Bringing home baby chicks is one of the most exciting parts of raising backyard chickens! Those tiny, fuzzy balls of fluff are adorable—but they do need special care in their first few weeks of life. Setting up a proper brooder is the first step to keeping your chicks healthy, warm, and happy.
Our chicks are about two weeks old and all 55 of them have outgrown the small brooder we have. So, Ron has divided them into two different brooders to give them space as they get a little bigger before they go outside. You can see what he does here.
Brooder Set Up
A brooder is simply a warm, safe space for your chicks to live until they’re big enough to go outside. You can use a plastic tote, a large cardboard box, or a special brooder box. The key things they need are warmth, bedding, food, water, and protection.
For warmth, use a heat lamp or a brooder plate. Chicks can’t regulate their body temperature yet, so keeping it around 95°F for the first week is important. Each week, lower the temperature by about 5°F until they’re fully feathered. If the chicks are huddled under the heat source, they’re cold; if they’re far away, it’s too hot. Watch their behavior—they’ll tell you what they need!
Line the bottom of the brooder with pine shavings (avoid cedar—it’s too strong). Keep things dry and change the bedding often. Fresh, clean water should always be available, and a chick starter feed provides all the nutrients they need to grow strong.
Chicks also love a little company—both from their flockmates and from you. Handle them gently and talk softly so they get used to being around people.
Within a few short weeks, your fluffy babies will be curious, active, and ready to explore the big world outside the brooder. Taking the time to set them up right from the start means you’ll have healthy, friendly chickens for years to come!
