How to Care for a Pet Chick

Few can resist the charm of a cute, fluffy chick, whether they seek great-tasting organic eggs or are just looking for a low-maintenance backyard pet. Chicks need safe shelter, food, water, light and heat to thrive, so before you decide to raise a chicken, here are more specifics about caring for the little fuzzball.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard box or small animal cage
  • Heat lamp or desk lamp with reflector
  • Pine shavings
  • Plastic or galvanized steel chick feeder
  • Plastic or galvanized steel chick waterer
  • Chicken starter feed
  • Sand or parakeet gravel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Keep your chick in a rabbit-sized cage or cardboard box (also called a "brooder") for the first couple of months.

    • 2

      Place the brooder in a warm, draft- and predator-free area. If you are using a cage, consider placing cardboard around the outside to prevent the chick from catching a chill.

    • 3

      Heat the brooder with a 100-watt light bulb and reflector or an actual heat lamp. Temperatures should be 95 to 100 degrees F for the first week, decreasing by 5 degrees F each week thereafter until the chick develops feathers (5 to 8 weeks old).

    • 4

      Cover the bottom of the brooder with 1 inch of fresh pine shavings. Avoid using newspaper for flooring as wet ink can become dangerously slick, causing the chick to fall and injure its already-fragile legs.

    • 5

      Change the bedding material every 2 to 4 days. Chicks are excessive poopers, and keeping bedding clean protects them from a number of diseases caused by unsanitary surroundings.

    • 6

      Provide clean, fresh water for your chick, as they drink frequently. You can purchase a chick waterer at a pet shop or feed/farm supply store. Avoid using a bowl of water because they poop in it and are also in danger of drowning.

    • 7

      Provide "chick starter" feed, the sole feed source for your chick's first two months. Place it in a chick feeder designed to keep poop out and food in.

    • 8

      Sprinkle sand or parakeet gravel on their food (as if you are salting it). Chicks lack the teeth necessary to grind their food, so the grit helps with digestion.

    • 9

      Play gently with your chick, allowing it to explore in a controlled environment. Chicks enjoy investigating and playing with their owners, but remember they can quickly become cold and tired. Limit playtime to short bouts.

    • 10

      Offer your chick an occasional treat--bread, bugs, worms or table scraps. Think of this as dessert, though, not the chick's main sustenance.

    • 11

      Increase your chick's living space as it grows. Provide at least 9 to 12 square inches of space by the time it is 4 weeks old.

    • 12

      Learn more about how to care for your chick at Mypetchicken.com (see Resources below).