Thinking of Chickens? Basic Chick Care & Hacks

Here are some things I did and did not know when starting with chicks. Here are some Chicks, Tips, and Tricks to get you started.

What eggs will you find below?

• Chick Terminology
• To Hatch or to Buy?
• What Breed Should I choose?
• Supplies you will need
• Chick Hacks!

Chick Terminology

• Straight-Run: Male or female, the gender is up to chance!
• Pullet: Female chicks that will grow into a hen
• Cockerel: Male chicks that will grow into a rooster.
• Sex (Verb): To tell the gender of a chick.

To Hatch or Buy?

The Chicken or the Egg, that is the question. Which came first? If you are thinking about getting chicks, you might ask yourself the question to hatch or buy. The pros? You get to follow along with the growth of your chicks every step of the way. If you are a beginner I would advise you to avoid this for your first chickens. It is really difficult to get right on your first try. Plus then you are investing in an incubator on top of other costs for your chicks and chicken set-ups. This is a great option and really fun. However, I would wait until you have some chickens in your yard before beginning this journey. Even with a lot of research under your belt; I don’t recommend this if it is your first time.

As a beginner, I would recommend getting some chicks from your local feed store. Chicks are pretty hardy right out of the egg, So its easier to work with them once they have hatched. This is also a good idea because your local stores will have Sexed chicks. They should be clearly labeled as a Pullet or as a Straight-Run chick. When hatching chicks you are bound to get roosters, which may be a problem for local restrictions. Other options are Craigslist. Most people will not sex their chicks in a hobby setting and you will see them mostly as Straight-Run. That is still a great option just be aware of your local restrictions. Have a plan if you get a rooster. (see my post about roosters by clicking the link)

What Breed Should I Choose?

When looking for chicks in a local setting, you will come across different breeds of chickens. Like the Cornish Cross, Orpingtons, Americaunas, etc. An important thing to determine what breeds you want is based on what you want your chicks for. Meat, Eggs, Or just as a cute pet.

Bantams or Standards: Bantams are mini chickens, while standards are anywhere from Small to GIANT depending on breed. If you are limited in space and looking for a lot of chickens, I would recommend the bantams.

Meat/Pan Fryers: You just want your chicks to be a big ole’ meal. The most popular and common breed for this is the Cornish Cross. I would not get this breed for any other purpose. Cornish Cross is purely bred for getting very big very fast. (Full size in 8 weeks fast.) If you put this chick in with a mixed flock it will get very big and outcompete for food. This breed is built for slaughter.

Dual Purpose: I want my chickens for meat and eggs, or only eggs, and I don’t mind a bigger chicken. Also maybe a cute pet also. A large portion you will find in your feed store will be dual-purpose or layers. Common Dual purpose chickens would be Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Etc. You can definitely use these as layers as well but have the option of preparing them for the table.

Layers: I want this chicken for eggs and eggs only….. and maybe to pet. These chickens can be great pet chickens with an added bonus. You will find many layers that have high numbers of eggs a year. Keep in mind those numbers will drop off after a few years, and they will vary seasonally. In winter you will get substantially fewer eggs than you will during spring/Fall. And during Summer if it gets very VERY hot in your area they will lay less. You will probably need to take precautions with your chickens and they may skip laying during extreme heat. (Affecting their little feathery souls.) The most popular breed used as a layer is definitely the leghorns. Typically Layers will go broody less often than other breeds.

Ornamental: I want this chicken because it is so stinkin’ cute or pretty. (Maybe an occasional egg is an added bonus.) I think the most common ornamental you might find is going to be a Polish or a Silky chicken. These breeds are usually less of a layer and more of a fun addition to any flock. They can be gorgeous and fun. They can potentially require special care depending on your weather. Sometimes an ornamental can become the bottom of your flock’s pecking order because they have so many funky feathers. They may impact its ability to see or move in the same capacity as other chickens. Some of these may require special care and I would not recommend these for a first-timer.

Knowing more about different types now you can determine what ones you want. Another thing to consider is the options available locally. If you notice a lot of people have the same breeds locally, that is a good sign. Popular breeds for the locals are usually good for your area. If you are looking at them mostly as pets, I would look at more docile breeds, like Orpingtons, or Cochins. Silkies are also a great idea, just be careful by providing good shelter. (Don’t let them get wet and don’t feed them after midnight *ba-dum-tss).

Supplies You Will Need

• Heat Source
  • Avoid heat lamps if you can, they pose a fire hazard. Alternatively, you can use a heat plate that does not get as hot. This provides a cute little place your chicks can rest and stay warm. It’s too low If they don’t want to be under it, or they may stick to the sides. You will know it’s too cold if they chirp loudly. Also If they are huddled very close or piling on top of each other to get to the heat source. These are adjustable for a reason. I kept mine at an angle so they had a choice to be closer or farther away from the heat. Be aware that may not work so well with a lot of chicks. You will need to provide more heat plates to accommodate more chicks.
• Brooder
  • They need a place to be. You cant expect a bunch of chicks to stay in a small container meant for travel. I learned the hard way that pine shavings go FLYING around the room. Don’t keep your chicks in a brooder with open sides. I modified a dog crate to hold my chicks. It was great, but I had to put cardboard along the sides. Those little balls of cuteness still got some shavings all over the room. Next time I will be building a better brooder- lesson learned. You can use all sorts of things as a brooder. There are tons of examples out there on how to build your own.
• Bedding
  • I used pine shavings for my first chicks, after some paper towels for about a week. I learned that they poop a lot and fast. I was cleaning it SOOOO often to avoid a buildup of smell. I’ve decided I will try Sand next time because it’s supposed to be easier to clean. I will definitely post an update on how the sand goes in a brooder.
• Food & Water
  • you will definitely need a food and water container. If you use Pine Shavings you will definitely want one that is raised. You may use a grid protector over the shavings to keep them out of the water. If not you will be changing that water more than daily. I would also recommend getting ones that have pretty decent storage. Because a gallon-size waterer would be nice, and a feeder to match in size 5-7lb. Make sure however you place it, the chicks cannot get into the top of the feeder. It will be easier to maintain if they cant poop in their feeder or water from the top. You want to have a good Starter chick feed from your local farm/feed store. If you are not Large scale farming I would recommend avoiding medicated chick feed.
• Chick Grit
  • I learned that they love grit. They eat it naturally with their food, and there are definitely opinions on when to introduce grit to chicks. A general rule of thumb seems to be whenever you introduce any foods other than their chick feed. I provide Grit as soon as they get home. I like them to have the option, and they instinctually know when to eat it.

Chick Hacks!

Alright, The best tips and tricks I’ve discovered so far! I would try and get a waterer and feeder that are larger, so you don’t have to change it as often. Remember to still check them DAILY at a minimum to make sure they aren’t getting poop in their food/water supply. This can cause other problems if they eat that-Yuck. You can keep the chicks off the water if you make sure it’s uncomfortable for them to do so.

• Use a chick electrolyte and vitamin mix in their water. I also add a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar per gallon because It only has benefits to offer. (No negatives outside of the smell if you get it on your hands and don’t like it like me.) Most of these are for a gallon of water, and I would just mix it into a gallon and use that for filling or topping off your water.
• Use treats for bonding. As soon as you get chicks, they want food. Treats are a good option to get them to be more comfortable with you. Think of yourself as this giant who comes in every day. These guys are tiny, I could only imagine what they think we are and my immediate vision is the Iron Giant. It makes it easier to check the chicks for pasty butt (which is easy to fix). Plus they are ADORABLE who doesnt want to hold some chicks? (Unless you are eating them I mean I would avoid bonding too much if I knew I would eat them).
• Keep Shavings out of the water. you can use a Mesh frame to prevent kicked-up shavings from getting into their water. LIFE CHANGER. I can’t tell you how many times I would come in, and the chicks had kicked the shavings into their water. I would recommend making a small frame to fit inside your brooder. You could use an old frame you have laying around or from the store. Place hardware mesh over the top of it and staple it down to keep the shavings from flying into the water. You just want it to be enough space to cover where the water and feeder will be. There is a video here on how to make one that I think does a good job. Keep in mind if you do not have the tools there might be things you have around the house. You can Hang the feed and water from the top. Either by using a hanger for it or maybe even some rope you already have. Know this isn’t a guaranteed fix, BUT this will definitely help. You should still check in on your chick’s feeder and waterer often.