New Chick Checklist,
Tips & More...

A HOME FOR YOUR CHICKS

Brooder (homemade or store-bought large enough to have a warm and cool side)
Heat Source (chicks will need 95° the first week then decreased by 5° each week until fully feathered)
- Brooder plate (safer) or
- Heat lamp (please make sure you secure it tightly not just the clamp. Your chickens will start to jump and fly sooner than you think.
Small thermometer to check temp in brooder
- If they are huddled together, they are usually cold.
- If they are far away from the heat source, they are too hot.
- They will need a warm and cool side of the brooder so they can choose.

FOOD FOR YOUR CHICKS

Chick starter feed (either medicated or non-medicated) Chick starter is a smaller grind or crumble that is small enough for small chicks to digest.
- If you choose medicated feed, understand it only helps prevent coccidiosis which is found in the soil and chickens will become immune to it as the become adults. Also, the medication works by blocking thiamine, which is needed for the bacteria that cause coccidiosis to multiply. Please do not give vitamins in the water during this treatment because of this. Do provide vitamins after the treatment because while it was blocking them from the bacteria it was also blocking them from your chicks.
- If using non-medicated feed keep a close watch on any bloody stool as this can indicate coccidiosis and will need to be treated immediately with amprolium. Coccidiosis can kill chicks quickly. Because this is commonly found in the chicken environment it can come on quickly in cases of stress as well as damp warm brooders. It is essential to keep your brooder clean and dry for your chicks. However, even then you still may have a case of coccidiosis. So having a supply of ampolium on hand in an emergency may be beneficial.
Chick-sized grit they do not have teeth so these small rocks help grind up their food
- I sprinkle a tsp-Tbsp in the bottom of the bedding of the brooder encouraging them to naturally peck and find it.
- As chicks they do not know what it is and can overeat grit if given to them in a dish, causing impaction issues.

EQUIPTMENT

Things I did, worried about

For the first week they sleep in a face down “dead” pose. This still freaks me out to this day. This is a normal way to sleep.
In about a week they will start to eat a lot. One side of their neck will have a large lump after they eat. This is their crop. Do not squish it “It’s NOT a tumor!” (extra points for knowing the movie reference) It will go down over night as they digest the food. It can get quite large and hard just watch it, don’t worry unless it isn’t changing overnight.
As your chicks get their feathers they will start to preen. There is a gland at the base of their tail that looks like a large ingrown feather. It isn’t, don’t be like me and try to help this poor little bird pluck it out because it must be bothering her, she keeps picking at it. NOPE! She is spreading the oils through her feathers.
Everyone has an opinion. Take them all graciously and do what is best for you and your flock and enjoy.

What new chicken questions do you have?

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