Baby chicks often are seen for sale at feed and farm supply stores and their cuteness can be very hard to resist. However, once chicks are brought home, people often are at a loss over what to do with him. By educating yourself on care for your chicks, you will soon have happy, healthy full-grown chickens. Chicks are not difficult to care for although they require some initial expense and set up.
Instructions
1. Purchase a pre-made brooder from a farm supply store or make your own using a wire cage or sturdy box. Make sure there is enough room for all chicks to move around without being overcrowded. Line the brooder with newspaper or wood chips that are not made of cedar.
2. Set up the heat lamp over the middle of the brooder. Make sure it is not too close to prevent overheating. A heat source that is too far away will cause the chicks to crowd under it for warmth. If the heat source is at the right distance, chicks will freely roam the brooder.
3. Set up the water container and fill it with fresh, clean water. The container needs to be shallow enough for the chicks to drink from easily. Most feed stores sell containers that are specifically for chicks.
4. Gently dip the beaks of the new chicks into the water to show them drink. They will most likely already know how, this is just a precaution since some chicks are sold very young.
5. Use a feed that is labeled as a starter seed for chicks. This is all the chicks will need for the first eight weeks, after that they can be switched to normal chicken feed. Scatter the feed across the floor and watch them carefully to make sure they are eating normally.
6. Keep the chicks supplied with fresh food and water at all times. Once feeding has been well established, begin putting feed in a chicken feeder. The feeder will need to be large enough to have room for all the chicks at one time.
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