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I have been raising chickens for 5 years and it has definitely been trial and error. Here I want to give you all my first time chicken keeper tips. I hope this helps you on your backyard chicken journey!
First things first, when getting your chicks you want to make sure you get them from a reputable hatchery. You want to have healthy happy chicks that will grow into healthy happy hens. I personally like to order through Ideal poultry. I have gotten many shipments from them and trust them. They are family owned and operated, they have sexed birds which means I can pick out females in some breeds they offer and they are NPIP monitored which ensures their birds are healthy and disease free
Next is your set up, you want to make sure this is ready before your chicks arrive.
You’ll need a container, this can be a storage tub, stock tank, wooden diy brooder or purchase a brooder like this one here.
Great bedding options include pine shavings (not cedar) and hemp bedding. Both are absorbent and low dust which is a plus.
Next you will want a heat source which could be a heat lamp or heat plate. For the first 6-8 weeks you want to keep the chicks warm so they can thrive. Here is a chart of the recommended brooder temps.
You will also want a feeder and waterer for your chicks, this can be purchased at your local feed store, or online. Here are my personal favorite waterer and feeder.
Chicks will also need a chick starter/ grower feed. This gives them all the necessary nutrition they need up until its time for them to start laying.
Chicks are so much fun to have around, just make sure they have a warm environment that is cleaned often with plenty of clean food and water offered every day and they will thrive.
Connect with me on instagram to keep up with these cuties.
I am also linking Ideal poultry’s instagram page here.
