Ready to grow your flock? Stay tuned for our top tips on how to make good choices for the health and longevity of your flock!It can be hard to be picky when it comes to baby chicks. I mean, have you ever seen an uncute chick? Yet, taking the time to choose your chicks wisely is a smart long-term move. Choosing strong and disease-free chicks protects your flock and makes your life as a chicken keeper a whole lot easier.
If possible, buy chicks locally.
If you live nearby a feed store that sells chicks, we highly recommend buying your chicks there in person. While no one can deny ordering chicks online has its perks, like greater convenience and selection, buying in person is worth the extra effort.
First, it’s crucial that you see a chick before you buy it. As we’ll discuss below, there are all sorts of potential health problems that you can catch just by looking at a chick.
Second, the environment a chick is raised in is highly influential on its health. Unlike ordering online, by ordering in person, you can see for yourself the quality of the chicks’ environment. If you see a clean area with plenty of clean food and water being warmed under a heat lamp (chicks moving comfortably underneath it), you can feel more confident about the chicks’ wellness.
Pick out the healthiest of the bunch.
Pick up the chicks. They should feel solid and robust for their size.
Avoid the smallest or the runt. As cute as they may be, runts often have health problems from which they never fully recover.
Avoid a chick that is sleeping off by itself. Chicks often sleep together at the same time, so a chick sleeping while the others are up and at it is not a good sign.
Light peeping is a good sign that the chick is awake and alert, but loud, pained peeping is often a sign of pain or illness. This could be a sign of an unhealthy or chilled chick, which doesn’t bode well for the chick’s future.
Perform a “chick” up!
Examine a chick from head to toe before buying. The chick’s feet should have four toes each (though some breeds have five), with three facing forward and one back. Check for spraddle leg (bent or too far apart legs) when the chick is standing. The chick should be capable of standing well on its own.
Moving up to the bum, watch out for “pasty butt.” Soft feces can get stuck and harden to the chick’s vent and prevent excretion, which can be fatal if not helped. It’s easily fixable but could be a sign of other health issues, so it’s best to steer clear.
As for the rest of the body, look for protrusions, missing feathers, redness, and any sign of umbilical cord still attached to the chick’s navel.
On up to the head, look for a beak that isn’t crooked or unable to shut properly. The nostrils and eyes should be clean and clear of any crust or drip.
Once you find the ones that “chick” off all your boxes, take them home and get ready to have fun with your new feathered friends!