How to best prepare the nest?
Baby chicks are “10s” when it comes to cuteness, but they are more than just eye-candy. For the first months of their lives, they need TLC. Chickie-pro Megan Raff of Dare 2 Dream Farms gives us the run-down on how to get these little peeps to full-feathered glory.
How to Care for Baby Chicks
Why This Matters:
- Getting chicks from the right place can make all the difference.
- Keeping your baby chicks clean and warm is key for keeping them grow into healthy, strong hens.
- If you’ve got kids, this is a great way to get them fired-up about chicken keeping. Get ‘em young, right? 😉
Ready to Try?
- Watch the episode for all the chickie-tips to keep them comfy-cozy.
- Check out the previous episodes in this series to find out about the awesome health benefits of farm-raised eggs, and how chicks help you both compost and garden.
- McMurray’s Hatchery: If you want 25 chicks or more (or can divvy up with neighbors), this is a great resource for 1-day-old baby chicks.
- My Pet Chicken does day-old baby chicks and has a minimum quantity of just 3. Plus they’ve got a lot of cool-n-unusual breeds.
- Dare to Dream Farms has great tips on how to get everything set up for your chicks as well as some brooders that you can buy.
A Deeper Dig
Hard-core homesteader down for some DIY? Find the incubators and instructions you need to hatch your own chicks at Brinsea.com.
On a Personal Note
This is my 4th time getting baby chicks – and maybe it’s like kids; they are as special as my first (especially my Lavender Orpingtons! Been wanting that breed for years!)
Our Fresh Pick
You’ll quickly get addicted to your baby chicks and want to watch them all the time, but since we DO need to leave the house from time to time, get this app to watch “chicken TV” even when on the go. (It’s free!)
Did You Know?
Interacting with your chicks can release the feel-good hormone oxytocin?
Leave a comment or question!