How to Start Raising Baby Chickens

Throughout history, families have raised chickens in their backyards. Then and now, chicken owners raise these creatures for their nutritious eggs, strong personalities, pest control (they're free range and will eat almost any pesky critter), compost creating abilities, and the little maintenance they require. If you're thinking of raising some baby chickens, there are several things to take into consideration to make it a nurturing experience for you and your feathered friends.

Things You'll Need

  • Garage, basement, shop, or a draft-free area
  • Cardboard box or kiddie swimming pool (must have 2 square feet of room per chick)
  • 250-watt infrared heat lamp
  • Pine shavings (enough to spread 1 inch thick on floor of box or pool)
  • Chicken waterer
  • Baby chick feeder
  • Feed
  • Sand, parakeet gravel or canary gravel
  • Deer netting or chicken wire
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Instructions

  1. Preparing the Living Space

    • 1

      Until 4 to 5 weeks of age, keep chicks in a garage, work room, or basement. If these rooms are not available, prepare a room by covering all the surfaces. Chicks scratch their bedding, and there will be dust and other mess around, so you don't want them in the middle of your living room.

    • 2

      For the brooder (baby chick house), poke holes in a cardboard box big enough to provide 2 square feet of room per chick. A kiddie pool works for a brooder as well.

    • 3

      Place the heating lamp in the center of the chick house so that it heats the entire living area. Make sure it is off the ground. Keeping it at different heights will vary the temperature, so test this out before you bring the chicks home. If the lamp is too hot, the chicks will go toward the edge of the brooder. If they're all under the lamp, you know that they are cold. If they are milling about freely, the temperature is adequate.

    • 4

      Spread a 1-inch thick layer of pine needles on the floor of the brooder.

    • 5

      Place the chicken waterer in the brooder.

    • 6

      Place a baby feeder in the brooder.

    • 7

      Cut a piece of deer netting or chicken wire to place over the brooder. This will prevent chicks from flying out.

    Obtaining and Caring for the Chicks

    • 8

      Visit your local feed store or search online for "day old chicks" for hatcheries that send chicks through the mail. If you wish to hatch the chicks from eggs, search "hatching eggs" or inquire at your local feed store or breeder.

    • 9

      If you ordered the chicks online, pick them up as soon as they arrive at the post office. They need immediate care and attention.

    • 10

      Place the chicks gently in the brooder. If there is one that can't find water, pick her up and place her beak in the water (again, gently). This should be enough for them to learn how to get to the water. Do not feed them with a syringe, as it can easily cause drowning.

    • 11

      Change the bedding at least once a week. It can be used as compost.

    • 12

      Each week, reduce the heat 5 degrees. The chicks need less as time goes by. Make sure the temperature varies within the brooder so smaller chicks can get more heat.

    • 13

      At age 2 to 3 weeks, outside time is good for the chicks. Be sure it is warm outside (not too hot), not windy and that the chicks have access to water and shade. Be sure your netting is adequate. They are very likely to fly around at this age. At 4 to 5 weeks, they are ready to be outside all the time.