5 Tips Before You Bring Home Your First Chicks
Spring is fast approaching. While there are still a few months of winter remaining soon our local farm box stores and hatcheries will have spring chicks available. If you’re brand new to backyard chickens or you’re thinking about expanding your existing flock, here are 5 important tips to consider before bringing home new chicks.
Educate yourself about the laws of your area regarding chickens. The legal limitations of owning backyard chickens are going to vary drastically depending on your region, state, neighborhood, and more. HOAs, residences within city limits, and other restrictions may apply to your area. Before investing in all of the needed equipment and preparing a space for your chickens, be sure you are able to have them in your area. Also, some additional restrictions may apply to roosters where you live. While some places may allow backyard chickens many still have restrictions which apply to roosters. Know the specifics of your area.
Have your brooder set up and infrastructure already purchased, built, and in place. When you first bring home your baby chicks many have been stored in crowded bins or shipped in the mail which is a very difficult experience for them. To maximize the health and survival rate of your chicks, have your brooder, the protected area where your chicks will spend the first 8-10 weeks of their life, already set up. Allow chicks at least 2-3 days of acclimation time in their new brooder before handling them. In a short 8-10 weeks once your chicks are fully feathered and no longer have any soft, downy chick fuzz they will be ready to be outside. You will not be able to complete construction faster than your baby chicks will grow. There are pre-made chicken coops and many plans available online to choose from. Beginner chicken care guide books also often include coop and run plans. Have your brooder ready as well as the infrastructure completed that you will transition your chicks to once they have a full set of feathers and are ready to be outside. This saves you significant amounts of hassle and stress for you and your flock as they grow.
Purchase at least one beginner chicken care guide book. There are many chicken care guide books to choose from. Farm box stores have a surprisingly good selection of chicken care guides and magazines to help you get started. These guides include essential information like picking the right chicken breed, coop and run plans, and essential basic care information as well as first aid tips. You can also access free resources online and at your local library. Purchasing at least one beginner care guide gives you access to reliable, helpful information that you will also be able to access when online resources may not be available.
Choose the right chicken breed for your purpose and climate. Chicken breeds, much like dog breeds, have been changed over time to fill many different purposes. People adopt chickens for many different reasons including to be egg layers, meat chickens, dual purpose chickens, companionship birds, or show birds. Chickens have also been bred to thrive in a variety of climates. Know the seasonal weather extremes in your area and choose a breed of chicken that is well suited to your region’s climate.
Have a long-term flock plan. Many first-time chicken owners are surprised to learn that many breeds of chicken when cared for properly can live between 5-10 years or longer. Adopting chickens is a year-round, daily, long-term commitment. Most chickens’ productivity will begin to wane after their physical prime, sometime between 2-4 years of age although they will still continue to lay eggs beyond that time, just not as reliably. Have a plan for aging flock members. Do not attempt to process chickens at home without first researching humane practices and acquiring the proper equipment. Also, have a strategy for unplanned roosters. If you’re purchasing chicks especially if you’re purchasing “straight run” chicks your chance of adopting a rooster is 50-50. While box store and hatchery employees will offer guarantees, you may adopt a rooster accidentally. If it is possible or practical for you, consider including a rooster in your long-term flock plans. Roosters, when given the proper accommodations and conditions they need to succeed, can be wonderful and peaceful flock members. Discuss and plan a strategy prior to adopting your first chicks rather than scrambling to rehome a rooster without proper preparation. Do not abandon unwanted chickens in the wilderness or in public places. They are domesticated livestock and will not survive.
I hope these have been helpful tips to enhance your research prior to bringing home your first chicks or before adding additional chicks to your existing flock. To learn more about this and similar topics, check out Chuck’s other social media for more backyard chicken and homesteading content.
Chuck and the Chicks 