Preparing for my first time raising baby chicks

[rosemarythyme]

How close should I put them close to the plate? Should I put them down near the plate or just begin under the plate and keep the waterer and feeder near it or how close to it?

Personally I put them directly under the heating element so they know where it is.

Food and water... are you using a lamp or a heat pad/plate? If a heat lamp, it should be enough distance away that the water doesn't get warmed up, but not too far that they have to struggle to find it. If a pad/plate, the food and water can sit a bit closer. My water usually sits about 14-16" away.

How do I know if its freshly milled, for me nearest store that mills their own would be from Walpole Feed. Called them today and they said a 50lb bag of starter feed from them was $15.50. As for handling them thought you weren't suppose to handle them too much. Additionally, what should I look for or at when I am selecting the ones I am taking?

The mill date (or a best used by) date should be somewhere on the bag. Each brand does it differently so you'd need to look at the bags yourself to figure out how they mark them.

I don't handle chicks a lot but I do touch them a few times a day, mainly to check for pasty butt and just to make sure they're still perky.

When choosing chicks look for bright eyed, active chicks. As I don't want males I ask the employee (my store does not allow customers to handle birds, which should be the policy for biosecurity reasons) to NOT grab birds that are curious, friendly, too upright... it's not a guarantee but male chicks may tend to be more curious, friendly, etc. You can refuse any birds that don't look right to you for any reason, so don't be afraid to speak up before you purchase as almost every feed store I've been in has a strict no returns policy on chicks.

 

[Chicken_man_J]

Looked locally for a heat plate locally and no one stocked any. They had others but they were small and would have to buy a couple.They had to order it. Someone on her said the had experience with Brinsea so I ordered one. I ordered a Brinsea EcoGlow Safety 1200 brooder as it was on sale for only a couple dollars more than a 600. Should I clean the inside of the coop before the chicks arrive with something to eliminate anything parasites (coccidia) that can cause that can issues to them? Read use vineager not bleach. Any input on that?

 

[DonnaScott]

When should I give them access to the run?

Mine chose when they wanted to go out. It took them about a week to come out. Maybe a bit longer.

My Silkie would come out but the other chicks wanted no parts.

Mine are between 9 and 10 weeks. I put them outside at about 7 or 8 weeks.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Should I clean the inside of the coop before the chicks arrive with something to eliminate anything parasites (coccidia) that can cause that can issues to them? Read use vineager not bleach. Any input on that?

Have other birds been in the coop recently?

 

[Chicken_man_J]

Have other birds been in the coop recently?

Has been around a month since any birds in the coop.

 

[Chicken_man_J]

Personally I put them directly under the heating element so they know where it is.

Food and water... are you using a lamp or a heat pad/plate? If a heat lamp, it should be enough distance away that the water doesn't get warmed up, but not too far that they have to struggle to find it. If a pad/plate, the food and water can sit a bit closer. My water usually sits about 14-16" away.

The mill date (or a best used by) date should be somewhere on the bag. Each brand does it differently so you'd need to look at the bags yourself to figure out how they mark them.

I don't handle chicks a lot but I do touch them a few times a day, mainly to check for pasty butt and just to make sure they're still perky.

When choosing chicks look for bright eyed, active chicks. As I don't want males I ask the employee (my store does not allow customers to handle birds, which should be the policy for biosecurity reasons) to NOT grab birds that are curious, friendly, too upright... it's not a guarantee but male chicks may tend to be more curious, friendly, etc. You can refuse any birds that don't look right to you for any reason, so don't be afraid to speak up before you purchase as almost every feed store I've been in has a strict no returns policy on chicks.

I am friends with one of the main employees and they are calling me when they arrive so should get one of the first picks. What is you direction on caring for them until they get bigger? I will post pictures of my progress before they arrive.
.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Has been around a month since any birds in the coop.

Any serious illness in the previous birds? If so, I would clean with a bleach solution or medical grade disinfectant.

 

[Chicken_man_J]

Got some work done on my coop today before chicks arrive. Changed my old wood awnings that were moldy with sheet metal ones on pressure treated frames I built with some help from a good friend and attached the metal. They have prop sticks that can rotate to keep them at a location for ventilation and have the ability to close if needed.

 

[Chicken_man_J]

Feed store called today and picked out my 8 RIB pullets. Brought them home and set my coop up for them while Rowdy investigated the box I brought them home in. Brooder was set up inside and filled with pine pellets, mason jar waterer and feed (Nature's Best Organic Chick starter/grower mill date March 31,2025 and heat plate. Closed the awnings to keep wind out.