Chicken Care

Considering how much fun it is to raise chicks I’m not surprised if you’ve already thought about this. As fun as it is to care for chicks you must think about how  hard it would be to care for them. And please consider the poop before asking your parents. It’ll seem like all they do is poop. (This will definitely be longer than my other blogs. Therefore, I will separate this blog into several sections. Keep looking for more updates for Common Chicken Diseases and Other Problems.) To those wondering why this blog post is not necessary about veterinary it is always good to know more!!!

If you don’t know where to get your chicks a common place is a farm called Murray McMurray Hatchery is a common place to get chicks, ducks, geese, and turkeys. 

Link below

https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html

CHICK CARE 1 DAY – 5 WEEKS

DAY 1-3 (Otherwise known as the “getting used to the place” days.)

Before I get started into the first few days I want to go over things that are more important, setting up.

-Supplies

• Large plastic brooder/container

Notes: Some people prefer rubber containers. Make sure it’s large. Some even say that small dog and cat play areas are much cleaner. Recommended brands will be listed at the end.

• Some sort of bedding

Notes: Corse pine shavings (they make less dust)  is recommended. 

• A warm brooder

Notes: Recommended brands will be listed at the end.

• Heat lamps

Heat lamps are very dangerous, use with caution.

• Water holder
• Food holder
• Some sort of mesh cover

-Setting up

Take whatever container you’re using, make sure it’s big, and fill it with pine shavings, 3-4 inches high. Set up the heat lamp. BE VERY CAUTIOUS!!!! If the heat lamp touches the shavings too close it WILL catch on fire. 45-60 centimeters is a good distance for the heat lamps to be. Put the food and water nowhere near the heat lamp, to prevent a fire. Start with putting small and very flat stones in the water so that they don’t drown. Place the brooder next to the heat lamp. Another option is to just not add the heat lamp for it is a safety hazard.

When you get the chicks they will probably be very tired since they have just come from a long journey without food or water. They will need to be able to get lots of hydration and food. Many experienced “chick hatchers” recommend putting in some Save-a-Chick Electrolytes into their water. This will hydrate the kittens more than just plain water. Also, instead of just sticking them into their brooder and just making them figure it out it is much better to one by one stick their beaks into the water so that they know where the water is. While doing this make sure to not dunk their noses under water and look for that movement of the beak meaning that they’re drinking it. Over the next few hours check to make sure that the chicks are going back for both food and water. And every few days sprinkle some grit into their food. If you don’t know grit is sort of a rock type substance that helps them digest and break down food. In other words chicks sort of use grit instead of teeth. At some age the chicks will start to try to jump out of the brooder box. At this point put a mesh coverage over it so that the chickens can’t jump out. There is not necessarily an exact age in which they start this but it’s better to start to early

-Notes

Make sure that they always get shade and warmth. Always check that they both have clean and fresh water and food. Routinely clean the chicks enclosure and ensure that they are all healthy and remain as active as they always have been. Always check that the heat lamp ( if you have one) is secure. Make sure that there are no shavings in the water and food. 

WEEK 2-3

In week 2-3 you can start introducing them to the outdoors.

-Supplies

• Chick outdoor pen
• Any sort of mesh or hardware cloth cover
• Some sort of way to create shade
• Water holder
• Food holder

-Setting up

Do the same things as previously except outside and only with water and food. Make Sure to provide both warmth and shade. 

The first couple times you put the chicks outside, keep a close eye on them for any reactions. Allergies or for any predators. If you have any pets, keep them away from the chicks. In Fact always try to keep pets away from the chicks. Still continue the same routine of giving the chicks food and fresh water and sprinkling in grit now and then. Make sure that the ground is level and the food or water is not spilling. AND DO NOT EVER LEAVE YOUR CHICKS ALONE AT NIGHT!!!!! You honestly shouldn’t keep them outside at night even if you were with them the whole time. Now that I think about it, you shouldn’t keep the chicks outside for too long anyway…..Make sure that when you put them back inside that you move the food and water as well as turning the heat lamp and warm brooder back on.

-Notes

Make sure that they always get shade and warmth. Always check that they both have clean and fresh water and food. And make sure that the mesh cover is securely on. Always try to keep an eye on the chicks and bring the chicks inside when it gets dark then bring them back out the next day.

WEEK 4-5

In week 4-5 start keeping the chicks outside for longer periods of time

-Supplies

• Chick outdoor pen
• Any sort of mesh or hardware cloth cover
• Some sort of way to create shade
• Water holder
• Food holder

(Same as last time)

At this point you can keep the chicks outside for longer. In Fact if the weather permits you can keep them outdoors all day and take them in only at night.  75-80 F is about the temperature that is needed. As always, keep an eye on the chicks and make sure that the mesh cover is on securely, even though this does help prevent the chicks from falling out it does not help the chicks from any predators. Including any pets you have…. I’m talking to all you dog and cat owners out there!!!! And at this point it is crucial that you DON’T LEAVE YOU CHICKS OUTSIDE UNLESS YOU WANT THEM TO MEET THEIR DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!! Sorry…

Anyway…. It’s very important that you don’t keep them outside at night. First of all the temperature, It’s freezing outside at night. At least in most places it is.

If you think “hey how about a warm brooder outside!!” Uh, no. That would not help for many reasons. Plus there are many predators outside waiting for you chicks to be….uhh… Yeah….. that. And if you think to yourself that you can just camp outside? I know that you’d rather not. Which is exactly why you can’t leave you chicks out at night!!!! Very simple.

-Notes

Clean their water about every 3-4 days now and always keep an eye on the chicks. And fun fact you should clean your chicks cage less in the beginning than in the end. As in the first couple days you only have to clean every couple days. But, that depends on how many chicks you have. But, when they grow older you have to clean their cage almost every day!!!

WEEK 5-6

In week 5-6 you start introducing the chicks to the hens.

-Supplies

• Chick outdoor pen
• Any sort of mesh or hardware cloth cover
• Some sort of way to create shade
• Water holder
• Food holder

(Same as last time)

This is when you start introducing the chicks to the hens as well as having them stay outside the whole time!!!!! But, this is only a step to be taken if you have other hens. Start out by placing the pen inside the hen’s enclosure. The hens may want to bully the chicks which is why you introduce them slowly. Then you can start putting them inside where the hens can sleep. This way they are spending all their time with the hens. Then you can start opening the door to the pen so that the chicks can get in and out but the hens can’t. At some point let them free range with the hens but always leave a place for the chicks to hide if they are bullied by the hens. Make sure to keep their food separate. This is because they still eat different kinds of food. Chicks have food high in protein while hens have food high in calcium.

-Notes

 Watch the chicks reaction with the hens and how the hens treat the chicks. Make sure that the chicks always have a place to hide when they’re scared. But, remember that small fights are quite common.

WEEK “I don’t know what to do now”

In week “I don’t know what to do now” you decide what you’re going to do now. You have a couple choices but the two most common are to keep them forever and ever or to give them away to a farm willing to take the chicks. But if you decide to keep the chicks and have never kept chickENS (not chicks chickENS) you need to consider some things. Including if you’re even allowed to keep chickens in your backyard and if you have the space. Like you need a lot of space. By a lot I mean A LOT!!!! Plus you need to consider the commitment of having chickens. You also need to pay lots of cash (dough, moolah, or just money. Whatever you call it, you need a lot!!!) Make sure that you consider what creatures lurk in the shadows… Useful tip when you’re building a chicken coop instead of using chicken wire use hardware cloth, it keeps the predators from coming in while chicken wire has a pretty big chance of creatures coming in. Predators or food stealers. So now its up to you to decide what to do with your chicks now.

As you know I can’t possibly tell you EVERYTHING there to know about raising chicks so I encourage you to research as much as you can before keeping chicks. Hope you convince your parents soon to keep chickens and good luck with that poop!!!!!

Thank you KITTEN7894 for the idea for this blog post!!! Keep the ideas coming!!!