Raising Chicks

Raising chicks is so much fun! But the first thing you need to do is to figure out how many chickens you want. I usually recommend one chicken per family member to start out. But many others get more because they are big egg eaters or want to sell the eggs too. You need at least two chickens, since they are flock animals and need a buddy. How many you get also depends on how much space you have (which you can learn about in the "Coop and Run" posting).
I have ordered my chicks from Island Seed and Feed in the past. People can also buy chicks from local backyard breeders, just make sure they are legitimate responsible breeders.
 For the first 8 weeks, the chicks will need:
-A box. It is important to have adequate spacing and protection for the chicks while inside. For my five chicks, I used a big cardboard box that was around 4ft Lx2ft W (which could probably hold up to 12 chicks) that I divided to make a smaller space when the chicks were very small. Then over time I increased their space as they got bigger. This was so they wouldn't stray too far from the light and get cold. It is also a good idea to have some type of covering on the box so other pets can't get in and the chicks can't get out (chicken wire is good). Keep them in a room with warmth and no drafts.
-Light. You will need to get a heating lamp (like for reptiles, or any lamp that produces heat) and put it over the chicks' box so they can stay warm but without coming into contact with it. Ways to tell if there is too much heat is if the chicks are far away from the lamp and spread out when they are sleeping and ways to tell if there is not enough heat is if the chicks are huddled together directly under the lamp constantly.
-Food. The chicks will need Chick Starter Crumble (I use organic) for the first 5 months, buy in bulk. You also need a food and water feeder made especially for chicks. I would say one pair of feeders for every 10-15 chicks. Refill the water everyday with tap water. As the chicks grow bigger, you will need to raise the feeders from the ground.
-Shavings. Pine shavings are best to use as ground cover. You will need to clean out the poop and shavings every week, or so, to keep the air clean for the chicks. Pile up 2+ inches of shavings in the whole box.


Other things to know:
-Sickness. A common problem chicks get is "pasty butt". This is when poop dries on their vent (butt), making them unable to excrete the rest of the poop. Check them everyday for this. To fix this, get a warm wet cloth and gently rub or pick off the poop. Also, some chicks may get bullied, which prevents them from eating, so hold each chick everyday to make sure they are the same weight. If one is lighter, then separate it from the others and give it its own stash of food, or add another feeder. For more serious problems you can go to this site:
www.birdcareco.com/English/Arts/Breed_arts/Chick/Problems
Which you may want to read before getting your chicks to be able to spot problems before hand.
-Handling. If you want tame chickens, talk to and hold them often throughout the day to get them used to people. Hold one at a time cupping them with both hands. Don't squeeze them, they are very fragile. Always be calm and quiet. And wash your hands before and after handling them to prevent spread of disease.