For many of us spring brings the pleasure of a new batch of chicks. Giving them a healthy, strong start to life starts in the brooder. Raising chicks is generally very easy, and lots of fun. In this issue, Gail Damerow explains what you need to have when choosing a brooder (see page 28), and Tim Erickson discusses feed specific to chicks (see page 32). I want to offer a few more tips to make raising chicks a fun, healthy adventure.

Offer the Correct Temperature

Once you have the correct brooder for your needs, you are ready to get those birds off to the right start. The brooder temperature should be set at 95°F for the first week. Reduce the temperature 5°F each week until you reach room temperature, when you can discontinue offering any heat. The chicks should then be fully feathered and ready to hit the great outdoors.

Offer Enough Space

Chicks grow fast! The chicks' first few days are mostly spent sleeping, but they will quickly become active, needing more space to prevent boredom.

Boredom can lead to feather and toe picking. Feather picking usually starts when chicks begin feathering out, and the chicks are seeing something unfamiliar. Toe picking may start when chicks can't find enough to eat.

As chicks grow, offer larger brooding quarters. If you haven't started with a large enough brooder to allow adequate space, the easiest and least expensive option is to get a bigger cardboard box.

Floor Cover

Do not use newspaper or other smooth surfaces. Brooding chicks on a slick surface can encourage slipped tendon, known as perosis. Do not use wood shavings for the first few days. Chicks are going to peck at everything, and end up eating these chips instead of feed. Layer paper toweling on top of any surface for the first few days.

Offer Correct Water & Feed Supply

Chicks can live for about two days without feed or water, surviving on residual yoke, but once they arrive at your house, getting them started on water and feed should be your first priority. Show the birds where the water is by gently dipping the tip of each bird's beak into the waterer. Use chick-size waterers, and place small stones in the base for the first few days to prevent drowning. Place the waterers near the heat source, but not directly under it.

After a few days, place the waterer on a wooden block at the chicks' back height to help keep them clean and to prevent drowning. As the birds grow raise the waterer and feeders to match back height. This will force the chicks to stretch and strengthen their legs.

Use a commercial chick starter feed—chicks need a well-balanced diet for good growth and development. You can also offer mashed up hard-boiled eggs to the chicks. Offer the feed spread out on the paper toweling for the first day or so, then the feed can be placed on lids, an old egg carton or purchased feeder. Do not feed layer feed or other chicken feed, as these do not meet the correct chick dietary needs, and may contain ingredients that can harm the chicks, such as too much calcium.

Feed a ration designed for chicks; don't be tempted to feed them the same thing you would feed laying hens, or the chicks will not grow properly. Use feeders and waterers designed to keep chicks from stepping in the feed or water. Chicks that walk around in their droppings and then step in the feeder or waterer may spread disease.

You can purchase commercial waterers and feeders from any farm store or one of the many advertisers in Backyard Poultry.

Maintaining comfortable, sanitary and healthy conditions in the brooder will minimize stress. Stress can make chicks susceptible to diseases they might otherwise resist. Stress may be avoided by making sure chicks have constant access to feed and water, sufficient space to grow, and the proper brooder temperature. When all the chick needs are met, the birds will grow into fine, healthy chickens, and the pleasures of watching this will be immeasurable.