Raising Healthy Chicks
First Things First:
Keeping the Chicks Alive
It is important to have your broader set up and ready before bringing your chicks home.
Priority #1 - Keep them under a heat lamp – Take the chicks immediately home and get them under a heat lamp. Any delay will put them at risk. Chicks will die in a warm house as it is not warm enough – they need the heat lamp. The box/container you are raising them in must be big enough so the chicks can move under the heat lamp if cold and very importantly they can move away if getting too hot. If they are making noise they are stressed and may be cold or out of water.
Priority #2 - Keep Them Supplied With Fresh Water – Keep a fresh supply of water. Put the water in the opposite corner of the heat lamp. This allows the chicks to drink water when not directly under the heat lamp and keeps the water cool.
Priority # 3 – Keep them Fed - Place the feeder in the other opposite corner of the heat lamp, so again the chicks can feed way from the heat.
How to Raise Healthy Chicks
It’s Easy With a Few Simple Tips
It is a wonderful experience to raise your own chicks, watch their growth and to be the recipient of the healthy reward of fresh eggs.
This quick guide will walk you through caring for your chicks in the first 6 weeks of life.
It’s best to prepare for your chicks arrival by setting everything up first. You will need a:
Brooder (a wire top for protection is preferred)
Heat lamp (temperature under lamp should be 90-95 degrees F)
Heat lamp hood
Thermometer (optional)
Bedding
Feed/Water containers (place on the cool side of brooder)
Chick Starter feed (this will be fed through the first 4 months of growth)
On the day of your chicks arrival, place a thin layer (about ½ inch) of bedding on the entire floor of their brooder, set up the feed and water containers and turn on the heat lamp. Your chick “nursery” is now ready to keep your chicks safe, comfortable and well fed.
What Kind of Brooder?
The brooder can be a stock tank or a plastic storage container. Card board boxes have been used but catch on fire when the heat lamp is not set far enough away from combustibles. It should be draft free on the sides and easy to clean with a floor space of approximately 1 square foot per chick. Make sure to have enough space for food and water dishes to stay cool, and room for chicks to get away from the heat lamp when they get too hot.
Chicks will live in the brooder for the first 6 weeks until fully feathered (no fluffy down feathers) and able to regulate their body temperature. They grow up fast!
Chicks Must Stay Warm
Although chickens begin to regulate their own body temperature approximately two weeks after hatching, the continued warmth from the heat lamp is required up to six weeks. Hypothermia can cause death in baby chicks without a heat source.
Hang heat lamp 12-14 inches above floor level and away from any flammable materials. Do not use a regular light bulb as it will not provide enough heat for chicks. The use of a red heat lamp has a calming effect on chicks. A thermometer can be placed at the bird’s level to check for a temperature of 90-95 degrees F.
A good rule of thumb: If chickens are huddled under the heat lamp, THEY ARE TOO COLD. If they are piled up at the far end away from the heat source, THEY ARE TOO HOT. If they are spread all around the brooder, THEY ARE HAPPY CHICKS!
What Kind of Bedding?
Large wood shavings make an excellent bedding material. Avoid the use of sawdust, cedar shavings, or slippery surfaced materials like newspaper as they can cause health problems for the chicks.
Keep bedding clean and dry by changing it frequently and making sure brooder has good ventilation at the top. Doing this will prevent buildup of ammonia or infections caused by poor sanitation.
What to Feed Chicks
Chicks eat a diet appropriate to a growing bird’s nutritional needs. Use a complete commercial starter diet. Scotts Valley Feed carries a wide selection of organic, GMO-free and medicated starter diets to provide your chicks with the proper protein for healthy development and growth.
Do not feed chicks lay feed -- too much calcium in lay pellets or lay crumbles will destroy kidneys.
Make sure clean water is always available to chicks. They don’t eat well if they don’t have water to drink.
Place food and water dishes away from the heat source.
What is “Pasty Butt?”
Stress; beginning to eat solid food; chilling and overheating can all cause caked-up poop to form a plug on the chicks bottom or “vent.” If left untreated this will kill them.
This plug can be removed gently with a warm water soak, carefully drying the chick afterwards to avoid chilling. Don’t soak the whole chick -- just the butt.
Handling Your New Chicks
When first bringing home new chicks it can be very exciting for everyone from children to adults. Once baby birds are carefully set up in their new home, it is best to avoid handling them for the first 24 hours. The more you fuss with them, the more stressed they become. Let them settle in first while watching that they are eating and drinking. Protect chicks from cats, dogs and other predators. Accidents can happen quickly, causing injury or death and is heartbreaking to all involved. Supervision is required.
Always wash hands with soap and water before and after handling chicks. Do not eat with chicks and avoid fingers in mouths after holding them. Teach children safe hygiene practices.
The friendly and knowledgeable staff at Scotts Valley Feed is happy to help with any questions and assist in the continued enjoyment of responsible chick ownership.
Happy Chick Raising!