Raising chicks for the first time is an exciting and rewarding experience. Watching them grow from fluffy balls into healthy hens or roosters is a joy for many backyard poultry enthusiasts. However, new chicken owners often underestimate the level of care and preparation required to raise chicks successfully. Without the right knowledge, it’s easy to make mistakes that can impact your chicks' health and well-being. To help you start off on the right foot, here are 10 common mistakes every new chicken owner should avoid—covering everything from brooder setup to feed selection.
1. Inadequate Brooder Setup
One of the first and most important steps in raising chicks is setting up a proper brooder. A brooder serves as a warm, safe environment where chicks can thrive during their first few weeks of life.
Common Mistake: Many new owners either choose an inappropriate container or don’t provide the right conditions. Cardboard boxes, for example, can absorb moisture and become unsanitary quickly.
How to Avoid It:
-
Use a plastic bin, wooden box, or a commercial brooder with solid, easy-to-clean walls.
-
Ensure the brooder is large enough—plan for at least 0.5 square feet per chick to allow room for growth.
-
Cover the brooder with wire mesh to protect chicks from curious pets while allowing ventilation.
2. Incorrect Temperature Control
Chicks can’t regulate their body temperature for the first few weeks and need a consistent heat source.
Common Mistake: Placing the heat lamp too close or too far away, leading to chicks either overheating or getting too cold.
How to Avoid It:
-
Use a heat lamp or brooder plate to provide warmth.
-
Start at 95°F (35°C) for the first week and reduce the temperature by 5°F each week until the chicks are fully feathered.
-
Observe chick behavior—if they’re huddled under the heat source, they’re too cold; if they’re far away and panting, they’re too hot.
3. Using the Wrong Bedding
The bedding in your brooder plays a crucial role in keeping your chicks healthy and clean.
Common Mistake: Using slippery materials like newspaper, which can cause splayed legs (a condition where the legs spread apart, impairing mobility).
How to Avoid It:
-
Opt for pine shavings or paper-based bedding.
-
Avoid cedar shavings, which can be toxic to chicks.
-
Keep bedding clean and dry by spot-cleaning daily and fully changing it weekly.
4. Improper Feed Selection
Chicks have specific dietary needs that differ from adult chickens.
Common Mistake: Feeding adult layer feed, which contains too much calcium for chicks and can damage their kidneys.
How to Avoid It:
-
Start with a high-protein chick starter feed (18-20% protein).
-
Choose between medicated or non-medicated feed. Medicated feed helps prevent coccidiosis, a common parasitic disease.
-
Provide fresh feed daily and avoid letting old, moldy feed sit in the brooder.
5. Lack of Clean Water
Chicks need constant access to clean, fresh water to stay hydrated and healthy.
Common Mistake: Using open bowls that chicks can easily tip over or soil with bedding.
How to Avoid It:
-
Use a chick waterer designed to prevent spills and contamination.
-
Place marbles or small stones in the water dish for the first few days to prevent chicks from falling in and drowning.
-
Change the water at least twice a day to keep it fresh.
6. Overcrowding the Brooder
Overcrowding can lead to stress, injury, and illness among your chicks.
Common Mistake: Placing too many chicks in a small brooder, leading to aggressive pecking and poor air circulation.
How to Avoid It:
-
Provide at least 0.5 square feet per chick for the first few weeks.
-
As the chicks grow, increase the space to at least 1 square foot per chick.
-
Monitor for signs of aggression and separate overly aggressive chicks if necessary.
7. Poor Ventilation
Proper airflow is essential to remove moisture, ammonia from droppings, and excess heat.
Common Mistake: Using a brooder that is too enclosed, leading to stuffy, humid conditions.
How to Avoid It:
-
Ensure the brooder has adequate ventilation without exposing chicks to drafts.
-
Use wire mesh covers and position the brooder in a room with steady air circulation.
-
Regularly clean the brooder to reduce ammonia buildup.
8. Handling Chicks Incorrectly
Socializing chicks is important, but improper handling can cause injury or stress.
Common Mistake: Grabbing chicks roughly or too frequently, which can frighten or harm them.
How to Avoid It:
-
Gently scoop chicks with both hands, supporting their body.
-
Limit handling during the first few days to allow chicks to adjust to their environment.
-
Over time, handle them more often to help them become friendly and tame.
9. Ignoring Health Issues
Chicks are vulnerable to illnesses, and early detection is key to successful treatment.
Common Mistake: Failing to recognize signs of illness like pasty butt (dried droppings blocking the vent), lethargy, or abnormal droppings.
How to Avoid It:
-
Check chicks daily for health issues.
-
Treat pasty butt immediately by gently cleaning the vent area with warm water.
-
If you notice persistent health problems, consult a veterinarian familiar with poultry.
10. Skipping the Transition to the Coop
As chicks grow, they’ll eventually need to move from the brooder to their outdoor coop.
Common Mistake: Moving chicks to the coop too soon or without proper acclimation.
How to Avoid It:
-
Wait until chicks are fully feathered (around 6-8 weeks old) before transitioning them outdoors.
-
Gradually introduce them to the outdoor environment during warm, dry days.
-
Ensure the coop is secure, predator-proof, and draft-free.
Raising chicks can be a fun and fulfilling experience, but it’s important to avoid common pitfalls that could jeopardize their health and happiness. By focusing on proper brooder setup, temperature control, feed selection, and health monitoring, you’ll set your chicks up for a strong and healthy start.
Remember, even experienced chicken keepers learn something new with each flock. Stay attentive, do your research, and enjoy the journey of raising happy, healthy chickens. With the right care, your chicks will grow into productive, thriving members of your backyard flock!
