I am not going to lie, I am soooo excited about the prospect of getting to raise baby chicks this spring for Mrs. Hillbilly. Granted, I don’t get to keep them, but I think I can live with that for now. Isn’t it nice when old neighbors without strict HOA’s allow you to live vicariously through them?
If you are planning on getting baby chicks this year {and I really, really think you should}, here’s a quick tutorial on how to take care of them. I’ve posted it before, but thought it might be worth revisiting for any backyard chicken farming newbies:
For the first several weeks of your chicks’ lives, you’ll need a warm place for them. The container is called a brooder, and you can use about a zillion different types of containers to do this from cardboard boxes to stock tanks. You’ll need a warming light {that will satisfy the warm part of “warm place”}.
Also, you’ll want absorbent bedding {you will not believe how messy little tiny chicks can be}, a feeder, waterer, feed, grit, and netting or chicken wire {to put over the top of your container to prevent runaways}. To set up your chicken brooder, lay a thick layer of bedding down along the bottom. Place the feeder and waterer, filled, into the center of the chicken brooder–also sprinkle some feed into the bedding to encourage the chicks to scratch. Then, clip the warming light onto the side of the brooder and position it over the opening.
Once your brooder is set up, you are ready to add baby chicks. Whether you ordered the chickens online {I like to get mine from mypetchicken.com} or bought them from the feed store, they will likely be a little thirsty and stressed when they arrive. Put a little sugar water in their waterer for the first two days and dip their wee little beaks into the water as you place them in the brooder to encourage them to drink.
For the first week, you’ll want the brooder to be 95 degrees. You can drop the temperature 5 degrees each week until you get to 70 degrees. Hold at 70 degrees until it’s time to move them outside. Keep their feeder stocked and check on their water several times a day. They have an uncanny ability to tip their water, poop in the water, and in general, drain their water. So, you’ll find yourself filling it pretty often. Also, because they are going to literally quadruple in size over the next couple of weeks, you’ll find that they are big giant pigs when it comes to eating.
At about 4 weeks, it’s time to transition them to outside–slowly. It’s like hardening off plants, really. You want them to acclimate at a nice slow pace. Start that 4th week by placing them next to an open window or door. Let them experience the natural light and fluctuations in temperature. It’s a harsh world out there without warming lights-they are going to have to face it, like it or not.
If your weather is fairly mild, you can fully transition them outside somewhere between 5 and 8 weeks. Remember night time temperatures will need to be mild too. If you are adding them to an existing flock, I like to set them in a caged off area right next to the existing flock for several days. L
This allows the flock to see them, without really being able to peck at them. After the holding pen period, go ahead and put them right in with your existing flock. They may get pecked at a bit by the older hens, but in general, they’ll learn the pecking order and fall in line.
If you are starting a flock for the first time with your baby chicks, transitioning them to outside is easier. First, transition them solely to the coop. Keep them in the coop for several days {assuming it has a run}. This will allow them to get settled. If you are going to have free-range chickens, remember they are still fairly small, and it’s important to keep them out of predators’ grasp–so a run is best to keep them safe. As they get older, they’ll learn to hide in the bushes or coop when they hear/see danger {i.e. a hawk or the like}. Make sure to shut them into the coop every night to keep raccoon, etc. from getting to them {depending on your area, of course}.
Once you have established your coop, remember to change their bedding, or put a fresh layer on frequently. Continue providing fresh water and plenty of food/scraps. Your ladies will not start laying until around 20 weeks, but in the meantime, they will create plenty of potential chicken poop compost…and seriously, I am not lying when I say that your garden will go nuts with this stuff. So make sure to use it.
Will YOU be getting chicks this spring?
~Mavis
Carrie says
I have 4 chickens (2 hens, 2 pullets from last spring) that haven’t laid in two months. I want to add two more chicks this year in hopes that my egg supply won’t keep dwindling. Problem is I have to expand my coop and add another roosting bar. BF is not thrilled about the idea. Maybe I should just stop by the feed store on my way home…. 😀
Karin says
I wish we knew what Miss Lucy was thinking. Does she think its a cute fuzzy friend or a nugget with legs?! Either way she looks so adorable checking them out : )
Lisa says
Nope. I have two dogs, a fish, a kid and a husband. And a house. And a full time job. That’s more than enough things to be responsible for. I’m cool with buying eggs from the store (where I can get eggs from local, eithical sources). I’ve considered it because I do love eggs, but the logistics just won’t work for us.
Cass says
When I have chick not being raised by their Momma, I put paper towels on the floor for the first few days….this helps the chicks to learn what is and isn’t food…since they don’t have a mom to show them. I have never had a chick die from eating a wood chip or other non-digestable item doing this. After 3 – 4 days (about the time I am sick of changing paper towels) they all have figured out where the food is kept and the nibbling on wood chips/bedding is minimal.
The best system? Let a broody hatch them, raise them and introduce them to the flock. Easy Peasy. 🙂
Ranee says
We are moving to my hometown in about 2 to 3 months. It’s a small town and I follow the local newspaper, trying to acclimate to a smaller community from the suburbs of a bigger city. As a result, I know they are considering allowing chickens in town. 🙂 I am interested in having chickens, but the house we are moving to is located between 2 families, both of which have dogs. Would this be too stressful for chickens? There is a farmers market in the spring/summer – maybe I can just get eggs from the local chickens.
GardenNut says
Nope, I have dogs. Lots of dogs. I live in the mountains and the woods are full of hawks, owls, eagles, wolves, coyote, cougar, bobcat, fox, badger, and the occasional bear. Chickens, as much as I’d love to raise them, seem like a recipe for disaster. Power to anyone keeping them!