How to Care for a Pet Chick

Few can resist the charm of a cute, fluffy chick, whether they seek great-tasting organic eggs or are just looking for a low-maintenance backyard pet. Chicks need safe shelter, food, water, light and heat to thrive, so before you decide to raise a chicken, here are more specifics about caring for the little fuzzball.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cardboard box or small animal cage
• Heat lamp or desk lamp with reflector
• Pine shavings
• Plastic or galvanized steel chick feeder
• Plastic or galvanized steel chick waterer
• Chicken starter feed
• Sand or parakeet gravel

1. Keep your chick in a rabbit-sized cage or cardboard box (also called a "brooder") for the first couple of months.

2. Place the brooder in a warm, draft- and predator-free area. If you are using a cage, consider placing cardboard around the outside to prevent the chick from catching a chill.

3. Heat the brooder with a 100-watt light bulb and reflector or an actual heat lamp. Temperatures should be 95 to 100 degrees F for the first week, decreasing by 5 degrees F each week thereafter until the chick develops feathers (5 to 8 weeks old).

4. Cover the bottom of the brooder with 1 inch of fresh pine shavings. Avoid using newspaper for flooring as wet ink can become dangerously slick, causing the chick to fall and injure its already-fragile legs.

5. Change the bedding material every 2 to 4 days. Chicks are excessive poopers, and keeping bedding clean protects them from a number of diseases caused by unsanitary surroundings.

6. Provide clean, fresh water for your chick, as they drink frequently. You can purchase a chick waterer at a pet shop or feed/farm supply store. Avoid using a bowl of water because they poop in it and are also in danger of drowning.

7. Provide "chick starter" feed, the sole feed source for your chick's first two months. Place it in a chick feeder designed to keep poop out and food in.

8. Sprinkle sand or parakeet gravel on their food (as if you are salting it). Chicks lack the teeth necessary to grind their food, so the grit helps with digestion.

9. Play gently with your chick, allowing it to explore in a controlled environment. Chicks enjoy investigating and playing with their owners, but remember they can quickly become cold and tired. Limit playtime to short bouts.

10. Offer your chick an occasional treat--bread, bugs, worms or table scraps. Think of this as dessert, though, not the chick's main sustenance.

11. Increase your chick's living space as it grows. Provide at least 9 to 12 square inches of space by the time it is 4 weeks old.

12. Learn more about how to care for your chick at Mypetchicken.com (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• After about a month, provide your chick with a roost. Purchase one at a pet store or online, or make one out of dowels. A roost placed about 4 to 5 inches off the flooring is ideal for rest and play.
• Consider using a red bulb or lamp rather than a white one. The red light is darker and may help your chick relax and sleep.
• Remember that chicks love to scratch and peck, creating a fine dust that covers the surrounding area. Since you may not want this dust all over your living room, consider placing them in the garage or basement or putting a drop cloth underneath the cage.
• Baby chicks require a great deal of supervision in order to ensure clean food, water and living space. Don't plan a long outing or vacation unless you have an educated chick-sitter available.

Resources

• Read more about chicks and their care at mypetchicken.com.