Caring for New Chicks

Trying to take my 2 ½ year old son into a store isn’t exactly a piece of cake, especially if it is a farm supply store.  He is like a bull in a china shop when he gets around toy tractors and toy animals.  I can almost sense the fear of the sales associates when they see us walk into Rural King.  Now that the baby chicks have arrived at local farm stores, his level of energy and enthusiasm in public is at an all new high.

 

I have a feeling he is not the only one that is excited about baby chicks arriving at our local farm supply stores.  Those cute and fuzzy two legged creatures seem to catch everyone’s attention and many of us do not go home without buying some.  So what happens next?

 

It is best to have a place for you chicks ready before you ever purchase them.  To make a good home, you’ll need some sort of “container”, this could be a large box, plastic tote, an old feed or water trough, or any large draft-proof environment.  In addition to their shelter you will also need newspaper, shavings, heat lamp, chick feeder, chick waterer and chick feed. 

 

Line the bottom of the container with newspaper and cover with wood shavings.  Hang your heat lamp so that it is about 18 inches from the bottom of the container.  During their first week in their new home, the temperature should be kept at 95 degrees.  Keeping them warm and cozy is important to their health and survival.  Place chick feed and waterer in the container, but not under the heat lamp.  It is recommended to use a commercial chick feed (which you can purchase at a farm supply store) for at least the first 2 months. 

 

Once you get home with your chicks and place them into their new home, give them a sugar-water solution the first day.  The sugar will give them a must needed energy boost to help recuperate after their trip.  After that, be sure to provide the chicks with plenty of water.  Water is the more important nutrient for chickens so it is imperative that they always have a clean water supply. 

 

Be sure to check on your new chicks often.  Don’t let their cuteness lead you to believe they would do no wrong.  Baby chicks are quite mischievous and tend to dump out their feed, kick bedding into their water and poop a lot.  Change their bedding at least once a week, if not more.  Even though they like to make a mess, chicks still need a clean environment to live in.  Speaking of clean, be sure anyone that handles the chicks washes their hands afterwards. 

 

After the first week, you can lower the temperature 5 degrees per week until the chicks are ready to transition to being outside.  At 4-6 weeks your chicks will be ready to move outside.  Once they make the transition outside, be sure your chickens have access to predator proof and well ventilated shelter, food and water. 

 

For more information on caring for baby chicks or backyard flocks, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Office at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.