Have you walked into your local farm store or hatchery lately?  The familiar peeping sound draws you in…it’s baby chick time!  Rather it’s your first go round or you’re a pro at raising baby chicks, there are a few things that all of us can learn.  This guide to getting started with chickens is a starting point.

First, is timing.  As tempting as those cute little fur balls are, it is important to think about timing.  Baby chicks will spend approximately 6 weeks inside a brooder.  A brooder doesn’t need to be anything fancy or expensive.  Click HERE to see our DIY brooder.  After those initial weeks of living inside a brooder (and quite possibly your house) they will then be ready to move outside.  Will temperatures be steady at 60 degrees F (or above) where you live?  Getting chicks too early in the season, may mean that you will have to have come up with another housing source until outside temps are consistent.

I am a planner, so I like to have an idea of what to expect on a weekly basis from the chicks.  Click HERE to read a week to week guide of what to expect and what to do during those exciting times.  Topics include what type of food to use, brooder temperature, roosts, and more.

Chicken appearances change so much over those first few weeks, as they morph into full grown chickens.  I enjoyed photographing some of our chickens over those first 6 weeks.  To see the transformation of a White Rock chicken from baby to teen, to adult, click HERE.  For fun, I had a baby chick photo shoot day.  Click HERE to view some adorable baby chicks (with some cute props).

Something not so cute that you may have to deal with while the chicks are little is pasty butt.  It’s something that happens with chicks that aren’t hatched to a momma to help them through it.  Click HERE to read about pasty butt and ways to help the chick through it.

Happy chicken keeping!