Raising Baby Chicks – 10 Essentials For Your Chicken Brooder
This post is all about raising baby chicks.
Raising baby chicks can be an incredibly rewarding experience, whether you’re a seasoned poultry enthusiast or a curious first-timer. Watching those fluffy little balls of down grow into vibrant, feathered adults is nothing short of magical. But before you dive into this delightful adventure, it’s essential to be well-prepared. From setting up their cozy brooder to understanding their dietary needs and health care, there’s quite a bit to learn to ensure your chicks thrive. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to give your new feathered friends the best start possible. Grab your notepad and get ready to become a chick-raising pro!
(Once you’re nearing the end of the brooder phase, check out this post on 15 Chicken Coop Essentials!)
Essentials For Raising Baby Chicks
1. Brooder
First things first…if you’re raising baby chicks, they’ll need a place to live.
If you’re already keeping chickens and have a broody hen on hand, you might consider letting her raise a few baby chicks. A good broody hen can provide warmth and care, making it a relatively effortless way to raise baby chicks. However, it’s important to remember that not all hens are natural mothers. Keep a watchful eye on them, as you might need to step in if the hen isn’t as attentive as she should be. (It is possible for the hen to be aggressive towards them as well.)
More often than not though, people raise baby chicks in a brooder. A brooder is a warm, safe enclosure where your chicks will spend their early days. It can be a commercially available brooder or a DIY setup using a large box or bin. Ensure it’s draft-free and easy to clean.
More About Brooders:
In the below picture, you can see how we turned this animal crate into a brooder for our second set of baby chicks. It worked much better than our other dog crate that we used for our first set of chicks, and here’s why.
The openings in the siding were narrow enough that we didn’t have to wrap it in chicken wire. However, we did make an easy top using some spare wood, and chicken wire. Then, we zip tied it on one side, so it easily lifted to have easy access to the chicks, and for cleaning. Not having to wrap it in chicken wire also allowed us to keep the use of the side door, which was nice. I would open the door, and the chicks would come greet me. This helped with the bonding between us!
The removable bottom of the brooder was a game-changer for both cleaning and integrating new chicks with older pullets. When it was time to introduce a new batch of chicks to the older birds who had moved to the coop, I’d simply remove the bottom of the crate and place it next to the coop during the day. This setup allowed the chicks and pullets to interact without direct contact, facilitating a smoother introduction. The removable bottom also meant that the chicks could forage for bugs and peck at the grass while I didn’t have to worry about cleaning up messy bedding during these interactions.
You can also opt for a pre-built chicken brooder, so you don’t have to fuss with any level of DIY.
- RentACoop Has a Solution! Our foldable Big Red Barn Brooder comfortably raises up to 8 chicks for their first 6 weeks. Sets up in minutes, tool-free assembly, includes an LED Light with 3 color settings, liners for every stage. Perfect for chicks, turkey poults, ducklings, quail, other poultry
Alright, but enough about brooders. Let’s get to the other essentials for raising baby chicks.
2. Heat Source
Chicks need warmth to thrive. A heat lamp or heat plate will provide the necessary heat. Before you decide which is best for you, review the below pros and cons of heat lamps vs. heat plates.
(When Can Baby Chicks Move Outside?)
Heat Lamps: Pros and Cons
Heat lamps have been a traditional choice for providing warmth to baby chicks, and they come with a few distinct advantages.
Their high-intensity light provides a clear visual cue to monitor the chicks’ warmth, and their adjustable height allows for precise temperature control. Additionally, heat lamps are generally less expensive than heat plates and widely available, making them an accessible option for many poultry keepers.
However, heat lamps also have notable downsides. They can pose a fire risk due to their high temperatures and the potential for accidental tipping. Their bright light can disturb the chicks’ natural sleep patterns, leading to stress and disrupted growth.
Furthermore, the heat from a lamp tends to be uneven, which can result in hot and cold spots within the brooder.
Heat Plates: Pros and Cons
Heat plates, on the other hand, offer a more modern and often safer alternative to heat lamps.
One of their main advantages is their low fire risk; heat plates operate at a lower temperature and don’t have exposed bulbs that could cause accidents.
They provide a more natural heat source by mimicking a mother hen’s warmth, which is beneficial for the chicks’ overall development and well-being.
However, heat plates can be more expensive than heat lamps, and they require careful placement to ensure all chicks can access the warmth. Despite this, their benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, making them a preferred choice for many poultry enthusiasts.
The Heat Plate from RentACoop is a great choice for many reasons. One big reason being the anti-roosting cone. It prevents chicks from hanging out on TOP of the heat lamp. It’s undesirable to have the chicks hang out on top of the heat lamp because (1) they will poop all over it, and (2) that is not where the heat is dispersed.
- RentACoop Has a Solution! | Our 12×12″ Heating Plate with Foldable Anti-Roost Cone warms up to 20 chicks. Radiant heat teaches chicks to regulate their body temperature naturally, just as they would under a mother hen! Can be used for chicks, turkey poults, ducklings, quail, and more
3. Bedding
Use absorbent bedding like pine shavings, straw, or hay to keep the brooder clean and comfortable. Avoid cedar shavings as they can be harmful to chicks.
- All-natural & compostable pine shavings for coop bedding
- Low dust
- Ultra-absorbent low moisture shavings
4. Feeder
You’ll need a feeder that is accessible to small chicks. You can opt for a smaller feeder designed specifically for chicks only, and then upgrade to a larger feeder when they get bigger.
This RentACoop feeder is great though because it holds a ton of food, and is accessible for chicks as young as 3 days old, and then last throughout their entire life. So you won’t need to spend money on another one down the road. It also does a great job of keeping the food clean. (If you’ve ever used the little chick feeders before…you know what a life-saver this is!) Just make sure it’s not too big for your brooder.
This is the feeder that I have in my coop now and I LOVE it.
- One Lifetime Feeder for Your Flock: Our Chick2Chicken Medium Ports are safe and accessible for chicks as young as 3 days old, through adult chickens! Also perfect for Quail, Pigeons, Doves, and other small birds!
- Large Capacity: Fewer fills for easy maintenance! The feeder holds 10lb of pellets, crumble, or scratch grains with 4 feed ports
- Clean and Cost Effective for the Whole Flock: Innovative design keeps dirt and debris OUT and feed and water IN. No more wasted feed on the ground! Easily accommodates larger flocks with 4 Medium Ports. Suitable for up to 20 chicks or 12 adult chickens
- We Thought of Everything: Medium ports include sliders to close off access and keep unwanted guests out; Anti-Roost Cone keep your chickens from roosting and making a mess. This weatherproof feeder can be placed anywhere and is suitable for all seasons
- What’s in the Box: 10lb. Feeder; 4 easy-to-install ports with slider port covers, Anti-Roost Cone, and lid
5. Waterer
Ensuring that your chicks always have access to clean water is crucial for their health. To prevent the waterer from becoming contaminated with bedding or feces, it’s helpful to elevate it. I use wooden blocks to raise the waterer in my brooder, which keeps it cleaner for longer. However, even with this setup, be prepared to clean and refill the waterer multiple times a day to maintain optimal hygiene.
- MULTI-USE FEEDER: Lixit’s Chick Feeders have a reversible base for food or water! Simply unscrew the reservoir and flip the base to use as desired
- MULTI-USE: Reversible base for food or water, simply unscrew the reservoir and flip the base over
- EASY TO CLEAN: Easy to clean and maintain, should your chickens decided to make a mess
6. Chick Starter Feed
During their early stages of growth, chicks require specialized feed to ensure they get the right nutrients. I chose Purina Flock Raiser Crumbles for this purpose because it provides balanced nutrition from hatch through adulthood. This means you don’t have to worry about switching feeds or managing different types of feed for various ages of chickens.
With Purina Flock Raiser, you can streamline your feeding process while ensuring your birds receive the essential nutrients they need at every stage of their development.
- Prebiotics and probiotics – Supports immune and digestive health
- Essential amino acids – Enhanced with lysine and methionine to support muscle and skeletal development
- 20% protein – Increased protein supports quick growth, feather regrowth, and flock maintenance
- Vitamins A, B, D, E and K – Help chicks grow into healthy adult birds
Scratch and Peck Starter Feed is another very popular feed choice among chicken keepers. It’s a great organic option for your feathered friends.
- Watch Your Birds Flourish – Our nutritionally complete whole grain starter crumbles with 20.5% protein promotes strong development and growth in chicks and ducklings. Corn-free. Soy-free.
- Superior Quality Nourishment – Premium ingredients ensure top-tier nutrition for both hybrid and heritage breeds.
- Going Beyond Organic – Our USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Certifications ensure your animals receive the healthiest quality feed available. No fillers or medications.
7. Thermometer
Maintaining the right temperature in your brooder is crucial for the health of your chicks. Inadequate warmth can lead to various issues, including illness, pasty butt, and even fatalities.
Ensuring a consistent, appropriate temperature helps your chicks thrive and minimizes the risk of these serious problems.
So you need a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the brooder at all times. This Govee Thermometer is an awesome choice because it’s WiFi enabled, so you can check the temperature from your phone. This is especially game-changing when you want to check in on the temperature late a night. (You can even set it up to alert you if the temperature is out of the preset range!)
- Smart Features: The Govee Wireless Thermometer Hygrometer supports all basic functions as well as smart functions such as remote monitoring and temp humidity graphs. Our humidity meters are reliable and easy to use for homes, greenhouses and more.(Only supports 164ft Bluetooth connection)
- High Accuracy and Fast Refresh Time: With the Swiss-made smart hygrometer sensor, the temperature is accurate up to ±0.54°F while the humidity is ±3%RH, a 40% increase. Up to 2S refresh speed always gives you the lastest changes of temp and humidity.
- Upgraded Display: This room humidity gauge is easy to read due with a 3-inch bright LCD screen with large numbers. The max/min temp humidity records and the comfort indicators (dry/comfort/wet) will keep you aware of the indoor humidity at any time.
- Smart App Alerts: You’ll receive an instant alert once the temperature or humidity is out of its preset range. Know the status of your bedroom, baby room, wine cellar, basement, plant nursery or other areas, even when you’re not beside the device.
8. Ventilation
Proper ventilation in the brooder is important to prevent respiratory issues and maintain air quality. Ensure there’s adequate airflow without causing drafts.
9. Clean-Up Supplies
Regular cleaning is essential to prevent disease. Have supplies like a dustpan, broom, and cleaning agents ready for maintaining a hygienic environment.
10. Camera Monitor
While a camera isn’t absolutely essential for your chicken brooder, it can be incredibly handy! You’ll likely find yourself wanting to check in on your adorable fluff balls frequently to ensure their safety and well-being.
If your brooder is located in a garage or another out-of-the-way spot, having a camera allows you to monitor them without having to step outside. It’s also a valuable tool for keeping an eye on any signs of bullying or potential injuries among your chicks.
The iGeek wireless camera is an excellent choice for monitoring your baby chicks. I continue to use these cameras in both my chicken coop and run to ensure my flock is safe and to confirm that everyone makes it into the coop at night. Not only are they budget-friendly, but their versatility means you’ll find them useful throughout your entire chicken-keeping journey, long after the baby chick stage.
- 【100% Wire-Free Setup & Stable Wi-Fi Connection】No cables, no hassle. This wireless security camera outdoor installs in minutes and runs on a rechargeable battery. Connects via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi for a reliable, long-range signal(Not compatible with 5GHz networks)
- 【2K Ultra HD Video & Full-Color Night Vision】This outdoor security camera wireless records in 2K resolution for crystal-clear detail and features bright color night vision for 24/7 monitoring. Three alarm modes—sound, light, and combined—keep your home safe day and night
- 【Flexible Storage Options – Local & Cloud Available】Local Storage: Supports up to 128GB SD card(not included). Cloud Storage: Free 6-second lifetime cloud clips with 7-day rolling coverage. Upgrade to 7-day or 30-day plans for longer video history
- 【AI & PIR Motion Detection — Real-Time Security Alerts】This outdoor cameras for home security features advanced PIR sensors and AI motion analysis to recognize people, pets, and vehicles accurately. When motion is detected, this WiFi security camera outdoor triggers instant alerts (0.2–3s), records alarm video and audio, and turns on a siren and spotlight to ward off intruders(AI recognition requires optional cloud service)
- 【Two-Way Audio & Real-Time App Monitoring】Talk, listen, and view live footage via the app anytime. Whether you’re at work or on vacation, this wireless outdoor camera helps you monitor your property, talk to visitors, or scare off intruders with just one tap on the app
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