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Spring is the most popular time of year to start raising baby chicks. Warmer temperatures make it easier to care for them, and by late summer your flock can be fully grown and ready to join the coop.
Save this guide so you have it when you bring your chicks home.
If you’ve been thinking about raising baby chickens, but feel overwhelmed by the process, the good news is that getting started is actually very simple. With the right supplies and a basic understanding of chick care, you can successfully raise healthy chickens right in your backyard.
This raising baby chicks for beginners guide walks you through when to start, what supplies you need, and how to care for chicks during their first few weeks of life.
👉 Grab the FREE Chick Raising Checklist here so you don’t forget anything at the store.
I put an Amazon storefront shopping list in here for you with clickable links, and a Beginners Chick Raising Supplies Checklist at the end of this post to take with you to your local feed store or Tractor Supply.
Quick Start: Raising Baby Chicks for Beginners: What you need to know
If you are short on time, here is what you need to know:
Save this article to come back to later.
- Set up a warm brooder before chicks arrive
- Keep temperature at 95°F (week 1), reduce weekly
- Provide chick starter feed + clean water at all times
- Clean bedding daily
- Watch chick behavior for temperature adjustments
- Move to coop at 6–8 weeks when fully feathered
Why Spring Is the Best Time for Raising Baby Chicks for Beginners
Spring is the easiest time to start raising chicks, especially here in Upstate New York.
- Warmer temps make brooder management easier
- Chicks are ready for the coop by summer
- You have time to prepare for winter
In our area, mid-May is typically ideal—but always watch for cold snaps.
What to consider before getting your chickens:
Before you bring chicks home:
- Chickens are social animals—plan for at least 6. Some states like NY require a minimum purchase of 6.
- They require daily care (food, water, cleaning)
- Predator protection is critical (fox, hawks, dogs, etc.)
How Much Does It Cost to Raise Chicks?
Approximate startup costs:
- Brooder setup: $50–$150
- Feed (first month): $20–$40
- Supplies: $50–$100
You can start simple and upgrade later.
Best Supplies for Raising Baby Chicks (before you bring them home)
Have everything ready BEFORE chicks arrive.
Essential Chick Supplies
- Brooder box
- Heat lamp or heating plate
- Thermometer
- Chick starter feed
- Chick feeder
- Chick waterer
- Pine shavings bedding
👉 Shop my full chick set up here on Amazon.
This is exactly what I use when setting up for new chicks so you don’t have to guess what to buy.
How to Set Up a Brooder for Baby Chicks (Beginners Setup)
1. Choose Your Brooder Box
Your brooder should:
- Be draft-free (cold air kills chicks quickly)
- Have high sides
- Allow space for growth
Tips:
Leave extra space around feeder + waterer to prevent bedding contamination.
A brooder is the temporary home for baby chicks during their first 6–8 weeks of life.
As a general rule, make sure your chicks have enough space to comfortably huddle together for warmth, while still having a little room to spread out on their own.
From experience, it’s also important to leave extra space around your feeder and waterer. As chicks grow, they naturally scratch and kick bedding everywhere. Without enough room, that bedding will quickly end up in their food and water, creating a messy (and less sanitary) setup.
2. Add Bedding
Use:
- Pine shavings (best and cheapest option)
- Add enough to make it nice and fluffy for your chicks. They are foraging animals by nature so they will kick it around an adjust it to their liking. And.. get it everywhere in their food, their water, on themselves.
Avoid:
- Cedar (toxic to chickens)
3. Install Heat Source
Chicks cannot regulate body temperature, which is why they will huddle together in a corner for the first few days until they regulate.
Two options:
Heating plate (safer, more natural)
Heat lamp and red light bulb (traditional, strong heat)
There are great options in the Amazon shopping list.
Your chicks will tell you if the brooder temperature needs adjustment.
Too Cold
- Chicks huddle together
- Loud chirping
Too Hot
- Stay far from heat
- Panting
Just Right
- Moving freely
- Calm and quiet
Two common options are:
Heat Lamp
A traditional heat lamp and the red bulb keeps chicks warm and is widely used by backyard chicken keepers. This is what we use, however, I have heard good things about heating plates. I find the red lamps to let off sufficient heat for the chicks and allows them to get a good night’s sleep. Chicks will sleep a lot for the first few weeks.
The first time I raised chicks I was up all night, running to the garage to check on them, my husband had done this numerous times, he just laughed as I got up ran to the garage, and came back no longer in a panic.
Brooder Heating Plate
Many people now prefer brooder plates because they are safer and mimic the warmth chicks would receive from a mother hen. As I said I have heard good things about heating plates, however, my chicks for both laying and meat birds have been raised on the trusty old red light. If it ain’t broke… as they say.
4. Brooder Temperature guideline:
This is imperative that the temps stay at these temps to ensure the chicks grow and fill out before heading to the coop. Too cold temps will slow down growth and cause the chicks to get sick and die.
| Week | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | 95°F |
| Week 2 | 90°F |
| Week 3 | 85°F |
| Week 4 | 80°F |
Reduce heat gradually each week until chicks are fully feathered. You will know when it is time, because they will start to spread out and be more active as they get bigger.
How to check:
- Use a thermometer at chick level
- Place your hand in brooder—it should feel warm, not hot
5. Chick Feeder
Chicks require a feeder designed specifically for their small size. Chick feeders prevent them from scratching feed out and wasting it.
I use the feeder and waterers that begin flat on the ground, and as they get bigger I adjust the legs that are underneath to their height.
Tip: when the food and water start to get filled with the bedding it is time to move the legs up to the next notch, this will help to keep the bedding out of their food and water.
Click here to see the chick water and feeder combo I use on Amazon
Chick Waterer
Clean water must be available at all times. I made the mistake of only having one waterer, now, I have two. This way the waterer is always clean, and fresh for the next day. Switch them out, trust me it is easier.
Chick waterers are designed to prevent chicks from falling in and getting wet, which could cause chilling.
Chick Starter Feed
Baby chicks need chick starter feed, which contains the nutrients required for healthy growth.
Starter feed usually contains 18–20% protein and is finely ground so chicks can eat it easily.
Options include:
- Medicated chick starter
- Non-medicated chick starter
- Organic chick starter
In my experience there is no benefit to organic chick starter, and it can be way more expensive. Medicated chick starter is not something that I received good feedback on I was told by a long time chicken tender that it is best to only give chickens medications when they actually need them. So, I stick with that philosophy.
Feed should be available at all times. They will EAT, they eat a ton in these first few weeks. So, I would suggest if you have 6-12 chicks, one bag of food from the feed store or Amazon will last about a week and half.
Feeling overwhelmed trying to remember everything?
👉 Grab the printable checklist so you can bring it right to the store with you
Bringing Your Chicks Home
When chicks arrive, gently place them in the brooder and dip each chick’s beak into the waterer so they know where to drink.
Chicks will naturally find food shortly after.
Expect them to sleep frequently during the first few days. This is the one thing no one tells you, it scared me at first, I thought they were all sick. But, nope they sleep for hours, then they are lively, then it is nap time again.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
Avoid these:
- Overheating chicks
- Not enough space in brooder
- Dirty water (causes illness fast)
- Drafty brooder setup
- Letting bedding get wet
What Do Baby Chicks Need the First Week?
Quick bullet recap:
- Heat (95°F)
- Water
- Starter feed
- Clean bedding
- Safe brooder
How many chicks should a beginner start with?
Most beginners start with 6 chicks since they are social animals and do best in small groups.
Daily Care for Baby Chicks
Caring for chicks is simple but requires daily attention.
Each day you should:
- Check temperature
- Refill feed
- Provide clean water
- Remove wet bedding– this is one of those things that seems small, but dirty bedding can make chicks sick.
- Observe chicks for signs of illness, pecking, or picking
Healthy chicks are active, curious, and constantly peeping softly.
Watch to ensure they are drinking. You will know that they are drinking when one of them goes to the waterer, many of them will follow– they stick in their beak in to take in water, then put their head back to let it drain down their throat. This is okay, this is how they drink even as adults.
There should also be poop in the brooder, that means they are processing everything as they should. Clean the poop out daily.
When Chicks Are Ready for the Coop
Most chicks are ready to move outside when they are:
- 6–8 weeks old
- Fully feathered– no more baby downy feathers.
- They will stand 8 to 10 inches tall at this point.
- Their middles will be about the size of a small nerf football.
- Outdoor temperatures are mild so they can transition from that warm red light to the coop and be comfortable.
Before moving them, make sure your coop is predator-proof and secure.
Final Thoughts
Raising baby chicks is one of the most rewarding parts of starting a backyard flock. Watching them grow from tiny fluff balls into full-grown chickens is both fun and educational.
With a simple brooder setup and a few essential supplies, even beginners can successfully raise healthy chicks.
Starting your flock in the spring gives you the best chance for success and plenty of time to prepare your coop before colder weather arrives.
Expect some issues when you move the new chicks in with the established chickens, they will chase them, and even peck at them, but they should not be hurting them. Even what we would perceive as an attack is just the pesky pecking order getting into place.
Oh and do not take it personally… they are afraid of everything at this age. But, do not let that discourage you from handling your chicks. They need to get use to you since you will be part of their brood for the rest of their life. My husband says that my chickens only listen to me… that is fair.
WASH YOUR HANDS after handling chicks. This is especially important for little ones helping out.
If you’re trying to keep things simple and more natural at home, I use this easy homemade foaming hand soap that’s quick to make and works really well.
Free Printable Chick Raising Checklist
To make things even easier, download the Beginners Chick Raising Supplies Checklist with bonus shopping list included–so you have everything ready before bringing your chicks home.
Want a printable version of this checklist? Download the free Chick Raising Checklist to keep on your phone or bring to the farm store.
Best of luck! If you have questions or need help please reach out to [email protected]
Thank you,
Amber