Basic Needs of Chicks
Are you ready to transform your backyard into a mini-farm? If so, adding chickens could be the perfect choice for you! Spring, my favorite season, is exciting when baby animals arrive, and local feed stores and farms start offering adorable baby chicks for sale. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the essential needs of chicks to help you successfully bring home your very own feathered friends.
Embracing a homesteading lifestyle is an incredibly fulfilling journey. While it often demands hard work and dedication, the rewards are gratifying. Imagine the satisfaction of baking fresh bread, raising a diverse range of animals, and nurturing your garden brimming with vegetables and herbs. Although homesteading can present its share of challenges—like unexpected weather changes or the occasional animal health issue—the deep sense of joy and pride that comes from milking your goats, gathering fresh eggs from your hens, or simply cuddling with a docile farm animal far outweighs any difficulties you may face.
Preparing yourself emotionally for the ups and downs of an adventure in chicken-keeping is essential. Trust me, the joy of watching your chicks grow into healthy, productive hens will surpass the occasional setback. Imagine gathering those warm, farm-fresh eggs straight from your backyard; nothing quite like it!
In addition to providing delicious eggs for your table, one of the remarkable benefits of keeping chickens is their ability to help reduce food waste. Chickens are natural foragers, eagerly consuming most kitchen scraps you might otherwise discard. You can say goodbye to wasted food, contribute to your household, and promote a more sustainable lifestyle. With chickens, you’ll find yourself forging a closer connection to your food, environment, and the rhythm of farm life.
Things to Think About
There are There are over 1,000 distinct breeds of chickens globally, each with unique characteristics and qualities. In the United States alone, the American Poultry Association has cataloged more than 100 varieties, showcasing an incredible diversity within this species. Some of the most popular and well-regarded chicken breeds include the Rhode Island Red, known for its hardiness and egg-laying capabilities; Plymouth Rock, recognized for its friendly disposition and attractive feather pattern; Orpington, favored for its gentle nature and meaty build; Leghorn, celebrated for its prolific egg production; and the Silkie, adored for its unique appearance and affectionate temperament, among many others.
When considering raising chickens, it’s crucial to take into account several key factors that will influence which breed is the best match for your needs and environment:
- Purpose: Decide if you want chickens for meat, eggs, or both. Breeds like Leghorns or Rhode Island Reds are great for egg production.
- Climate: Know your local climate. Breeds like Orpingtons do well in cold, while Leghorns thrive in heat.
- Space Requirements: Assess your space. Larger breeds need more room, whereas bantam breeds can fit in tighter spaces.
- Temperament: Look into the breed’s temperament. Silkie and Plymouth Rock are docile and family-friendly, while others may be skittish.
- Interaction: If you want to handle your chickens, choose gentler breeds for a better interactive experience.
- Egg Size Preference: Consider your egg size preference. Breeds like Jersey Giants lay large eggs, while Bantams produce smaller ones.
Once you have reflected on these questions and gathered your thoughts, you can narrow down which chicken breed will suit your lifestyle and goals best. A highly recommended and informative resource for prospective chicken owners is “Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens.” This book offers comprehensive guidance on everything from selecting breeds to caring for your flock, making it an invaluable tool as you embark on your chicken-raising journey.
Our Favorite Chicken
Our favorite chicken breed is the Buff Orpington, a remarkable and beloved breed with many desirable qualities. This breed was developed by William Cook in England and arrived in the United States in 1891, quickly gaining popularity among poultry enthusiasts.
Buff Orpingtons are mainly known for their exceptionally kind and gentle temperament, making them an ideal choice for families and backyard flocks. These birds are sociable and tend to form strong bonds with their caretakers. With enough gentle interaction and time spent together, they will often allow themselves to be held, and many can become delightful “lap chickens,” enjoying the company of their human friends.
In addition to their affectionate nature, Buff Orpingtons are also skilled foragers, thriving when allowed to roam freely in a yard or pasture. Their natural ability to find food helps them maintain a healthy diet. Furthermore, hens of this breed are known for being excellent mothers, demonstrating strong nurturing instincts when raising their chicks.
Basic Set-Up
Next, you’ll need a heat lamp to provide warmth as the chicks grow. If you’re keeping the chicks where predators or the neighbor’s cat could reach them, securely place wire mesh over the top of the container. You will also need containers for water, food, and chick grit. It’s essential to clean the brooder at least once a week to help prevent disease and other issues.
When creating your brooder, remember that our goal is to minimize stress for the chicks. Keep these points in mind:
- Always have food, water, and chick grit available
- Not too hot and not too cold
- A clean and safe environment
- Enough space
#1 Not too Hot Not too Cold
Chicks require a heat lamp to stay warm while they grow. The lamp needs to be positioned approximately 18 inches above the ground and raised higher as the chicks grow. It’s essential to ensure enough space for them to move away from the heat. If chicks become too hot, they will eat less and grow more slowly. Additionally, if their body temperatures exceed 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47 degrees Celsius), it can be fatal.
We recommend using a red 250-watt infrared heat lamp to keep 25 to 100 chicks warm. The bulb’s red glow helps discourage pecking and lasts longer than a clear bulb. Since infrared lamps can get very hot, it is advisable to use a porcelain socket instead of a plastic one. A typical brooder lamp is made of porcelain and features protective wiring around the bulb to prevent contact with bedding. This design ensures safety for you and your chicks if the light falls into the bedding.
We do not use clamp lamps. Instead, we keep our brooder in the garage and hang an infrared heat lamp from the beams. An infrared heating panel is another option, although more expensive.
#2 A Clean and Safe Environment
Chicks need a bedding layer to help absorb their droppings and provide a soft, warm place to sleep. The ideal bedding options are peat moss, shredded paper, coarse sand, and straw. We have researched and spoken with various people about using wood shavings, but many have mentioned that certain types can cause respiratory issues. Therefore, we prefer to stick with the safer alternatives.
To keep the brooder safe, it is important to provide continuous light for the first 48 hours. This helps the chicks learn where their food and water are located. If the brooder receives natural light, you can turn off the artificial light during the day and allow sunlight to illuminate the space. If your heat source is a light, turn it off for at least 30 minutes each day, ideally during the warmest part of the day.
#3 Enough Space
Chicks require adequate space to thrive. It’s acceptable to start them in a small box for the first few days while they sleep frequently. However, they will need more room to grow properly as they become more active. Providing enough space not only promotes faster growth but also aids in sanitation and helps prevent boredom, which can cause them to peck at each other. A good guideline is to allocate about 6 square inches (or 40 square centimeters) of space per chick. Smaller breeds, such as Bantams, may need slightly less space.
#4 Food, Water and Grit
Having a sufficient supply of food, water, and grit at all times is crucial for a chick’s growth and health. A chick-watering base is essential when raising chicks. You can purchase different sizes, and you’ll need varying sizes as they grow. To save money, consider buying a larger water container from the start. Avoid using saucers or bowls, as chicks will step in them, leading to droppings contaminating the water. This can also cause the chicks to become wet and cold, which may result in death. Water bases help prevent these issues while ensuring the chicks have access to plenty of clean water. I recommend adding one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar per gallon of water for your chicks. The apple cider vinegar helps promote good gut health.
There are various containers available for storing feed. You can find long containers with holes on the top or gravity feeders with a base that has holes on the bottom. These designs help prevent the chicks from wasting food, keep the feed clean, and provide enough nourishment for all the chicks throughout the day. We recommend any chick feeder available at IFA, Cal-Ranch, or Tractor Supply stores. If you don’t have a store nearby, the links I provided are good alternatives.
Chicks also need chick grit. Chickens use small rocks to break down their food in their stomachs, so adult chickens will require normal grit if they are not free-ranging. Chicks do the same, but they need smaller grit than adults. We place the grit in a separate gravity feeder to ensure the chicks have 24-hour access.
Conclusion of the Basic Needs of Chicks
Now that you understand the basic needs of chicks, have fun selecting your own and creating your brooder. Raising chickens can be a fun and exciting hobby, and we hope you enjoy it!
If you’re looking for a comprehensive and hands-on guide that covers everything you need to know about chickens, I highly recommend “Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens.”
Be sure to check with your neighborhood and city regulations to find out how many chickens you are allowed to keep.
Did this post explain the basic needs of chicks? Do we need to add anything? Did you learn anything?
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