Caring for Baby Chickens

What do baby chicks need when they first come home?

Bringing home baby chicks is exciting, but young chicks require careful attention to warmth, nutrition, hygiene, and safety. Preparing their environment before they arrive will help keep them healthy and comfortable.

Baby chicks not being raised by their mother should live in a brooder during their first few weeks of life, until they are fully feathered and no longer require supplemental heat. They also need continuous access to fresh water and a nutritionally complete chick starter ration.

What is a brooder?

A brooder is a specialized enclosure designed to keep young chicks warm and safe until they’re old enough to venture out into the coop. Brooders can be made at home or purchased, and they are available in many sizes and styles.

How warm should baby chicks be kept?

During the first week of life, chicks need to be kept in an enclosure at 93°F to 95°F (34°C to 35°C). Every week after that, reduce the temperature by 5°F (3°C) as the chicks grow and develop feathers, until the brooder reaches 65°F to 70°F (18°C to 21°C).

Make sure chicks can move away from the heat source if they become too warm. Chicks huddling under the heat source may be too cold, while chicks avoiding the heat source or panting may be too hot.

What should I feed my baby chicks?

Feed a high-quality, commercially formulated “chick starter” ration as the primary diet.  From a nutritional standpoint, it is recommended to use a commercial starter ration or one formulated by a commercial breeder rather than one formulated at a feed store.

Keep baby chicks on a starter ration for the first four to eight weeks of life. You can also offer small bits of fresh vegetables and small amounts of fruit for the chicks to pick at and forage with but ensure they do not replace the balanced starter ration.

How do I provide water safely?

Chicks should have continuous access to clean, fresh water. Commercial chick watering stations are recommended because they reduce the risk of chicks becoming wet or drowning. Shallow dishes with ½-inch of water may also be used, but chicks usually defecate in these dishes and they will need continual cleaning.

Check the water several times each day because chicks will contaminate their water with bedding, food, and feces. Wash water containers regularly with soap and water and refill them whenever they become low.

What bedding should I use?

Pine shavings, straw, clean hay, and recycled paper products are the safest and most preferred bedding materials. Never use cedar shavings, as they can be a respiratory irritant. Clean out bedding daily to prevent fecal buildup and bacterial growth in the brooder or pen area. Clean the brooder thoroughly with soap and water every two to three days.

How can I tell if my chicks are healthy?

Healthy baby chicks should generally be alert, except when sleeping at night. They should be active, their eyes and nostrils should be clean and dry, and there should be no evidence of swellings on the legs or wings. Check that the vent is clean and free of dried feces (“pasty butt” or pasted vent). Keep an eye out for dried blood on the feathers or body as young chicks will pick on each other and may cause fatal injuries.

What signs of illness should I watch for?

• If there is any evidence of discharge around the eyes or nostrils, seek veterinary care promptly, as respiratory illnesses can easily spread through all the chicks. Open-mouth breathing is a sign of a life-threatening respiratory illness.
• Any swellings of the wings or feet can be a sign of an injury or bacterial infection in the joints.
• Lethargy or disinterest in food needs veterinary attention as soon as possible.

When can my chicks go outside?

Most chickens are fully feathered at six to eight weeks of age. Once fully feathered, they can tolerate normal daytime temperatures. Bring your chicks inside if nighttime temperatures go below 50°F (10°C).

Do not leave young chickens outside unattended. Young chicks are easy prey for hawks, owls, raccoons, and neighborhood dogs and cats. If you build a coop for outdoor time, it needs sturdy walls with a sturdy wire mesh that the chicks cannot stick their heads out of. Be sure to provide clean food, fresh water, shade, and protection from weather whenever chicks are outdoors.

When should my chicks see a veterinarian?

It is recommended to have baby chicks checked by a knowledgeable avian veterinarian within one week of purchase. All new chicks should be checked for intestinal parasites. If the chicks are purchased from a qualified breeder, they should have been vaccinated against Marek’s disease within the first hour of hatching. Depending on where you live, chicks may need to be vaccinated against pox virus as well.

Any sign of illness (lethargy, discharge from the eyes or nose, lameness, swellings on any body part) needs veterinary attention within 24 hours. Many diseases affecting young chicks are highly contagious to the other baby chicks as well as other poultry in the home or yard.

Some diseases, such as avian influenza, are contagious to humans. It is critical to have any chicken deaths checked out by a knowledgeable avian veterinarian or at a school of veterinary medicine. Newcastle disease is of particular importance, because it is a virus that can cause overwhelming losses in poultry production units.

The Association of Avian Veterinarians (www.aav.org) is a great place to find an avian veterinarian in your area.