Chicken Parenting Hacks for New Parents
So, you have a little cardboard box of ‘meepers’ (very fancy word for baby chickens)… now what?
Here’s our list of tips for the first season with your new besties…
Give them electrolytes
Chicks can be pretty distressed upon pickup. They may have had a long journey, are very fragile and possibly disoriented. Make sure they are hydrated! Give them some electrolytes in their water for the first few weeks. They have special chicken electrolytes at TSC, online, etc.
Keep small chicks with small, and big with big
It can be tough to consider separating your chickens, but especially with full-grown and little chickens, they need to be kept separate. Pro tip: put a screen in your brooder to keep the tiny ones from the bigger ones. Birds have hollow bones, and they like to hop on each other… need I say more?
Raise your feeding/watering containers
Chickens are messy eaters, and even messier poopers. Put your watering and feeding containers on a block of wood as they grow to keep them high enough that they aren’t accidentally resting their butts over their food.
Bring the outside inside
Chicks love climbing and playing - grab some sticks and stones for their brooder. They’ll love learning to perch!
Give them some sun
After a few weeks, they’ll appreciate a change in scenery and the chance to interact with some soil! They too are from the earth and can benefit from getting their ‘hands’ dirty. When the weather is warm enough, build a makeshift chick tractor and let them play in the grass. Be sure to watch them, though-they can get cold fast and shouldn’t be left out exposed to predators.
Automate your coop
When it’s time to move outside full time, don’t make chores for yourself. A solar door that opens and closes with the sun means you don’t need to let them in and out of their hen house every day. A 5-gallon bucket with feeding holes and a large water jug with little nibblers will keep them fed and watered all week long, at least!
Need help getting set up? We build chicken coops!