Spring is right around the corner and that means soon the farm stores will be full of the “peep, peep”ing of day old chicks. I’d be lying if I said I’ve never succumbed to the fluffy temptation, even if they weren’t on my shopping “list”.
When purchasing baby chicks, it is very important to give them a great start. Chicks are the most fragile in the first few days of their lives.
There are a few things you must have on hand before bringing your chicks home:
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An enclosure. This doesn’t have to be anything grand. A tote, hamster cage (minus the hamster), or cardboard box work just fine.
.A heat source. It is important to keep chicks warm. 95-100 degrees for the first two weeks and then gradually reduce temperature until they are a month old, when they should have most of their feathers. Traditional heat bulbs are very dangerous if not properly secured.
Here are some safe options: (click for links)
–Heating Plate
–Heat Panel
–Heat Pad
Water/food source. Shallow dishes work just fine. Marbles in the water dish prevents drowning accidents.
Electrolytes. I cannot stress enough how important hydration is for baby chicks. Electrolytes in the water is a must.
Food. Medicated or non-medicated (medicated helps prevent coccidiosis). We prefer a crumble or a blend from the feed mill, no big pellets for chicks.
Bedding. Pine shavings work great (horse bedding in the farm store). Stay clear of cedar shavings or sawdust. Newspaper under the shavings adds another absorbing layer but do not use newspaper alone, it is too slippery.
And finally…. our SECRET weapon for raising healthy chicks…
Probiotics
Just like for you and me, gut health is important when it comes to healthy animals. We added probiotics to our homestead a couple of years ago and have noticed our animals are overall much healthier! Especially with our meat birds who are more susceptible to illness/complications, our loss numbers are almost non-existent since adding probiotics to their diet.
| If you are interested in more advice on keeping a healthy flock of chickens, check out my blog post “9 Best Practices for Raising Chickens“. |
Thank you for stopping by the homestead!
Until next time,
Melissa
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