One of the easiest ways to start raising chickens is by starting with day old chicks.
Day old chicks can be purchased through one of many hatcheries or through your local farm supply store in the spring. This is probably the most common way of starting a backyard flock of chickens.
Day old chicks are ordered and then shipped to you through the US Post Office. Some breeds of chickens are only available at certain times of the year and others year round. If your not sure what breed to order, check out our breeds page for ideas.
You will need a brooder to put your chicks in when they arrive. A brooder can be a commercially produced unit or a simple homemade item. It must be big enough to hold the chicks to an age of 6-7 weeks. It should be deep enough to keep the chicks from jumping out as they grow and keep them from drafts.
Line it with layers of newspaper for the first few days then replace the paper with pine shavings or other similar material after the chicks find out what their food looks like. You do not want them to eat the shavings as it will make them sick.Do not use sawdust, cedar or treated wood chips. Straw, rice hulls, or ground cobs also make a good litter.
Important things to know about starting with day old chicks.
Water: The very first thing to do before you release the chicks into the brooder is to to dip their beaks in water to get them to drink. A 1 gallon waterer should be provided for every 50 chicks. Depending on the breed you choose, I recommend adding supplements to the water for better health. Do not let them run out of water.
Temperature: Start your chicks out with a heat lamp that is placed high enough above the brooder floor to keep it at 90-95 degrees. Raise the heat lamp enough each week to lower the temperature by 5 degrees until it gets to 70 degrees. The chicks will then be ready to be placed in their coop or range.
Food: Use a chick starter feed for the first 8 weeks. Make sure that it has the correct protein level for your specific breed. Meat chickens will require a higher protein content. Fast growing breeds such as the Cross Rocks will also need supplements to keep them from breaking their legs due to the fast growth. Use a 24 inch feeder for every 25 chicks. After the 3rd day, mix a small amount of grit with the feed to aid in digestion.
Space: Initially, provide 1/2 square foot of space per bird and increase it to 3/4 of a foot after 4 weeks.
Check out the short video below by a young man named Andrew.