Whether it's your first try, or just an annual event, bringing home chicks can be a rewarding, fun, and exciting experience. Chicks are delicate and require extra care, especially during their first few weeks of life.

A Place To Sleep – Brooder

Just like you, your new feathered friends need a warm and comfortable place to sleep. Make sure to set up your brooder before you bring the birds home. The purpose of a brooder is to keep chicks warm as they cannot regulate their body temperature until they are 12-14 days old. Temperature fluctuations also stress out young birds.

There is no right or wrong way to set up your brooder; you can use a cardboard box, a plastic tub, section off some floor space, or whatever works for your space. If you're unsure, a safe bet is this backyard brooder box. The essential elements of a brooder include

• Keep it draft-free
• Keep it at a consistent temperature
• Provide adequate space for the chicks

If supplemental heat must be used, ensure the heat source can be used safely. Heat lamps and heat bulbs are a great and easy-to-use source of supplemental heat for young chicks. Set up your brooder at least 24 hours before you plan to introduce chicks so you can ensure the environmental temperature is stabilized and that any moisture from bedding can dissipate.

Successful Brooder Tips

• Large enough for 1/2-1 square foot of space per chick
• Use at least 3"-4" of bedding that is absorbent & odor-free. Pinewood shavings or chopped straw work best
• Use a heat lamp to keep temperatures 92°-95° F. Keep heat lamps securely fastened to prevent them from falling & catching the bedding on fire

Good Management Tips

Now that you have your brooder set up and your chicks brought home, you want to do what it takes to help your young flock grow and thrive. Make sure to observe your chicks and their environment daily, if not several times a day (we all know you'll be checking on them all the time, just to peak!) to make sure they are healthy and comfortable. This allows you to make sure they have enough feed and water, as this is the single most important thing you can do.

Observe their behavior - watch how close they are to the heat lamp. If your brooder space is too cold, they will huddle together under the heat lamp; on the other side, if it is too warm, they will be as far from the lamp as possible. Make sure to provide clean and fresh water and always place feeders and waterers away from the heat lamp. Clean the waterer daily and use a shallow waterer to make access easier for small chicks. Another great waterer option is our Hanging Tube Waterers, exclusive to QC Supply, these waterers will allow you to nipple-train your flock to get fresh and clean water.

Your flock should have unlimited access to fresh chick starter feed. Check with your local farm and ranch store to see what is available, as there are many options to choose from. You may also want to consider a medicated feed that protects against coccidiosis. As chicks grow and develop, their nutritional needs change; ensuring the chicks are on the appropriate feed at the appropriate age is important.

The temperature in your brooder environment should be lowered by 5° F each week until the space is at 55° F or the same temperature as in the natural environment. Good biosecurity is also important when raising chickens. Make sure to wash your hands before and after handling chicks, not eating or drinking around your birds, limit visitors, and regularly clean and disinfect feeders and waterers. 

Check out our full selection of poultry and game bird products here. We offer everything from waterers and feeders to heat lamps and nesting box supplies.

By following these simple tips, your chicks will be off to a great start and should make a great addition to your homestead. Do you have any tried-and-true tips or tricks you've used with your own flock? Drop a comment below. 

Need further assistance? Give our experts a call today at 888-433-5275.