the chicks

hey! so if you decide to get your chickens as chicks, here are some tips for taking proper care of them:
--the box. it is important to have adequate spacing and protection for the chicks while inside also. what i did was use a big box about four feet long that i divided to make a smaller space when the chicks were very small. then over time i increased their space as they got bigger. it is also a good idea to have some type of lid (wire is best so they can still get air and sunlight) on the box so other pets can't get in and the chicks can't get out. i didn't have a lid so my chicks figured out that they can perch on the sides of the box. we have had a couple accidents with them falling off of flying out of the box.
--where. while the chicks are under seven weeks old, they should definitely stay inside the house. i kept my chicks inside my dad's office next to a window so they were able to get sunlight, and i kept the door closed constantly so our cats wouldn't get to the chicks. its also good to find a place where there are no drafts and have a heater in the room.
--warmth. keeping chicks warm is extremely important. many chicks die from hypothermia and cold drafts. to keep their area warm get a heating lamp (like for reptiles, or any lamp that produces heat) and put it in the chicks area so they can stay warm but without coming into contact with the lamp. usually when the chicks are under a week, they will want the lamp to be about 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit and gradually reduce the heat as they get older (by either changing the lamp/bulb, or moving the lamp further away from the chicks). i stopped using the lamp when the were six weeks old so they could get used to no lamp at night beforethey started sleeping outside. ways to tell if there is too much heat is if the chicks are far away from the lamp and spread out when they are sleeping and ways to tell if there is not enough heat is if the chicks are huddled together directly under the lamp constantly.
--toys. it is good to have some kind of padded flooring in the box. i used wood shavings, about three inches so the chicks could nest in it during the night. i also had some shiny or colorful objects for them to peck at. i brought them leaves, small branches, fresh veggies. though when they are very young they won't need much entertainment because they will be sleeping a lot. when they are about 4-5 weeks, put in some kind of sturdy perch in there box about 3-4 inches off the ground.
--food you will need to buy or make a miniature chicken feeder for the chicks to put inside the box. you will need to buy them the special protein chick starter, and constantly refill feeder when empty-which may be multiple times a day. the water should be far away from the light so it doesn't get hot. you want the water to be at room temp, use drinking water. immediately refill if anytime poop gets in so the chicks don't get diseases, refill every day and always keep full. some lettuce and fruits to give the chicks is good-but while this makes them healthier, they won't grow at super speed or become "big chickens", this doesn't mean they are small, just normal size, and by giving them other food serves as a distraction during the day. but it is okay if they don't eat it. there are foods to give and not to give them so look up in books or on the web (also in my post "chicken food do's and don'ts" will help). a great book to buy is "hobby farms: backyard chickens" ($15?) at island seed and feed.
--problems. all babies aren't perfect, and need lots of care and help, so don't expect this to be all fun. 1) a common problem chicks get is the pasty butt. this is from their poop drying on their butt (vent) and preventing them from pooping once its dried. to solve this get a warm wet cloth and gently rub the dried poop, or try to pick it off but it could hurt them by pulling out some feathers. 2) some chicks may be picked on by the other chicks which can prevent them from eating or sleeping. so if this continues and you notice the bullied chick is starting to have trouble help it out and put it in a separate place for it to eat for a couple minutes to give it break time. or put the bully chick/s in a separate area for a little while. don't keep them apart for more than 10 minutes at a time, so they don't get cold or pushed out of the group even more. if anything worse happens look it up online http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKRaisingChicks.html http://www.birdcareco.com/English/Arts/Breed_arts/Chick/Problems.html or email me at gracie.rid@gmail.com
--handling. it is good to hold the chicks frequently and hand feed them so they can become familiar with you and know that you are their 'mommy'. don't overwhelm them with love and be sure to give them plenty of rest while they are very young. make sure you are with little kids holding the chicks. the chicks are very fragile and can easily be squeezed too hard. always be calm and quiet around them.and don't let other animals come into contact with the chicks because they are very susceptible to disease at this age

and remember that the chicks must stay inside for eight weeks before they are moved to the coop.