New Baby Chicks on the Farmstead
The Spring brings so many new things to the farmstead every year, including new life! This season is no different. We just got our new order of day old baby chicks in the mail. So it’s time to do some unboxing!
Get Prepared
We always get our brooding area prepared and ready ahead of time. I brood my chicks in a corner area of my greenhouse. This makes it easier to keep them warm and protected.
We keep two heat lamps in the brooding area and place fresh straw bedding (which has to be replaced regularly). We get them set up for food and water so that we are completely ready to go when we get the phone call.
Order and Pick-up
I’ve ordered from a few different hatcheries over the years, but my go to is Murray McMurray Hatchery. They have quality fowls and really good customer service. Plus I really love the various assortment packages that they offer.
When the hatchery ships, the package goes to the local post office and they call when the baby chicks arrive. And they typically call EARLY! I think they really don’t like all the chirping!
Giving the Baby Chicks a Healthy Start
When we get the baby chicks back to the farm, we go straight to the brooder and follow a couple very simple steps. We take them out of their box, one at a time, counting as we go, and dip their little heads directly into the water. By the time they get to us, they need to have water immediately. This ‘chicken waterboarding’, as it were, shows them where the water is and sparks them to start drinking. Then we just add their feed and make sure they are warm enough. I like to watch them for a while and make sure that they all look good and healthy.
It’s always a lot of fun getting our new baby chicks in and set up on the farm. We all really enjoy watching them play and grow. Just another wonderful thing that comes with springtime!
Additional Information about Raising Chickens
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