Preparing for Chicks

We pick up our chicks in exactly a week, so it's time to make sure we have everything we need!

1. Containment
While at first, the chicks will huddle closely together to maintain body heat, after just a few days they'll begin to venture out on their own. They'll start jumping on anything you place in their brooder and from their will try jumping out!  Be sure to take the height of your containment into account, and consider placing a screen on top as the young chicks grow.


2. Bedding
If you are using wood or cardboard for the floor of your containment, then all you need is a nice layer of wood shavings or straw. If your containment is slippery (like plastic storage totes) you will want to consider putting a layer of cardboard or newspaper under your bedding; this helps prevent their toes from curling under as they walk on the slippery surface.

One other thing to consider is the cost and cleanliness of your bedding material. Baby chicks poop just as much as adults for their body size, so they can soil a small brooder very quickly! You can find yourself replacing their bedding every day or more, so be prepared to go through a lot of bedding material.

3. Heat
Day old chicks need heat, and lots of it. For the first week they'll be comfortable at an ambient temperature of about 95℉ and that temperature will slowly decrease over the course of several weeks. You could of course use a thermometer and heat lamp to carefully measure the temperature, and slowly move the heat lamp away from the brooder over time. Or you could use the chicks behavior as a guide to the temperature. If they are huddled together directly under the heat lamp, chances are they're too cold. If they are spaced very far apart, as far away from the heat as possible, they're likely too warm.

Heat lamps can be very dangerous, so use caution! Many people find the risks of heat lamps too much, and opt for other methods. One method involves placing large bottles of warm water in the brooder for the chicks to use as heat. This method works wonderfully for small groups of chicks, but requires a lot of time as the water cools relatively quickly and must be reheated regularly. Others prefer a brooder like this EcoGlow because it's radiant heat keeps the chicks just as comfortable with less power and less risk.


4. Water
The issue you'll find with water for your chicks is that it's always a mess. They will splash it all over your fresh dry bedding, kick bedding into it, or worse yet; poop in it. They will jump right in and splash around in a large bowl, but a small bowl will run out too quickly. Instead, try to watering dish like this one:

that screws directly onto any regular mason jar or old mayonnaise jar (or similar).

5. Food
It should come as no surprise that you'll have the exact same issues with your feed. And it should also come as no surprise that there is a very similar product for feed:

For the first 6-8 weeks you'll be feeding your birds a "chick starter mash." It is specifically designed for the needs of newly hatched chicks. It should have no less than 18% protein, but ideally 20% for several weeks.

One thing that will help keep both your feed and water clean is to place them on a brick or block of wood. Keeping them raised to about their shoulder height will help prevent most of the spillage and spoilage of their food and water.

Happy Homesteading,
The Ohio Homesteader