• Home
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Family
    • Frenchies
    • Meet the gang
  • Blog
  • SHOP
    • Farm Classes
      • About Farm Classes
      • Spring Farm Classes
      • Summer 1 Farm Classes
    • Online Courses & Consulting
    • Farm Store
      • Farm-to-Table Goods
      • Apparel
      • Amazon Favorites
  • Modern Homesteading
    • Homesteading Tips
    • Goats
    • Chickens
    • Ducks
    • Livestock Guardian Dogs
    • Gardening
  • Farmhouse Living
    • Farmhouse
    • Recipes
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

FRENCHIE FARM

Modern Homesteading & Sustainable Farming

in Chickens

Preparing for baby chicks checklist

Spring is on the horizon, which means baby chick season is almost here! If you’re thinking about raising backyard chickens but don’t know where to start, then you’re in the right place. I’m sharing my preparing for baby chicks checklist in this post!

Frenchie Farm preparing for baby chicks checklist

Preparing for baby chicks checklist

If you follow along on Instagram, then you already know that we added another 17 baby chicks and 20 ducklings to our homestead. (We sadly lost 6 ducklings, so now our count is down to 14.) It’s been a while since we’ve expanded our flock, so our family has been having SO much fun caring for our new additions! Raising baby chicks and ducklings is such an incredible experience for little ones – the kids absolutely love it!

Even though baby chicks are ridiculously adorable, it’s important to adequately prepare for your new chicks in order to keep them happy and healthy. If you’ve been trying to decide the best way to prepare for your baby chicks, then my checklist will get you started and keep you organized!

Step 1: Plan your time wisely

If you’re ordering your day old baby chicks from an online hatchery (we love My Pet Chicken), then you will have an approximate ship date upon ordering. Once your babies ship, you will receive tracking information. Although delivery date can vary, we’ve always been able to pick up our baby chicks the following morning/early afternoon at the Post Office. (Check out this post for more information about arranging for Post Office pickup!)

When preparing for baby chicks, plan to spend the next 24 hours at home (if possible.) Depending on work schedules and other obligations, this can obviously be tricky. With that being said, I highly recommend spending as much time at home as possible during those first 24 hours. From our personal experience, the first 24-48 hours are critically important for health and survival.

Frenchie Farm

Step 2: Decide on your brooder box

We usually use a large plastic storage container for the first few days. Head over to this post for more DIY brooder box ideas! Having an appropriate brooder box is an essential component in my preparing for baby chicks checklist.

Step 2: Purchase all necessary materials

Baby chicks aren’t overly difficult to raise, but you still need to purchase necessary materials to keep your chicks happy and healthy. Below is a preparing for baby chicks checklist/shopping list:

  • Brooder Box (you can use a large plastic storage container for the first week or so)
  • Heating Plate Kit
  • Chick Starter Kit (Feeder & Waterer):
  • Chick Nipple Drinker
  • Electrolytes
  • Probiotics
  • Chick Starter Crumbles
  • Chick Grit
  • Coop Refresher
Frenchie Farm preparing for baby chicks checklist

Step 3: Set up your brooder the night before pickup

In order to stay organized, set up your brooder box the night before picking up your chicks. When you bring your babies home, you’ll want to move quickly to get them hydrated and warm, so it’s best to have everything set up ahead of time. Nobody wants to be fidgeting with a heater with a box full of baby chicks! This is an important component in my preparing for baby chicks checklist.

Step 4: Bringing baby chicks home

After picking up your chicks from the post office, immediately bring them home. Open the box and quickly check if everyone looks healthy. Occasionally, one of your chicks may not make it through the stress of transportation. Contact the hatchery if you experience a loss.

One by one, gently dunk the chick’s beak in water and MAKE SURE that she swallows. Chicks absolutely need water immediately upon arrival in order to survive. Gently place the chick in the brooder box, and move on to having your second chick drink water. Follow the steps until all chicks have successfully drank water and are safely in the brooder box. This might be the most important step in my preparing for baby chicks checklist!

Frenchie Farm

Step 5: Monitor

Again, the first 24-48 hours are the most critical for survival. On more than one occasion, I’ve had to nurse a very weak chick back to health during the first 24 hours. If I would have been away from the house, then I would have missed the early signs of poor health, which would have likely resulted in death. Appropriate monitoring is definitely an essential component in my preparing for baby chicks checklist!

What should you monitor for, exactly? The below list is NOT exhaustive by any means, but it outlines the two issues that we have experienced during the first week of life: weakness and pasty butt.

General weakness & pasty butt

Weakness: Healthy chicks will alternate between taking naps under the heater and running out for food/grit/water/play. If you notice one girl with squinty eyes, or if she is not moving, eating, and/or drinking as much as the rest of the flock, then it’s time to take action. Gently pick up the weak chick and dunk her beak in the water dish. Repeat this every 30ish minutes until you notice the chick regaining energy. Continue to monitor the chick!

Pasty butt:
Baby chicks are extremely prone to pasty butt, which essentially means that their poop sticks and dries to their vent (aka butt), which can ultimately become fatal if not treated. (This is exactly why staying home for the first 24 hours and frequently monitoring your chicks is so important!) When caught early, the treatment is simple. GENTLY remove the dried poop with a WARM cloth. Please, remember to be gentle to prevent injury. Gently dry the chick’s bottom (some people use a hair dryer, but we simply pat dry and place under the heater.) This process can be extremely stressful, so move quickly. After cleaning, make sure your chick is still eating/drinking as usual. If your chick has pasty butt once, then she’ll likely have it again. The quicker you catch it, the easier it is to clean, so again – monitor frequently!

Frenchie Farm
Looking for more tips for raising backyard chickens and preparing for baby chicks? Check out these posts:
  • Caring for baby chicks: a guide for raising baby chicks
  • DIY chick brooder box ideas
  • 5 reasons to keep backyard chickens (& why you need them NOW!)
  • Tips for building a chicken coop
  • Homesteading shortcuts to make raising chickens easier

Leave a Comment

Previous Post: « Goats 101: 5 tips for raising goats
Next Post: Homesteading supply list: a list for new homesteaders »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Footer

Frenchie Farm

Frenchie Farm

Follow Frenchie Farm

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Looking for something?

Amazon Disclosure

Frenchie Farm is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Follow along on Instagram

the_frenchiefarm

Colleen 🐐🐓🐶
Well, despite my denial, I suppose that it’s off Well, despite my denial, I suppose that it’s officially fall 🍁 I tend to hold onto summer time as long as possible, especially because the bitter cold winter months are brutal in Chicago. With that being said, I’m learning to appreciate all of the seasonal changes that naturally occur on the farm, even if they aren’t my favorite 😉 Early morning chores are filled with brisk air while fog covers the rising sun. It’s beautiful in its own unique way, and maybe one day I’ll love the changing seasons as much as I love the summer heat. Or maybe I’ll move somewhere warmer in another life, who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️
.
.
Do you prefer the heat or cold fall days?
After such an emotional weekend, I woke up feel ex After such an emotional weekend, I woke up feel extra drained today. I wanted to press snooze when my alarm went off, but I decided to get up early for a quick workout and chores instead. And gosh, isn’t it crazy how those simple decisions turn your day around right from the start? Plus, seeing these boys run toward me every morning is simply the best.
.
.
What are some things that energize you after a rough few days?
Today was hard. . . Today was processing day for o Today was hard.
.
.
Today was processing day for our first round of meat chickens, and I’ve spent much of the last 24 hours crying. I said my good byes this morning, and I feel grateful for Ben taking care of the logistics. Does it get easier? Is it supposed to? I don’t know.
.
.
I usually share the fun, light hearted parts of homesteading. This part just feels hard. And sad. And I feel a lot of guilt. I feel comforted by the life we gave to our birds, but also guilty that we’re the ones who took it away. 
.
.
Homesteading is just really hard.
Tomorrow is the day that I’ve been dreading for Tomorrow is the day that I’ve been dreading for quite some time - processing day for our first ever round of meat chickens. As a previous vegan, I’m struggling. I’d be lying if I said that I’m not tearing up typing this, or that I didn’t tear up while walking by their pasture during chores tonight. This part is really hard.
.
.
But here’s the thing - I don’t think “hard” is a bad thing. Actually, it’s a good thing. Because if we don’t have a level of guilt and appreciation for animals, then there’s something seriously wrong ... and that’s exactly what’s wrong with our current food supply system. 
.
.
So I’ll continue to feel guilty, because I SHOULD. And I’ll continue to feel grateful, because I SHOULD. And I’ll continue to feel really sad knowing that I’m responsible for loss, because I SHOULD.
.
.
And the second I lose sight of that guilt and gratitude? Well, that won’t happen. Trust me ❤️
Nope, that’s not my incredible white farmhouse, Nope, that’s not my incredible white farmhouse,  but maybe one day ours will looks similar! 🙌🏼 Have you met my friend Maddy over at @addisonfarmssc? We’ve been friends on these little squares for quite some time, and holy moly, she’s definitely #onetofollow ! 
.
.
From her perfectly beautiful farmhouse to her darling farm with a major swoon worthy garden and beautiful horses, I’m just in love. Plus she’s the sweetest, so you should head over to her account and give her a follow! ❤️ Happy Friday, friends!
The face your LGD makes when the bucks try to flir The face your LGD makes when the bucks try to flirt and blubber at them 🤣 MOM?! HELP ME!
.
.
Swipe to see the progression 🤣 These sweet boys are simply the most patient, yet ferocious pups around! What are your LGD’s like?
The moment you realize that you literally have the The moment you realize that you literally have the most handsome buck ever 🙌🏼 Chester is a rather refined buck - he prefers to stand majestically while the other two crazy boys do all sorts of weird things, including but not limited to, flaring their lips, blubbering, flirting, and drinking pee 🤢 What kind of questionable things do your bucks do?
Tomorrow marks our first (official) day of homesch Tomorrow marks our first (official) day of homeschool preschool, but when you live on a farm, aren’t you always “schooling” one way or the other anyway?
.
.
Well before COVID, I started thinking about homeschooling our kids. I didn’t understand the reason for being drawn toward homeschooling, but now it all makes sense and feels like the perfect decision for our family. I’m loving how sweet and cozy this homeschool room feels, and I hope our little ones grow to love learning here too ❤️ I know some of you are homeschooling pros, so I would love to hear any tips!
When the new @beekman1802 Bloom Cream is incredibl When the new @beekman1802 Bloom Cream is incredibly moisturizing, formulated with goat milk, AND packed with probiotics, the goats can’t help but check it out! #ad 🐐 I’ve been using the newest Bloom Cream moisturizer for the past few weeks and I’ve been LOVING it! It’s an incredible mix of super hydrating, gentle, and light weight all mixed into one. Perfect way to re-hydrate after long days on the farm.
.
.
@beekman1802 also recently launched at @ultabeauty, so it couldn’t be any more convenient to try out a few new clinically kind goat milk skincare products! Shop in store or online - you’ll thank me later 😉 What are some of your favorite skincare products? @beekman1802 @ultabeauty #beekmanblooms
Eggs, eggs, eggs! Between beautiful duck eggs and Eggs, eggs, eggs! Between beautiful duck eggs and rainbow chicken eggs - give me all the eggs 🙌🏼 We’re drowning in eggs, which means we have more than enough to share with our farm class friends during their final week of class. 
.
.
So much to be grateful for, and so many scrambled eggs, frittatas, egg bakes, paleo pancakes, etc! What are some of your favorite ways to use up extra eggs?
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

There may be an issue with the Instagram access token that you are using. Your server might also be unable to connect to Instagram at this time.

Copyright © 2021 · Market theme by Restored 316