How to Raise Baby Chicks

What do you Need to Raise Chicks?

We’ve talked about backyard poultry here on the show before, but we’ve never explored raising chicks. 

Our guest today is Dr. Scott Gillingham from Guelph, Ontario. He’s a poultry veterinarian who works with big flocks. But he’s also a homesteader with his own small flock. 

Commercial scale and homestead scale agriculture are often in different silos. His passion is bridging the silos.

We’ll hear about:

• Crop fill
• Brooding chambers
• Preventative medicine
• Comfort zones
• Giving chicks the right temperature
• Suitable feed for chicks

“You become the hen and you have to understand the attributes of a hen and how to provide for and nourish that chick.”

Observation is Very Important

We’ll also talk about something that is very useful tool when raising chicks: A 5-gallon bucket. 

Gillingham explains how he uses a simple bucket to sit on and observe what’s up. It works in big commercial barns; it works with small home flocks.

He says that when chicks have everything they need you’ll see them eating, drinking, sleeping, and playing. If not — you’ll see huddling for warmth or with wings up trying to cool themselves.

Book about How to Raise Chicks

Gillingham’s book is Raising Amazing Chicks: The First Seven Days.