(Newswire.net — April 28, 2021) — Are you considering raising chickens in your backyard? If so there are a few things you need to know before you get started. While we understand that you’re excited to start experiencing the benefits of raising backyard chickens, you need to be prepared.
Simple mistakes can lead to the unnecessary deaths of chicks, which will mean fewer full-grown chickens producing eggs. Just as importantly, it’s easy to become attached to the little chicks as you’re raising them.
We’re here to provide a little guidance. Keep reading for a quick guide on how to raise backyard chickens.
Baby Chicks Are Sensitive to Cold Temperatures
When you first bring your baby chicks home, it will probably be near the end of winter or in the early spring. In most regions, the outside temperatures will be too cold for them to survive.
Therefore, you’ll need to keep the baby chicks inside a heated and insulated building for the first six to eight weeks. The simplest solution is to use a large box lined with plastic. You can stretch chicken wire over the top to prevent the chicks from jumping out as they get older.
Use wood chips for bedding, which will need to be changed out every couple of days. You’ll also want a heat lamp hovering over the box to keep them warm, as baby chicks can’t produce their own body heat.
Baby Chicks Can Die From “Pasty-Butt”
One of the biggest risks of raising backyard chickens is the premature death of the chicks. If you have a warm, safe environment, you really only need to worry about one thing – “pasty-butt.”
The waste produced by baby chicks is more of a fluid than a solid. It can get stuck on their baby feathers near their bottoms. If it is allowed to build up, it can prevent them from excreting waste, which will kill them very quickly.
You’ll need to check their bottoms several times a day to prevent unnecessary deaths. In some cases, this means pulling out their baby feathers. They won’t like it, but it can save their life.
Baby Chicks Require Different Food Than Adult Chickens
Raising backyard chickens successfully means taking care of their most basic needs. This includes providing a constant supply of food and water. We recommend using chicken feeders and waterers to make your life a little easier.
If you use open dishes, their contents will quickly become soiled. Additionally, baby chicks need food created specifically for baby chickens. They can transition to adult chicken food as they get older.
Check out OrganicChickenFeed.com to find some of the best chicken feed on the market.
Are You Planning on Raising Backyard Chickens?
Did you enjoy our raising backyard chickens guide? We hope this helps you prepare for the task ahead. There are certainly pros and cons of backyard chickens, but it’s worth it in the end.
And if you’re looking for more helpful information, look through some of our other articles before you go. Our blog was created to be a hub of tips and advice for people from all walks of life. Good luck!