The journey into homesteading often begins with a leisurely walk down the lanes of a local feed store, where one stumbles upon irresistible tubs brimming with soft, peeping chicks. It’s quite the captivating scene.

As many of us have discovered, Chickens serve as an introductory experience to the deeper, more intense aspects of rural living, such as managing goats, cows, and pigs. It’s a familiar pathway for many.

Despite my near seven-year tenure in the homesteading realm, the arrival of chick season still sparks a wave of excitement within me.

Admittedly, my organization skills regarding chick acquisitions have waned over the past few years, thanks to family expansions and significant home renovations. However, I’m back on track this year, having placed my orders early.

We’ve recently welcomed 15 Silver-Laced Wyandottes and 30 Cornish cross birds for meat into our fold. A

fter experimenting with various layer breeds, I’ve opted for a more streamlined approach, focusing on a single breed to enhance through selective breeding for specific qualities. It marks a strategic advancement in our poultry management endeavors.

Embarking on raising our meat birds last year proved immensely rewarding, prompting an eager anticipation to repeat the process. We’ve secured another batch of 30 meat birds and plan to add 30 more later in the season.

Setting up for new chicks is a straightforward process, provided you bear in mind several key considerations.

I understand the apprehension first-timers might feel, given the chicks’ delicate nature and the desire to ensure their well-being. By adhering to these guidelines, you can rest assured of their care:

The anticipation for their arrival grows after selecting your preferred chicken breeds and placing your orders.

What’s next, you may wonder?

Rather than merely waiting, it’s wise to proactively prepare, ensuring everything is in place and functioning well before your chicks arrive. There are specific necessities unique to young chickens that require readiness and testing.

Let’s review a prepared checklist to guarantee you’ve covered all bases.

Welcoming Spring: Starting New with Baby Chicks

As spring unfolds, it brings a season of renewal and the beginning of new journeys. This is when numerous individuals decide to expand their homesteads by welcoming baby chicks into their homes, sourced from either local agricultural outlets or directly through incubators.

These young birds are fragile in their initial days and necessitate careful nurturing. Drawing on insights from the Michigan State University Extension, we offer guidance to ensure you provide an optimal beginning for these new members of your household.

The initial abode for your chicks is the brooder, a crucial setup designed to offer warmth to the chicks who cannot maintain their body heat until they reach the age of approximately 12 to 14 days. They are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature during this period.

Crafting a brooder doesn’t adhere to a strict blueprint; options range from repurposing a spacious cardboard box to utilizing a plastic container, or even partitioning a section of your floor space.

The key considerations for a brooder include ensuring it is protected from drafts, capable of maintaining a steady temperature, and spacious enough for the chicks. If you need to use additional heating, choosing a safe heating source is vital.

To achieve a seamless transition for your chicks, prepare your brooder at least a full day in advance. This preparation time allows for stabilizing the environment’s temperature and for any bedding moisture to evaporate.

Effective brooder setup tips include:

• Allocating roughly 0.5 to 1 square foot of space per chick.
• Laying down 3-4 inches of absorbent, odorless bedding, with pinewood shavings or chopped straw being ideal choices.
• Maintaining a temperature range of 92-95 degrees Fahrenheit using a securely fastened heat lamp to prevent any fire hazards.

Once your brooder is ready and the chicks are settled in, vigilant management and regular observation are key to their growth and wellbeing.

Monitoring the chicks frequently ensures they remain healthy and comfortable, have access to sufficient food and water – the most crucial aspect of their care. Observing their behavior about the heat source can indicate if adjustments are needed to maintain the ideal temperature.

Always ensure clean, fresh water is available, placing feeders and waterers safely from the heat source. A daily cleaning routine for waterers and choosing shallow designs can ease access for the chicks.

Unrestricted access to fresh chick starter feed is essential, with various brands and price points available, including options for medicated feed to guard against diseases like coccidiosis.

As the chicks grow, their dietary needs will evolve, so adjusting their feed accordingly is important.

Gradually decrease the brooder’s temperature by 5 degrees Fahrenheit weekly until it aligns with 55 degrees or the outdoor ambient temperature.

Maintaining strict biosecurity measures, such as washing hands before and after handling the chicks, avoiding eating or drinking around them, limiting visitors, and consistent cleaning and disinfecting of their feeders and waterers, are paramount practices.

By adhering to these foundational tips, you’re ensuring your chicks have the strongest start possible, paving the way for them to become thriving additions to your homestead.

Preparing For New Baby Chicks

Choosing the Right Brooder: Simple vs. Fancy

Crafting a home for your newborn chicksdoesn’t have to break the bank or require a design degree. Essentially, they need a safe enclosure to call their first home.

Placing them directly into a spacious coop could lead to them getting trapped in tight spots or corners, a situation that’s particularly dangerous in cooler weather.

A wide array of brooder options are available, ranging from store-bought models to DIY solutions using items you already own.

For years, my go-to has been sizable galvanized metal tubs. Their height prevents the chicks from escaping, and their rounded edges eliminate the danger of getting stuck.

You could also consider using plastic containers, crates, cardboard boxes, or repurposed playpens as viable alternatives.

A brooder’s complexity can vary; even a simple cardboard box can suffice, provided it’s placed in a secure, sheltered location away from drafts. It’s crucial that while fresh air circulates above, the interior maintains a steady, warm temperature.

I chose a plastic storage bin, perfect for housing 5-10 chicks during their initial weeks. They’ll require more space as they grow, so it’s wise to anticipate this need early on to avoid frequent upgrades.

If possible, situate the brooder within an unoccupied coop for an easy transition by removing the brooder and letting the chicks stay put.

The floor of the brooder should be covered with a non-slip material; I’ve found pine shavings effective, though puppy pads, paper towels, or sand are also good options.

Regular maintenance, including spot cleaning every few days, is essential to keep the environment clean and comfortable.

I’ve never covered my brooders, but in households with potential predators, including curious pets, securing the top with chicken wire or mesh is advisable—just ensure it doesn’t impede airflow.

Starting with a smaller brooder is feasible, but be prepared to expand as your flock grows. These chicks will sprout up quicker than you might expect, necessitating a spacious environment for their development.

From Heat Lamps to Heating Plates: Choosing the Right Heat Source

While I’m hesitant to employ heat lamps for my larger poultry due to their potential as fire risks, providing warmth for the fledgling chicks is crucial.

During the initial week of their lives, it’s essential to maintain an environment for the chicks between 95 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, slowly reducing the temperature by their development.

Constant vigilance over the brooder is necessary for me, as baby chicks cannot regulate their body heat during the initial, pivotal days, often clustering together in search of warmth.

As a caregiver, you must ensure they receive the necessary heat, starting with an ambient temperature of about 95 degrees Fahrenheit during their first week, and decreasing it by 5 degrees each week after that.

By the time they reach the ninth week, the environment should be no cooler than 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

After their second molting phase, which occurs between 7 to 12 weeks, they typically acquire mature feathers and can regulate their body temperature, barring unusually cold conditions.

Although the traditional heat lamp stands out as a straightforward heating solution, its use demands extreme caution due to the significant fire risk it poses.

A preferable alternative is a heating plate, which, despite its higher cost—especially for those raising numerous chicks—offers greater peace of mind by minimizing fire risk.