Chicks 101: A beginners guide to raising happy, healthy chickens
Raising baby chickens, or chicks, can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Whether you're starting a backyard flock or simply enjoying the process of caring for these adorable creatures, it’s important to understand the basics to ensure they grow into healthy, happy chickens.
Here’s a beginner's guide to raising chicks and some key points to consider.
1. Create a safe and comfortable brooder
When you first bring your chicks home, they'll need a safe, warm, and cozy environment. A brooder — a controlled space for young chicks — is essential for their health and growth. This can be a large box, plastic container, stock tank, playpen, or even a wire cage, provided it’s spacious enough for them to move around freely and will ONLY be used for chicks.
- Bedding: Use soft bedding like pine shavings or straw, but avoid cedar, as its oils can be harmful to chicks. Puppy pads are a good option and make for easy clean up.
- Temperature: Chicks need warmth, so maintain a temperature of 95°F (35°C) in the brooder during their first week. Gradually lower the temperature by about 5°F each week until they’re acclimated to the cooler conditions of their eventual home. Consider using a heat plate in lieu of a red bulb lamp as there is less risk of a fire hazard.
- Safety: Ensure the brooder is in a secure place, to protect them from predators (like house cats) or accidental harm. Be sure to keep children away from the brooder. Keeping the brooder in your garage, or a locked area, is a good idea. Chicks can carry bacteria like salmonella that can easily infect people, especially children.
- Provide enough space for each chick: Allow about 0.5 square feet per chick — so they feel comfortable.
2. Provide proper nutrition and hydration
For optimal growth, chicks need the right nutrition. Start with chick starter feed, which is specially formulated to meet their protein, vitamin, and mineral needs. It’s best to feed them crumble form, as it’s easier for chicks to eat.- Water: Always provide fresh, clean water. Chicks can be messy (and smelly), so make sure you change their water regularly, daily if possible, to avoid contamination. Using a shallow waterer can prevent drowning, as chicks are naturally curious and might fall in.
- Limit treats: Avoid offering treats or scratch grains until your chicks are 6-8 weeks old to ensure they get the full benefit of their starter feed.
3. Monitor health and behavior
Chicks are generally active and curious, and healthy chicks are lively with bright eyes. Watch for any signs of distress, like lethargy, poor appetite, or abnormal behavior. If you notice anything concerning, consult with a veterinarian who specializes in poultry.
- Socialization: Chicks are social creatures and will form a “flock.” Keeping them together helps them feel secure and reduces stress. Provide thick branches from outdoors for entertainment and enrichment.
- Cleanliness: Keep the brooder clean by regularly changing the bedding and removing wet or soiled areas. This will help prevent the spread of disease (and did I mention will cut down on the smell?) and keep your chicks happy.
- Health: Check your chicks vent (their behind) daily to make sure there isn't a build-up of feces blocking their only passage of waste. If there is, use a warm compress to loosen and remove. Do not try to pull it off, that can injure your chick. A build up of feces around the vent can be fatal.
4. Consider the long-term commitment
Chicks are not just adorable, temporary pets; they are living beings that require care for many years. Chicks can live up to 8 years or more with proper care, and can live for over a decade. Before buying any animals, make sure you're ready for this lifelong commitment.
- Educate children: If you're buying chicks for children, educate them about responsible pet ownership. This includes teaching them how to properly handle animals and understanding the long-term responsibility that comes with having them as pets.
5. Prepare for their growth and space needs
As your chicks grow into juveniles, their care needs will evolve. They will require a larger space, more food, and a chance to roam and forage. Ensure you have a spacious chicken coop with proper ventilation, nesting boxes, and enough room for each bird to move freely.
- Legal requirements: Before getting chicks, check local zoning laws regarding urban farming or chicken ownership. Some areas may have restrictions on the number of chickens you can keep or the type of coop you need.
- Nesting boxes: You don't need separate nesting box for each hen. A small flock will likely share the same one or two boxes.
6. Introduce them to the outdoors
When your chicks are around 6 weeks old and the weather is warm enough, you can begin transitioning them to the outdoors. Start by introducing them to a secure, small area, allowing them to gradually get used to their new environment. Over time, they’ll become accustomed to the larger chicken coop, where they’ll spend most of their time once fully grown. If you have adult birds already, introduce them gradually by creating a barrier between them to prevent injury.
- Predator-proofing: Make sure the coop is secure from predators like raccoons or foxes. A safe, well-ventilated coop will provide your chickens with a place to sleep, lay eggs, and roam freely. Hardware cloth is a good option as the openings are too small for predators get into.
- Dust baths: Provide your chickens with a tub of dry materials, like sand, dirt, woodash, and diatomaceous earth to take a dust bath.
7. Veterinary care and biosecurity
Chicks, like all animals, are susceptible to diseases and illnesses. Biosecurity is essential for preventing the spread of diseases between animals, especially if you’re adding new ones to your flock. Regular veterinary care is necessary to maintain their health. Find a veterinarian who specializes in poultry or exotic animals and schedule regular check-ups. With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continuing to threaten both domestic and commercial flocks, know the signs of illness in poultry.
- Keep domestic waterfowl and chickens separate: Exposure to waterfowl and their droppings can spread HPAI!
- Cover your coop runs: Keep wild birds out of your runs to limit exposure to wild birds and prevent disease.
- Isolation: Ensure that you isolate new animals for 30 days before introducing them to your existing flock.
- Don't kiss the chicks! No matter how cute they are, don't give your chicks kisses to prevent illnesses, like salmonella, for you both. Monitor children when handling chickens.
- Wash your hands after handling
- Cleaning and disinfection: Wear proper PPE when cleaning to prevent illness. A 10% bleach solution is a good product to use to sanitize your coop. .
- Pest control: Diatomaceous earth (DE), a natural powder made from fossilized algae, can be used in chicken coops to control pests like mites and lice by damaging their exoskeletons and causing dehydration, as well as to absorb moisture and control odors.
Raising chicks is a fulfilling journey that brings both joy and responsibility. From setting up a comfortable brooder and providing nutritious food to monitoring their health and ensuring they have the proper living space, every step you take is essential to their well-being. But before bringing any animals into your home take time to consider the long-term commitment involved. By doing your research, preparing for their needs, and being patient, you’ll be rewarded with healthy, happy chickens — and, of course, fresh eggs in about 16-18 weeks (or longer depending on the breed). Learn more about chicks in our "Chick Days" blog.
For more information, visit the WSDA Avian Health webpage.
Also, if you notice a lot of your birds getting sick or dying and suspect it's due to HPAI, please call our Sick Bird Hotline at: 1-800-606-3056.