Check List of Needs for a Baby Chicken

Raising baby chicks is a rewarding experience for people of all ages. Chickens come in a variety of colors, sizes and types such as the medium-sized Rhode Island red chickens, known as excellent egg layers, to the gentle silkie bantam chickens with their soft fur-like feathers. All baby chickens have the same basic care needs during their first four weeks of life.

  1. Food

    • Go to your local livestock feed store to purchase a specially processed grain mash commonly called chicken starter. This product provides the necessary combination of carbohydrates, protein and fat needed for healthy chick growth. If you live in an urban area with no feed stores close by, consider ordering chicken starter over the Internet. The simplest way to feed baby chicks is to keep a plate, or small bowl, filled with the grain mash in their cage and allow the chicks to eat freely. They do not overeat. Change the food daily.

    Water

    • Fresh water is essential to the health of baby chicks. Never allow the water bowl to go dry. Clean and refill the water bowl daily. To prevent the chicks from drowning, place prewashed pebbles or marbles in the bottom of the bowl, and keep the water level shallow. Watering containers made especially for baby chicks are another option and are found at feed stores. Elevating the water container on a small block helps keep the water clean.

    Grit

    • Tiny rocks or gravel grit is provided near the food dish. Chickens eat the gravel, which assists with the digestion of the grains. Grit for birds is purchased at the grocery store in the pet section, or at the feed store.

    Cage Habitat

    • During the first four weeks of a baby chick's life, it needs a shallow cardboard or wooden box with a screen or metal mesh lid. Place the cage in a draft-free area, preferably indoors such as a home, barn or garage. Cover the bottom of the cage with pine shavings or shredded newspaper about 1 inch deep to provide a warm, nest-like material. Change daily.

    Warmth

    • Keep the baby chicks' cage area at a constant temperature of 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week, lowering it by 5 degrees each week until the chicks are four weeks old to ensure good health and comfort. A 250-watt light bulb hung above the cage lid on one end of the cage provides sufficient heat and allows the chickens to move away from the heat if desired. When the chicks reach 4 weeks of age, their feathers provide ample warmth and they are ready to move into an outdoor chicken coop with shelter.