Expert Tips to Care For Baby Chicks

With Spring just around the corner, it's time again for baby chick season! Chicks are adorable balls of fluff so it's tempting just to keep them as pets much less keep them to produce your own eggs. However, if you are going to be a first-time owner of your own chicks, it's important to take note of the challenges involved in raising chicks to healthy adults.

Baby chicks require a lot of time for care. Prior to buying your chicks, you should clear your schedule for a few weeks or make sure that somebody, if not yourself, will be around to take care of them. They will need to be checked on at least five times a day, so no vacations or long trips to the store should be planned.

Make sure you know where you're going to keep them. Baby chicks are small, but they grow quickly! Whether you're keeping your chicks in your garage, basement, or workshop, you will need to be prepared for when they grow to their adult size and start making a big mess! Come visit your local Norby's location to check out our selection of chicken coops!

Build a proper growing environment for them. Chicks will grow fastest and healthiest if you are sure to provide everything they need to grow. A brooder, heat lamps, plenty of food and water, absorbent bedding... All of these things are something you should consider once you know where you're going to keep them. Luckily, all of these things are something you can easily pick up at your local Norby's store! Stop in and browse our chick care items in store.

Keep their living space clean. It keeps the chicks healthy, and keeps your own living space less smelly! It's recommended to change their bedding at least once a week, but if you have quite a few chicks you may need to change the bedding multiple times a week.

If you have children, supervise all interactions. Chicks are adorable, and children love adorable. They mean well, but children can sometimes harass the baby chicks into extreme stress. Be sure to supervise so that if you notice a chick becoming too stressed or afraid you can be there to tell your child that the chick needs a break. It's a perfect time to teach your child to show respect to animals' needs and to recognize when an animal needs its space.

Once your chicks have reached 4-5 weeks of age, they're ready to move into their outdoor coop, assuming that the weather agrees with them! Stop by Norby's Farm Fleet today to get started on everything you need to raise healthy baby chicks!