Bringing Home Baby Chicks

My how things have changed for me over the last 3 years.  I've raised 4 groups of baby chicks and my methods through trail and error have become much more simple.  As mentioned in my original post - I was constantly fretting about the first chicks I ever purchased.  Always double checking the temperature, always picking them up and poo-pooing over them.  The last group of 4 I brought home were already 2 weeks old when I purchased them.  They went straight into the grow-out coop with no heat, it was late May so the days were in the 50's and the nights were in the 30s and 40s their first week home.  They were fine.  They adjusted well and are doing great! 

When bringing 1 to 2 day old baby chicks home I keep them in the same brooder I used with my first chicks, but I've modified the sides so instead of them being open (it is an old wire rabbit hutch on legs with wheels - the wire openings on the cage bottom and sides are very thin, maybe 1/2 inch width.) I have wrapped it in plastic so that dirt, poop, food and water cannot be kicked out the sides.  I also have moved away from using pine bedding to using Puppy Piddle Pads.  These are wonderful!  No more mess on the floor, no more pine shavings all over, no more dust!!  The bottom of the brooder is the size of 2 and 1/2 piddle pads.  I spread them out absorbent side up and hold them in place by tucking the edges through the wire and placing the feed tray and water in strategic areas.  This brooder comfortably holds 4 - 6 chicks until they are 4 - 6 wks old.  From 1 - 2 days old until 7 - 8 days old I change the piddle pads twice.  After they're a week old the pads will need changed every day or two. 

For heating I no longer use a heat lamp after the chicks are a week old.  I use a heating pad - the one I purchased is to place under seedlings.  Since they are already in a warm house - (aprox 70 degrees) the added 10 degrees from the pad is perfect.  The pad is 1/2 the size of the brooder and fits under the piddle pads with ease.  I've found they only stay on it when they're sleeping.

Additionally the brooder has 3 roosts at various heights. 

On warm days (depending on the season) from the time they are 1 week old I'll take the entire brooder, since its easy to move due to the wheels, outdoors in a sunny protected area so the chicks can get fresh air and sunshine.  During this time I use a blanket to provide some shade so they can chose shade or sun depending on the temperature.  I also fill a medium sized black rubber dog bowl with dirt, sand and small gravel from the yard for them to take dust baths, dig around and use as grit.

Grit, Food, Water and other stuff:  I provide chick grit or bits of grit and sand and dirt from my property immediately.  They get fresh water daily in a small plastic waterer.  I put 1 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar per gallon of water in their water starting from the day I bring them home, throughout their lifetime.  I have always used a non-medicated, 100% organic, non-GMO brand of starter food.  They stay on starter for 4 - 6 weeks and then they're switched to an organic, non-GMO grower food, they will stay on the grower until they're 5 - 6 mos old.  My chicks diets are supplemented with tiny pieces of fresh herbs, meal worms (dried and live), tiny bits of green leaf lettuce and if there is grass growing outside, small bits of grass and dandelions.

Move em' Out - if the temperatures are consistently over 45 - 50 degrees during the day the chicks are moved out into the grow-out coop at 6 weeks of age with no supplemental heat.  If the weather is still cold they will move to the grow-out coop with the heating pad until it is warmer outside.  The grow-out coop is in the main coop.  They are fenced off from the other chickens but they can all see and hear each other.  After 3 to 4 weeks in the grow out coop they are allowed outside to free range (in a fenced in 1/3 acre) with the flock, on that day I remove the fencing and give the entire flock access to the entire coop.  I've never had an issue with aggression using this method.  Sometimes they'll make the decision on their own.  My most recent group of Easter Egger chicks decided to fly out of the grow-out pen earlier than I was planning and integrate themselves on their own.

The methods I use work well for me but that doesn't necessary mean they'd work well for everyone depending on your home and coop set-up.  Raising chickens is a lot like parenting, go with your gut and use whatever methods work best for you and your flock.