I’ve never understood why feed stores get their baby chicks in the winter.  There are so many things that can go wrong.  Chicks are sent to the stores by mail.  Sometimes they don’t make it here alive.  One thing for sure, they are cold and hungry.  The poor little things huddle around each other to try to keep warm.  Sometimes they smother and die.  When we get the call from the post office , we run quickly to get them to the store.  We already have the lights on warming the tank and fresh feed and water waiting.  

Well, let’s see just what you have to have to get ready for your first set of birds. Heat is number one.  You can buy heat lamps and bulbs for them at any of your local feed stores. Shavings are a must.  Chicks are dirty little critters.  Bedding has to be changed at least twice a week.  Water is next and the same thing as the bulbs, look at your local store.  Most people like to start with a quart feeder, but it won’t take long before you need at a gallon size.  You need to wash the waterers and change the water daily.  There are lots of feeders available.  They also need to be cleaned and filled every day.  

What do I feed the chicks with?  Chick starter is the correct feed for at least 16 weeks or until you see your first egg.  After that I recommend that you start lay pellets.  The higher the protein, the better chance of more eggs.  Our chicks are coming next week.  We have Barred Rock, Black Australorp, Buff Orpingtons, and Rhode Island Reds coming.  These are supposed to all be good layers.  When I was in 4-H (a day or 2 ago) we only raised broilers.  I think that only mom and I liked that project.  It was messy, and at the end all of the birds were dead.  Our house was so full in the summer, she cooked at least 2 chickens a day.  I sure do miss mom.  I would love to ask her how she fed all of us and the cousins we had in the summer.

(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal. Email Mitzi questions at  mitzithomas40@yahoo.com.)