one that is linked here) for chicks to get under to keep warm.
Essential Needs of Chicks: Nutrition and Care
Nutrition: Start chicks on a high-quality starter feed, specifically formulated for chicks. This feed is rich in protein and essential nutrients to support rapid growth and development.
Feed Type: Use chick starter feed for the first 6 weeks, then transition to grower feed.
Grit: Provide fine chick grit to help with digestion, as chicks start eating solid food.
Water: Fresh, clean water must be constantly available. Adding electrolytes or vitamins such as chick booster to their water for the first few days can help reduce stress from the transition to a new environment.
Brooder Setup: My Tried-and-True Method
Setting up a safe and comfortable brooder is crucial. Here’s how I do it at Bootsy Garden:
Brooder Container: I swear by the 40-gallon black and yellow totes from Home Depot. They’re spacious, sturdy, and a breeze to clean.
Bedding: Pine shavings are my go-to for bedding; they keep the brooder dry and are easy to change out. I sprinkle barn lime and diatomaceous earth to keep things extra fresh and pest-free. We recommend Eco Flake pine shavings, which is linked here.
Temperature Control: Getting the temperature right is crucial. I use a digital thermometer to keep things exact. Start at 95°F in the first week and decrease by 5°F each week. I’ve found that a reliable heat lamp and bulbs can make all the difference. We also recommend you use a hot brooder plate (we love the one that is linked here) for chicks to get under to keep warm. We remove the heat lamp when chicks are three weeks old, and only use the brooder heater.
When setting up your chicken brooder, choosing the right food and water dishes is crucial for the health and well-being of your chicks. For food dishes, opt for shallow, sturdy chick feeders that prevent tipping and reduce waste. These feeders are designed to allow several chicks to eat at once without crowding.
For water, use shallow chick waterers with a lip that's low enough for the chicks to reach easily but is designed to keep bedding and droppings out. It's essential to select waterers that minimize the risk of drowning, which can happen in deeper bowls if chicks accidentally fall in.
Once chicks are four weeks…
When your chicks reach about four weeks old, it’s time to transition them into a "grow out pen." This is a critical step as they need more space to thrive and grow. The grow out pen should have a brooder plate for warmth, but if the area where the pen is kept isn’t heated, adding a heat lamp or another heat source is essential. While brooder heater plates provide a safe heat source that mimics the warmth of a hen, they might not be sufficient on their own in colder environments.
For those looking for an easy setup, I recommend this pop-up grow out pen (link to be added), which is convenient and user-friendly. For those who prefer a DIY approach, like we did at Bootsy Garden, you can build your own. Our custom pens have a pull-out tray at the bottom for easy cleaning and we’re planning to build more that are three levels high with wheels to facilitate movement and maintenance.
If you decide to build your own, I suggest incorporating a pull-out tray for ease of cleaning. It’s also wise to make the door larger than you might initially think necessary. Additionally, consider placing wood along the bottom or on three of the four sides of the pen, rather than using only hardware cloth. This design modification prevents chicks from kicking shavings out of the pen, keeping the surrounding area cleaner. These practical features will enhance the functionality of your grow out pen, making it a perfect home for your growing chicks.
Remember, raising chicks is not just a process—it’s a journey. Each chick has its own personality and needs, and adapting along the way is part of the fun. By setting a strong foundation with a good brooder setup, proper nutrition, and careful integration, you’re ensuring your chicks grow into happy, healthy adult chickens.
Feel free to share your own experiences or ask questions in the comments below. I love hearing from fellow homesteaders. Here’s to a successful chick-raising season!
