How to raise baby chicks: everything you need to know

The baby chicks are here and feed stores are inundated with just about breed you can imagine.

Before you give in and buy all the chicks, ask yourself: do you really know what you are buying and do you know why you are buying the chicks?

If you’re like most people, you’re raisin chicks to have your own eggs rather than store-bought eggs. And that is a good thing.

If you are new to raising baby chicks, you may not be set up yet. Raising baby chicks is a chore and not as easy as some may think. This is what you will need and need to know. These are just some of the immediate things you will need to know.

You will need a 120- or 200-gallon tub or some sort of brooder even if it is made from wood. Whatever your brooder container is, make sure it has four walls. The brooder should not be a cage because chickens cannot tolerate drafts. Brooders cannot be made of glass.

The most important thing to remember when raising baby chicks is that they need to keep warm. If they get too cold they could get pasty butt. When chicks are cold or stressed out, their droppings stick to them and clog up their vents, which could ultimately kill them.

To keep your chicks warm, you will need a heat lamp and a heat bulb (glass or ceramic). You can get these supplies at your local feed store.

You will need a chick feeder for food and a small chicken waterer for them to use. A chicken watering device is a must; bowls cannot be used because chicks will drown. You may need to change their water a few times a day once they get scratching and sawdust bathing, they tend to get their water dirty. You will know. Clean water is VERY important for chickens of all ages.

When you first get your babies home, I recommend adding electrolytes to their water. Keep it in their water for 12 hours, then refresh. The electrolyte water will help the chicks retain their energy and prevent pasty butt. Check out this recipe below:

Baby chick electrolyte water

You will need shavings for the bottom of the tub, not pine, cedar. Spread shavings thin or your chicks could have a problem standing up and walking.

You will need Start and Grow chick starter feed. Use the medicated type if your chicks not vaccinated; if they are vaccinated you don't need medicated. Once they start eating regularly, they tend to eat off and on 24/7. After four weeks have passed, you can chop cucumbers or strawberries very small and feed them to them a few times a week.

The heat lamp will need to be on the chicks until they are fully feathered about 6 weeks old.

While watching your chicks, if they huddle together under the heat lamp, adjust it so it shines closer to them. If they are spread out in the brooder, adjust it up so it doesn't shine so close to the bottom of the brooder.

If you have your chicks in your home and your temp is at least 75 degrees, you won't need a heat lamp past 4 weeks old.

Be very careful removing them from the brooder. Remember, they need to stay warm for a reason. Removing them is dangerous to them and they chill very easily which can cause Pasty Butt. If checking them for pasty, please check quickly and return them to the brooder quickly.

After a few weeks it's fine to hold them and let them be outside in the sunshine for a few hours. It's important to keep an eye on your chicks at all time, because regardless where you live you can expect a nice hungry hawk or neighborhood cat to swoop down on or snag them.

Have more questions? Contact Leona at [email protected].