Rearing Chicks

Rearing your own chicks is not that difficult and certainly doesn't require any expensive equipment. So you can hatch your own chicks in an incubator from fertile eggs, or you can buy chicks in from a breeder but either way, you need to be able to provide them with some basic requirements.

A clean, dry place is needed to keep them that can be ventilated and protected from extreme temperatures like direct sunlight in a window or the cold outdoor temperatures we get in spring. For a small number of chicks, many people use a spare room, others a garage or outbuilding but where-ever you choose, it must be predator proof so that your chicks are safe.

You will need something to keep your chicks in. A large sturdy cardboard box is great for this as it usually doesn't cost anything and can keep chicks contained and out of draughts.

The floor of the box should be covered. Some people use wood shavings, some newspaper but if newspaper is used you must make sure your chicks aren't slipping on it as they could become deformed if they can't stand correctly. If using newspaper, you can remove the top few sheets every day to keep them clean which is very important to prevent disease during the early weeks of their life. A heat lamp will be required that needs to hang over the top of their box. This should be secure so it doesn't fall. They usually come with a chain that can be adjusted so that the height can be adjusted. The height should initially be around 18 inches or so but ensure there is room for them to get out of the direct glare of the lamp if they are too hot. I do this by mounting the lamp above one end of the box. If the lamp is too low, the chicks will spread out and be in the cooler part of the box, if it is too high, they will be huddled together directly under the lamp.

Once you have established the correct height, raise it by a couple of inches each week to ‘wean' them off the heat so that they will feather up nicely. Remember they will outgrow their box though and alternative accommodation will be required for them after a month or so. I usually keep a small coop and covered run outside ready for the chicks to go into once they are feathered. As a precaution, I provide a 60 Watt light bulb to keep them warm at first - especially at night. They will them be able to huddle up together under this for a little extra warmth if it is needed. I put this on a timer and slowly reduce the hours they are on heat until eventually after a week or two they only receive a few hours in the early hours of the morning - the coldest part of the night before going it alone. This wouldn't be necessary in the warmest summer months.

Food and water can be supplied in small hoppers. These are very cheap and can usually bought as part of a kit with the heat lamp that is also required to keep them warm. Both food and water needs to be kept clean and you should ensure that droppings are removed from food and water is clean and replenished regularly. There are various mineral and vitamin supplements available that can go into their water - this is especially beneficial during their first week and helps prevent problems. Proper growth is dependent on proper nutrition. A hardboiled mashed egg can be fed as a boost to get them eating. Chick crumbs should be provided most of which contain a coccidiostat (to prevent a particularly nasty disease called coccidiosis). Crumbs should be fed according to the manufacturers recommendations but this is usually for the first 6 to 8 weeks. Gradually change over to growers pellets / developer ration to about 18 weeks, then switch to layers pellets in preparation for your first egg!