Emily Carter
Raising chickens is a rewarding experience, but it requires careful planning and hard work. Chicks are delicate and need special care to survive and grow into healthy adults. This care begins before the chicks arrive, with the preparation of a brooder area, a draft-free and warm environment with ample space, food, and water. Upon arrival, chicks must be introduced to water first, and then food. In the first few weeks, chicks require a heat lamp to maintain a temperature of 90–92°F (33°C), which can be reduced by 5°F each week. As they mature, their nutritional needs change, and their environment must be regularly cleaned and adjusted to accommodate their growth. Integration with older chickens must be carefully managed to avoid conflict and bullying.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brooder area | Warm, safe, and draft-free |
| Temperature | 92°F (33°C) at 2 inches above the floor for the first 6 weeks, then reduce by 5°F per week until they are 6 weeks old |
| Brooder lamp | Red |
| Space | 3 to 4 square feet per chick for the first two weeks, 1.5 square feet of floor space in a coop, or about 8 square feet in an outside run or chicken yard |
| Water | Room temperature, available at all times |
| Feeding | "Starter" feeds, medicated or non-medicated |
| Pecking | Monitor to prevent pecking and cannibalism |
| Flooring | Pine shavings, rice or oat hulls, finely ground corn cob, or wood chips other than cedar |
| Age of transition to outdoor coop | Between 6 and 8 weeks old |
| Integration | Gradual integration to minimize stress and conflict |
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What You'll Learn
Brooding and hatching
Brooding is when a hen decides she wants to be a mother and starts sitting on her eggs to incubate them. The state of being broody is controlled by instinct, hormones, and lighting conditions. The hen will lay or steal enough eggs to make a giant clutch, and she will peck out the feathers on her breast to make a brood patch that allows for skin-to-egg contact, which warms the eggs. Brooding typically occurs in the spring, when longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures trigger the instinct to brood.
Broody hens need a private, quiet, predator-proof space to brood, and a dark, cozy spot for the eggs. A brooding pen should be approximately 3 feet by 4 feet in size, with space for a nesting area, and enough space for the hen to stretch her legs and relieve herself away from her nest. Brooding hens should be given access to food and water, and the nesting area should be regularly stocked with fresh pine shavings or straw.
Hatching typically occurs after 21 days. In the first few days after hatching, chicks need to be kept warm, and given access to water and food. A brooder lamp can be used to keep the temperature at 92°F (33°C) at 2 inches above the floor, reducing pecking and cannibalism among chicks. After the first 48 hours, chicks need 8 hours of darkness per day to set their sleeping clock.
Some people prefer to use an incubator for hatching, but this requires diligent monitoring. Broody hens handle all of the hatching details from humidity to temperature and egg-turning, and they can raise the chicks once they hatch. Chicks raised by a mother hen learn how to care for themselves, how to forage, and how to dust more quickly, and they tend to have stronger survival instincts.
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Feeding and nutrition
When it comes to feeding and nutrition for young chicks, there are several important considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, it is crucial to provide them with a constant and easily accessible source of fresh, quality water. Dehydration can be a serious issue for chicks, especially after hatching or upon arrival at their new home, so it is essential to encourage them to drink as soon as they arrive by dipping their beaks in the water. You can also add a small amount of sugar to the water to boost their energy levels if they appear lethargic. Additionally, one teaspoon of chick-specific antibiotic powder can be added to the water if the chicks seem unwell.
In terms of feed, it is recommended to provide "starter" feeds specifically formulated for chicks from the day they arrive until they are about 18 weeks old. This feed can be scattered on newspaper to teach them how to eat, and fine grit can be added to the feed in a 1:10 ratio. As chicks mature, their nutritional needs change, so at 18 weeks, their feed should be adjusted to meet their evolving needs. For example, layer chicks will need a higher-calcium diet when they start laying eggs, usually around 18 to 20 weeks of age. For meat birds and mixed flocks, a complete feed with 20% protein is recommended from the first day through adulthood.
It is important to ensure that feeders and waterers are kept clean and refilled daily, and their height should be raised as the chicks grow so that they remain level with the birds' backs. Additionally, providing adequate space for feeding is crucial, with a recommended minimum of 4 linear inches of feeder space for each bird. For every 25 chicks, two 1-quart waterers should be provided, placed outside the comfort zone of the heat lamp to prevent the water from becoming too warm.
If you free-range your hens or supplement their diet, it is beneficial to offer a hopper of grit to help them grind up grains and plant matter, as well as a source of calcium such as ground oyster shells to prevent soft-shelled eggs.
Overall, providing proper nutrition and ensuring consistent access to food and water are vital for the health and development of young chicks, helping them grow into strong and productive adult chickens.
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Bonding and integration
One effective technique for integrating new chicks is the playpen method. This involves creating a separate enclosure for the young chicks in close proximity to the existing flock. This setup allows for gradual familiarisation without direct contact, reducing the risk of bullying or aggression. It is important to ensure that the enclosure is spacious, as overcrowding can lead to picking and pecking behaviours.
When integrating older chickens with younger chicks, a careful and gradual approach is necessary. Introducing the young chicks to the outdoor coop around 6 to 8 weeks of age is recommended. During this transition, it is crucial to monitor the young chicks' adjustment, ensuring they have adequate heat, access to the coop, and protection from potential predators.
If you intend to raise chicks yourself, you can expect them to form a closer bond with you and become more accustomed to your presence and voice. This human-raised approach may result in friendlier and more attached chicks, but it is important to note that they may take longer to acquire typical chicken behaviours and skills.
To facilitate bonding and integration, it is essential to provide a clean, comfortable, and safe environment for your chicks. This includes ensuring proper flooring, maintaining the ideal temperature with a heat lamp, and providing continuous lighting for the first 48 hours, followed by 8 hours of darkness per day to regulate their sleep patterns. Additionally, access to water and feed is critical, with specific recommendations for room-temperature water and starter feeds.
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Housing and environment
As chickens grow, they will need more space. Grown chickens need at least 1.5 square feet of floor space in a coop, or about 8 square feet in an outside run or chicken yard. Outdoor runs should have 8–10 square feet of space per hen and access to shelter. Permanent runs should have fencing on all sides to prevent predators from gaining access, and it may be worth digging the fencing partially underground to keep out burrowing animals. Mobile runs are another option for small spaces, allowing chickens to explore new areas while remaining protected.
Chicken coops should be cleaned regularly to maintain a healthy environment. The coop and outdoor area should be cleaned weekly or as needed to control manure and odour buildup. Feeders and waterers should be regularly cleaned and disinfected. It is also recommended to conduct a thorough cleaning at least once a year, usually in the spring, and before introducing new birds to the area. A fall cleaning can also help with mite control during winter.
In addition to a clean and safe environment, it is important to provide chickens with opportunities to explore and engage in natural behaviours. Chickens benefit from free-ranging, which allows them to forage for insects, plants, and natural grit, enriching their diet and promoting their physical and mental well-being. However, free-ranging also comes with risks, including predators and the danger of being struck by cars. Therefore, it is important to provide a controlled environment, such as a run or a moveable shelter, to balance exploration and safety.
Finally, it is worth noting that chickens are social animals and should be kept in flocks. They establish hierarchies and engage in social behaviours such as dust bathing and foraging, which are enriched when they have companions. When introducing new chickens to an existing flock, it is important to do so carefully to avoid bullying and aggression. One technique is the playpen method, where new chickens are placed in a separate enclosure close to the existing flock, allowing them to become familiar with each other while having space to grow and avoid conflict.
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Health and hygiene
Hens and chicks require a clean and safe environment to stay healthy and happy. Before the chicks arrive, it is important to set up a brooder area, a contained space that provides a warm and safe environment for the chicks to grow. This area should be draft-free and have a bedding of pine or wood shavings that is 3 to 4 inches deep to keep the space dry, warm and odour-free. The bedding should be replaced daily, especially around waterers.
To maintain hygiene, it is essential to provide fresh, clean water at all times. The waterers and feeders should be cleaned and refilled daily, and their height should be raised as the chicks grow. Chicks should be fed a high-protein diet, with options such as chick starter, turkey starter or game bird starter feed. It is important to choose a feed that includes amino acids, prebiotics, probiotics, yeast, vitamins and minerals to support their overall health and development.
To prevent parasites and other health issues, regular inspections for signs of mites, lice and worms are necessary. Symptoms to look out for include feather loss, weight loss, lethargy and pale combs. Dust baths are an enjoyable way for chickens to remove dirt and pests from their feathers, and they also help keep parasites at bay. Additionally, routine health checks should be conducted to detect early signs of illness by inspecting feathers, combs, eyes and behaviour.
Chickens should have access to an outdoor run or pen, providing them with fresh air, sunlight and the ability to forage for insects and plants. This outdoor space should be escape-proof and predator-proof to ensure the chickens' safety. Spending time outside also allows chickens to absorb UV light, aiding in vitamin D production and calcium absorption for healthy egg-laying.
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Frequently asked questions
It is best to leave the hatching and rearing of chicks to the mother hen, as this is the most natural and least labour-intensive way. However, if you want your chicks to be accustomed to you, you can raise them yourself. In the first few weeks, they will need a brooder area with a heat lamp to maintain a temperature of 90-92°F (33°C). They will also need constant access to water and food.
A brooder area is a contained space that provides a warm and safe environment for chicks. It should be draft-free and have at least 3 to 4 square feet of space per chick. You can buy a brooder or make your own.
Young chicks will require "starter" feeds, which can be bought from local feed stores. You can scatter the feed on newspaper to teach them how to eat. After the first 18 weeks, you will need to transition to a higher-calcium feed.
You can use the playpen method, where you make a new enclosure for the young chicks that is close enough to the existing birds for them to become familiar with each other. This will also give the young chicks time to grow bigger so that they can defend themselves if there is any bullying.
Chicks are delicate and need special care to survive and grow into healthy adults. In the first few weeks, check their bottoms for "pasty butts", which is when their vents are clogged with dried poop. If this happens, gently clean it with a washcloth or cotton swab.
