We had been setting up the brooder and supplies over the past week as we waited anxiously for their arrival. When caring for baby chicks, there are a few essential things to remember.
First and foremost, providing them with a warm, safe environment free from drafts and predators is essential. A brooder is a perfect place to keep them for the first few weeks of their lives.
Secondly, providing them with the proper food and water is essential. Baby chicks need a starter feed high in protein, usually around 18-20%, and access to clean water. Monitoring their food and water intake is important to ensure they get enough to eat and drink.
Thirdly, it's crucial to keep the brooder clean and dry. Baby chicks are messy, and their droppings can quickly build up and create an unhealthy environment. Cleaning the brooder daily and adding fresh bedding will help keep them healthy and happy. When raising a flock of chickens, there are several things to consider. First, you must decide how many chickens you want and what breed you want to raise. Different breeds have different temperaments and lay different types of eggs, so it's essential to choose the right breed for your needs.
The Cuckoo Marans were selected to add to our flock because they are cold and hardy and lay beautiful chocolate-colored eggs. We hope to add more color to our rainbow egg-laying flock.
Baby chicks bring us such joy. We love watching them eat, drink, play, and sleep for the first week. We check on them daily to ensure the temperature, food, water, and general living environment are ideal for their growth. Cooing and whispering not to startle the chicks we feel is essential. We want to make sure our chicks know that we are part of the flock, so interaction at an early age is vital as we nurture friendly, docile new flock members.
We risk the urge to pick them up until about ten days of age. First, we don't want them to catch a chill; secondly, we want to ease the chicks into being handled and not scared. We place our hands in the brooder using slow movements and let our new babies inspect us. After ten days, we will begin socializing them by gently picking each one up for a few minutes while speaking to them and gently stroking them.
It's generally recommended to wait until baby chickens are at least 6-8 weeks old before they are introduced to the rest of the flock. By this age, they are big enough to hold their own against any potential bullying or aggression from other chickens. When introducing new chickens to the flock, it's essential to do so gradually to minimize stress and aggression.
One way to do this is to keep the new chickens in a separate area within the coop or run for a few days so the existing flock can get used to their presence. This will also allow the new chickens to become familiar with their new surroundings and establish a hierarchy.
It's also a good idea to supervise the introduction process and be prepared to separate any chickens that are being overly aggressive. Most chickens can be successfully integrated into a flock with patience and careful monitoring.
Our present flock is extremely tame and will come running whenever we call or they see us walking towards their chicken run. Comically, they all line up at the coop door, waiting to see if we have brought a treat. Many demand our full attention as they anxiously wait to be picked up and have a petting session. When our flock free ranges, they love to follow us about and join us as we sit on our porches. I can't wait until our Cuckoo Marans are old enough to go outside and join the new flock this Spring.