Brooding Chicks: The Basics

If you've been to Tractor Supply lately you'll have noticed that the store is chock full of baby chicks. While those tiny balls of fluff are absolutely irresistible, they do require a brooder, heat, food, water, bedding etc. But, don't let that overwhelm you. With a few supplies and some prep work brooding can be simple and rewarding.

BROODERS

 

I have seen people use all kinds of things as a brooder from rabbit hutches and boxes to old dressers and bird cages. What you use is all up to you. There are really only three things to think about when choosing a brooder. It has to keep your chicks in, pets out, and it must be large enough. From 0-4 weeks old your chicks will require 1/2 sq. ft. of space per bird and from 4-8 weeks they'll need 1 sq. ft. per bird. That's it...seriously. Now, go dig through your basement and search your garage for something you can repurpose into a brooder.

 

                                                           A bird's eye view of our brooder

 

HEAT

 

As with a brooder there are many options when it comes to a heat lamp and with a little research you're sure to find the one that's best for you. We simply use a clamp lamp (not the real name, I just made that up). I'm not sure what they're actually called but, you can see it in the picture above and can buy them at any hardware store. We put a 53 watt halogen bulb in it and it works perfectly. The brooder needs to be 95 degrees for the first week and you simply lower the temp by 5 degrees each week after that. Don't start whipping out thermometers and checking the temp every 10 minutes just watch your chicks. If they're all huddled under the lamp than it's too cold. If they're as far from the lamp as possible and\or panting than it's too hot. If they're spread evenly around it and there's no panting than it's perfect!

 

 

WATER & FOOD

 

 

As far as feeders and waterers go you can just simply pick one up from TSC. For the first week we give our chicks luke warm water just to help keep they're body temps up and we add a capful of unfiltered apple cider vinegar (ACV) for the first few  months. ACV gives the little chicks an immune boost and it's also a natural dewormer among other things. For food we use a medicated starter & grower for 16 weeks. When choosing a feed just make sure to read the label.

 

 

Your ACV must say "with the mother" on the label

 

BEDDING

 

Options seem to be the theme of this post because as with everything else there are quite a few bedding options. The only thing you want to stay away from is cedar shavings. The fumes from the cedar can cause respiratory problems for your little chicks. We use pine shavings but, recently I've looked into sand and it seems like it would make clean up pretty easy. For the first week you'll want to cover your shavings with paper towels because your chicks will attempt to eat the shavings. Only use paper towels! Never cardboard or newspaper or anything else for that matter. These things make too slippery of a surface and you'll risk injury or splayed legs (not good!)

 

 A thick bed of pine shavings...

 

 covered with paper towels

 

 

Now that you now what you need get out there and brood some babies!!! Because no backyard is complete without a couple of chickens...and ducks...and turkeys. Ha Ha! Happy Homesteading! 

 

 



 

 

                              

 



 



 



 



Getting Our Ducks in a Row

 

   When we moved into our new house, which has a creek running through the property, my first thought was DUCKS!!! Lets face it people they are the cutest feathered animals on earth. As far as homesteading goes they lay huge eggs and can be raised for meat purposes, though I've read that duck meat is greasy. So a week ago we brought home two Pekin ducklings and as usual made some mistakes. We decided they would be too cold in our usual brooder (its too big for only 2 birds) so into a cardboard box they went with a small heat lamp. So begins mistake number one. By the next afternoon they were panting like crazy. We were unaware of their exact age and apparently they were old enough to maintain their own body temperature...so off went the heat lamp.

                                                           The ducks in their box

     Next lesson, ducks are MESSY!!!! We only provide our ducks with a small dish of water, just enough to drink, and yet it ends up everywhere in a matter of minutes, same with their food. They soaked through a cardboard box within a day so we started layering newspaper and wood chips to help with the moisture.

                                                               The layering process
  
   Now that we have the basics down we're doing okay...at least for now. So, here are a few quick duck tips...

                                                                   Duck Tips

• Ducklings start off by eating standard non-medicated chick starter
• They are social birds and create family bonds that they keep for life so, you need more than one duck to keep them happy.
• DUCKLINGS CAN DROWN!!! This was news to me. When you provide them with a wading pool or in our case, a creek, you need to make sure they can get in and out safely on their own.
• Duck feet are sensitive and easily injured. No wire or rough surface material should be used in their brooder or permanent housing.
• Ducks are very affectionate. Unlike chicks they love to be snuggled so, handle them often. Trust me you wont be able to resist!

                                                               Ducky Snuggles

Happy Homesteading!