Tips to Raise Chicks

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As the weather warms up, people start to think about chicks. They are for sale in all of the local feed mills, including Tractor Supply and Rural King. Their cuteness can be hard to walk away from!

That being said, you can't just walk into a store and come out with chicks. You have to have the right set up in order to get the eggs that you are going to want. 

Here are some tips for raising chicks into full-grown chickens. 

One of the more important parts of raising chicks is making sure that they are warm enough. Baby chicks are born without feathers, which makes it hard for them to regulate their body heat. 

It is recommended that you keep the temperature around ninety-five degrees in your brooder. As they age, you can decrease the temperature. But, you should watch your chicks to see how they behave. If they are cold, you will find them all huddled together. If they are too hot, they will be spread far apart, acting like they want to escape out of the brooder.

While most people use heat lamps, like this one, the truth is that they can be a fire hazard. More and more people are using something safer, like these plates that will fit well in any brooder. They make multiple sizes, so whether you have a small brooder or a larger one, there should be one that is the perfect size!

Make sure that your chicks have plenty of fresh water. There are plenty of nice waterers that are on the market. The ones that work best allow many chicks to get water at the same time, without too much crowding. You may also want to use one that isn't too deep, so that your chicks don't drown in the water. If you have multiple chicks, you may want to use several waterers in the brooder.

And buy high quality food. Most chicks are started out on a "chick-starter," which is a blend of grains and supplements that are easily digested by chicks. Though you may be able to make your own chick starter, it is often easier to buy the commercial stuff to make sure that your chicks get everything that they need. 

Though you may want to feed all your chickens and chicks the same thing, you can't feed chicks feed that is designed for laying hens, because this has too much calcium for them.

Then, all you have to do is keep them clean! Chicks can be very messy. They poop all over their brooder, multiple times a day. As they get their wings, they may even perch above their feeder and waterers, pooping in them. They throw their bedding around, so it is important that you clean the water daily. 

That being said, raising chicks can be a very rewarding project for your family. Chicks who are raised by a family are more likely to be friendly. As they grow, they may learn to run toward you when you call. Some even like to be held! 

So, make sure that you keep them warm and dry. You are going to want to either use a heat lamp, or a heat plate (which is a little safer.) Take care of the waterers and refill the feeders every day. Before you know it, your chicks will turn into adults and be happy to give you lots of eggs!

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Previously published on Medium and/or Newsbreak.