New Baby Chicks

New chicks one day old

Every couple or so of years I have to order new baby chicks.  This year I ordered my chicks from Meyer Hatchery out of Polk, Ohio, here is their link  http://www.meyerhatchery.com/  I ordered 25 pullets but received 27 healthy chicks.   All are still doing great.  I always order a variety of chicks that lay brown eggs. But ordered a couple of chicks this year that lay white eggs. Will post more pictures as my chicks grow. 

I ordered my chicks over the internet.  I was able to pick out a delivery date that was convenient for me.  The chicks arrived at the post office early one morning. Our mail carrier doesn't delivery here until in the afternoon.  I went to the post office to pick the chicks up. 

The most important thing with baby chicks is keeping them warm until they get feathers.  I put them in a large box with straw on the bottom. I partially cover the box with a quilt. We have a heat lamp bulb hanging over the box holding the temp at 95 degrees F.  Please be careful of fire hazards if you do it this way too. I check and double check that everything is okay. If the chicks start staying away from the heat, raise the heat bulb so it isn't so warm on them. I had all this ready before I picked up my chicks.  Also had Start and Grow from the farm supply store for them and their water bottle. One of my neighbors years ago told me to put one teaspoon of sugar in their water at first for a good start.  I still do this, don't know if it helps or not.

Some of the new chicks have a hard time finding the water.  I take one at a time and dip their beaks in water. So cute to see them lift up their heads and swallow for the first time. I feed my new chicks start and grow feed and give grass clippings or they love the left over lose hay to scatch around in. They also like fruit and vegetable scraps.

Just a couple more weeks and I will be able to move them to the chicken coop.  Oh, guess I forgot to mention that my husband puts up with baby chicks in the basement!!



Three weeks old.

Almost three months old.

They are happy to be free.