How to Raise Baby Chicks NO HEATLAMP and other tricks!

[@the_mrs]

When we were living off the grid we would wrap a hot water bottle-one of those old fashioned rubber ones-in a soft scrap of flannel. We changed it out with hot water twice a day, and it worked beautifully.

[@StoneKathryn]

Great idea!

[@varietypack4979]

Yes, hot water bottles! I've used half gallon plastic milk jugs filled with hot water stuffed into an old sock for ducklings and bunnies. They love it!

[@myprtrump2207]

Thank you!

[@AWayfaringstranger180]

Thank you!!

[@sherrylegary7418]

What a good idea.

[@pamelabagwell4190]

My favorite hen is the buff Orpington. Sweet natured and broodiness hasn’t been bred out of them. My favorite way to raise chicks is to let a broody hen raise them for me! Easy peasy!

[@spoolsandbobbins]

That’s what we’re raising now!!! They are lovely!

[@freedomlover2358]

That's what I'm hoping for this spring. My Orpington went broody last year so I'm hoping for that this year. Last year I didn't need or want more chickens.

[@SpongeAddict-gw6mo]

I agree buffs are sweet and tend to like humans more then other breeds

[@farmhouseontherock]

We love the buff orphington too. We are going to get some of the lavender orphington soon. Also our americaunas are very loving and very good layers

[@robertaaugustini4091]

I have 19 hens and not a broody one among them. I usually get some silkies just for their broody/mothering instinct

[@77lases]

Really like the feather duster idea - so clever! Thank you

[@rrbb36]

I use sand in the hen house and sift out their droppings with a cat litter scooper. Some ppl claim the sand freezes, which is of course impossible-unless you’re silly enough to put wet sand in your coop Sometimes a chicken’s droppings may be a little watery and freeze and stick to the floor, but that just means the sand layer is too thin. It’s so easy and stays so clean, sifting chicken poop and adding it to the compost has become my favorite chore. No joke.

[@brittneymiller605]

I do the same with hemp, zero smell! I might have to try sand....would save money for sure!

[@mikefeddersen2476]

Might not be too bad if you had a long handle attached to the scoop. This just reminded me of a setup that was at the Mid-Iowa Kenworth shop. They used a cart of sorts that looked like a gravity feeder with a mesh screen on top. We would use floor-dri to soak up oil and other liquids, after scrubbing it into the oil patches, we would scoop it up and drop it in the top mesh tray to screen out the debri and the dry floor-dri would sprinkle thru the mesh to be used again. The mesh tray holding the chunks could be dropped in a trash can. I imagine a 2x2 foot screen could go over the top of a trash can and you could fill the screen with a scoop shovel.

[@cynthiabourgeois5113]

What region are you in? I think that might make a difference in choice of substrate. I’m in S Louisiana. Sand flies would be brutal here.

[@lynnpaul6591]

Sand works great in horse stables. I would use an attachment to hose and spray vinegar on where they would pre

[@geekgal3614]

We have raised chicks for the past few years. We use a chicken heater pad and also a 60 watt light bulb seems to do the trick. We heat our home by wood burning fireplace insert so it doesnt get real warm in the house (65-70) but the chicks are not too far from the heat source. We usually just let mom raise them but we needed a new blood line this year so bought a few chicks. So fun to have them in the house. 😊 We also try to handle them daily to get them used to us. We had two bantam roosters hatch this past Dec and now they follow us around the yard like a dog. Lol. So cute.

[@lorimiller5574]

This is our first year raising chickens, and we are living in a camper while we develop our property, so we have 20 noisy chicks in the back bedroom!

[@Joanna-PianoTutorials]

We did the same thing :) 👍🏻

[@heatherk8931]

Lori, watch out the dust is impossible to get out of your space! A year later and its still in my ac system

[@sandramcleod9619]

Me too!

[@sandramcleod9619]

Me too! Except mine are in the bathroom!

[@reibersue4845]

@@sandramcleod9619 in my tub

[@kathygarner419]

Stacy, a couple of hours before you get ready to go to bed, put 3 or 4 solid/ paver type bricks or some clean kitchen pot sized rocks on top of your wood stove, wrap them in old towels or blankets and place them at various locations in your brooder. Then cover your brooder with your blanket on top to keep them warm throughout the night. Be sure that you have wrapped your stones or bricks in enough towels and blankets so that they are comfortable to hold. The little babies will love this. The water bottle idea would also work with plastic milk jugs as long as the liquid was not too hot. I am glad to see you showing your animals inside the house on these videos. People who are not from the farm don't understand that sometimes we have to bring them inside the house when they are vulnerable. They just think we are eccentric and don't always understand that these animals are valuable and are part of our livelihoods.

[@valkyrie1066]

We always raise the chicks indoors; if they are to be production, they go outside in a pen, but since we are in the city, we keep ONE as a pet. (We have homes for the other three) We've used instant hand warmers, and more recently, the rechargeable variety.

[@mashoutman]

Just got first ever chicks today. Barred rocks and golden comets. Raising them off-grid.

[@jjohnson7087]

I love the black copper Marian, beautiful good temper and chocolate brown eggs🐶

[@bethsands7665]

You are getting better and better as a Homesteader and you look healthy and happy... thanks for your hard-earned knowledge.

[@onlyintime9914]

Fav tips: use ibc tote cut in half for keeping chicks in house, tape wool sweaters to corners so they can snuggle it and keep warm, put wool feather dusters inside their pen so they can cuddle it and keep warm

[@leegrumbling9623]

Thanks again, Miss Stacy. Not a fan of the lamps. Although it can be a blessing and a curse for mature birds when they roost under spotlights and such. Had a neighbor brood Guinee Fowl under a lamp, and another neighbor keep his spots on all night so he could pick them off at leisure. You guys ROCK. Wishing you every success and abundance.

[@dazie1357]

LoL yes my dad filled up the living room every spring with chickens & turkeys 😀 this video pretty much lays out my childhood spring time chore

[@ryan2623]

I'm so excited for this spring, I'm finally going to try my hand at raising chickens!

[@heatherk8931]

I got a 9 egg incubator off Amazon, and decided to try and hatch some out from my little flock😊🐣. I've only got 2 laying of the 5 right now so Silver Laced Wyandotte and Americauna eggs it will be! Also want to get more Black Australaurp (2-3) and Buff Orpington (2-3). Great eggs!

[@janicew6222]

I use a pop-up mesh playpen for dogs, they are cheap and work great for chicks in the house. LOVE the corncob material too. Raising chickens for many years, I like the Orpingtons, Australorps, Cochins, Barred Rocks.

[@karenparle5219]

That is what i used this year for the first time. worked great. I put them out today.

[@kellyhall753]

Great information Stacy. After buying a dozen eggs paying $4.49 from Aldi’s and listening to Doug’s recent video about $8 to $10 / dozen eggs coming, makes me want want to get serious and build a coop. We live in town but our neighbors next door have 7 big chickens running around in there fenced in yard. Seeing more and more chickens in town these days.

[@veronicagilmore9654]

We aren’t off grid any more but we got baby chicks for our first time. We ended up with two small batches and the first batch I got two olive eggers too! They are all doing well thankfully. These are great tips Stacy. I really love your channel and all the wisdom and knowledge you and Doug share 💕

[@karicollett]

I’ve been raising chickens for years. My favorites are the backyard dual-purpose breeds. I have Barred Rocks, Ameraucanas, Buff Orpingtons, Black Australorps, Jersey Giants, Marans, Welsummers, Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshire Reds, Silver-laced Wyandottes, Salmon Faverolles, Cinnamon Queens. This year, I got some Lavender Orpingtons to add to my flock. I love all of the different colors and different personalities!

[@aessidhe6304]

I have my first 6 australorp chicks (1 week old today) in a crate in the house right now. I will be getting 15 chanteclers in another 2 weeks. I picked these breeds because they are cold hardy. Its been a blast watching them. Curious little girls with quite the personalities….. One thing I learned today is they intentionally put their pine flakes into their water. I watched them this morning selectively choosing pine flakes and walking across the brooder crate to their water tray and dropping the pine flakes in. Oddest thing!

[@sandyandchance]

I got Chantecler last year and they lay well, nice chickens you will love them.

[@Kathleen67.]

I've had Australorps for years, yoh will love them; they are sweet, quiet, and good mommas. We had them in 40 below weather and they did fine without heat and lay eggs through the winter. We have a premaid coup with a run and stacked hay bales around the outside with about 6 inches at the top for air flow and pine chips in the run and coop. We use the deep litter method, so just put more shavings over the top which further insulates and clean out in the Spring. For water, we change it every two to three hours depending on how cold it is.

[@kgfloyd3882]

Stacy thanks for sharing your tips on baby chicks so adorable.

[@debmunson3224]

Family had chickens amongst all other farm animals. I’ve ordered my first chicks in 50 years!!!! They arrive Friday coming. Excited! 2 Barred Rocks, 1 silver laced Wyandotte, and 1 black australorp. Not supposed to have them in my neighborhood but I chose quiet docile girls. Going to enjoy them so much. Thanks Stacey for the wonderful tips given. Will use them!

[@TheGirlnurse]

Now I want chicks! You’re so encouraging!

[@hesketthavenfarm1012]

I have always loved the Americanas. And I also like the barred rocks. They are very calm

[@markholmes1346]

Your the Chicken Whisperer 😊 Great info on raising Chicks 🐥 🐣

[@sbuxton240]

I hadn’t heard of olive eggers before this morning. Other great tips about the babies.

[@slhuneycutt]

So timely! We just got our first set of chicks yesterday. 5 golden comets & 5 isa browns. I’ve been watching videos and learning so much. When we bought our house, the former owners left their chickens, so we inherited a few hens that we love. My favorite is definitely the Ameraucana. She’s the only one who lets us hold her - and she lays the cutest little blue eggs ❤️🐓

[@danamama6766]

They are my favorites too they are the sweetest birds. I have had several and have some now and they all are cuddle bugs.

[@sw3929]

Isa brown are very nice. You can hold them..Extra large eggs

[@sherrylegary7418]

Hi, this is our second year of raising Cornish Giants. Last year my daughter and I did 50, this year we are doing 110 so that we hope to have 55 each. Just takes 2 months to fill our freezer with free range chickens that taste much better than store bought.

[@saia2205ify]

I love my ISA browns

[@coolgram6139]

I love my Olive Eggers. They add such pretty shades of green to my egg basket. I enjoy looking in there and seeing all the different shades of blue, green and brown. I even have some Leghorns that lay white eggs. So I have all the colors going on. I love it!

[@cherylcallahan5402]

*OFF GRID with Doug and Stacy chickens appreciate your videos Listening from Mass USA TYVM 💙 Doug Stacy*

[@karrolstover6773]

Great information Stacy, My favorite chickens are Wyandottes and Amerikanas

[@kristikiser8762]

Thank you again! We were literally just talking last night about how to heat and keep chick's soon because we are offgrid as well and don't love the idea of a heat lamp. We do have a woodstove and a small cabin, and tons of blankets so we will give it a go soon! The outdoor coop area is almost finished so we're getting egg-cited! 😆

[@lesawillis653]

I Love listening to you Stacy. I have a years worth of food for 5 people. I have it. I am so surprised. It is true My Lord has helped me I asked him and it happened. I would love to learn how to raise chicken from checks.

[@dancingphoenixfarm4378]

Spring chicks are in the air!🐣 D&S, we got a couple little Turks (currently in the bathtub) after watching your turkeys 🦃. They are starting to jump out of the tub teeheee! We noticed they’re much more affectionate than chickens. Fun!

[@galiaalexander474]

As someone who has raised thousands of chicks and now off grid I wanted to do it all different. I chose some Silkie hens to raise chicks from the other hens. Very excited to go this way and take a load off me.

[@hal7ter]

I have read that they are very broodie - good idea!

[@richardschmidt2430]

You already know my favorite, Stacy.....GUINEAS! I hatched out my first last fall....she is awesome! Lots of eggs from the guineas and they are great "watchdogs"! :) Shalom Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)

[@daralynnhale1565]

We just got our baby chicks 10 days ago and so far so good. We got American Leghorns and only allowed 4 in our suburban neighborhood. Having a cockiteal for many many years, we just applied the same like care as we did for our fella. We have a quality chick feed we give them morning and evening, water, and a heat source for warmth. Their coop is appropriate for a small flock and the dogs have done wonderfully with getting introduced to their new backyard friends. So far, so good!!!!

[@jimoray3]

I just got 30 Cornish Cross Hens chicks and 5 layer chicks as I already have 21 layers and all through the winter they’ve laid 21 eggs a day. Oh so good here in Utah. I sell the eggs for $5 a dozen too. Enjoy your content so much

[@juliannrowland6552]

Excellent, excellent tips for chickens. Thank you so much.

[@sharonfowler4816]

I live in an apartment right now in the city but when I get a piece of property, I will so keep information like this coming because I need all that I can get. Thanks.

[@kimbowman5764]

Love your help and knowledge of failed issues. Saves time, energy and resources. Thank you Stacy! Love and Light 💕

[@michellehite6235]

I so want to have chickens! So i am learning all I can from you and others beforehand. Thanks Stacy, good info!

[@soulbestrongaprilbillups4559]

We have chicks for the first time! We have 10 Rhode Islands and 10 Easter Eggers. They are a hoot! It is over 100 degrees every day right now, so we are taking advantage of the heat to skip electricity. We put them in ventilated storage boxes at night. At sun upI let them out into a large 10' x 10' outdoor dog kennel that we've modified with industrial cloth, chicken wire and a wind break (There's untreated hardwood mulch on the kennel floor.) Each evening I put them back into 2 storage boxes for the night (we were using one box but they're getting bigger so we split them into 2 now.). They are doing great! Haven't lost one yet (PTL!). The storage boxes sit in the center of the kennel at night because I have NO indoor space for a brooder. The hot summer is really making this work. We are going on 3 weeks now and they are doing great! We plan to get a coop built in the next month and keep the dog kennel for run space until they're old enough to free range. So much fun! I call them "the rioters." 😂

[@hoppas77]

Off the subject.. Stacy your hair is beautiful and I love the 'glitter' (as I call it ;) it's so pretty with your dark hair. Thank you for the info, I learned something new today.

[@susan6942]

Aren’t they the cutest so stinking cute thank you so much for letting us know all about raising baby chicks

[@Peachlady222]

We have raised Buff Orpingtons for years. They are wonderful mommas. We let our hens set and raise the chicks for us. Orpingtons are good meat birds and lay nice sized brown eggs. They forage a lot of their own food.

[@sherrylegary7418]

Hi I notice that many people grow different types of Chickens on their homestead. This may be a ridiculous question, but I was wondering, do you need a roaster for each different species you are growing? For example we just started growing Breasy Chickens last summer and we have a Breasy roaster, but I want to get an Orpington this year, do I need to get a Orpington roasters? And if I get a Silky do I need a Silky roaster?

[@Peachlady222]

@@sherrylegary7418 The answer depends on if you want to have pure chicks of the breed to sell or will the chicks be for meat. If you want to keep the chicks pure, yes you would need a rooster of each breed. And, you will need separate pens for each breed. We have several breeds of hens all together. We even have a couple of Bantam hens. The Bantams get bred by our Orpington roosters. The resulting offspring are half Orpington and don’t grow to be as large as the pure Orpington chicks. We do not sell any of the chicks so keeping only Orpington roosters works for us. If we wanted to sell chicks or hatching eggs, we would separate the breeds and have a rooster for each.

[@welcometothemachine321]

I love the lace Wyondottes!! They are so lovely and hardy! This year will be my first year raising chickens in my adulthood. I had chickens when I was growing up, and it was such an impactful part of my life. I want to make sure we have chickens when we have kids of our own. I believe it is so important to teach kids where food comes from and how to be self sustainable. I am so thankful that we have this opportunity. 💚 bless you and your family and thanks for uploading this video!

[@susankeriacos2892]

I enjoyed the video, thank you! Great idea putting a duster in the chicks brooder box.

[@bettymacallister3475]

Hi Stacy you explained having chicks very well. Thank you 🐥

[@debbralehrman5957]

I live in a park so no chickens. But I love learning about all of the information that you share. And I do talk to people about what I have learned. Thanks for all your advice.

[@morganhenry9380]

I raise Large Fowl Cochins, Marans, Amercauna’s, Muscovy and call ducks. Love this time of year!

[@sherrysears122]

I was wondering how you could raise chicks with out having electricity for a heat lamp. So this is an answer to my wondering. Thanks Stacey. I thought we would be limited to the hen's raising them. My favorite chickens are Rhode island reds but I always get a mixture to go along with them because I love to have the variety of colors. Right now my favorite hen is a golden laced wyandotte. She is a beauty and she cooks. When we hold her and talk to her.

[@cbowers3229]

First Timer - using a portable playpen for dogs with sand - Got 2 Easter Eggers a Blue Laced Wyandotte and a Golden Comet - their are in my spare bedroom!

[@cur159]

My chicks arrive next week. So happy for this video. It give me hope that I can care for this chicks so they can produce good eggs.

[@MissChievousRN]

Necessity is the mother of invention! When I brooded my first batch of chickens, I planned it when my Husband was out of town for a month. (This probably isn't necessary for most of you.) We have a spare/guest bath in the walkout basement so I raised them there with a controlled environment (space heater and brinsea warmer), plenty of water for clean up, all tile, and easy access to outdoors for disposal of litter. But 4 weeks isn't old enough to turn them loose and it was still very cold and wet. 🤔🤔🤔 **** I bought a 4 man dome tent for $20 off craigslist and set it up in the corner of the barn. It worked AWSUM! **** It kept them corralled when as they started to jump and flap. It kept the bedding contained, had a waterproof-ish bottom, and was enough room to put food and water on puppy pads and keep it relatively clean. Cats couldn't get to them. And it was not drafty but a transitional temp to the cooler outdoor temps. The best part is: it's cheap enough to throw away if you don't want to reuse it. I also used pack-n-play play pens, craigslist, when they were super tiny and that worked well too, but just for a bit and not very many. The older larger play pens would work better.

[@valkyrie1066]

Yes to craigslist and unwanted small kid tents!!!!! We're attempting to do an open bottomed tent structure so it may be used as a temporary chicken tractor outdoors. We use it for foraging, not free outdoor hens. They are tiny right now and it's perfect. So cheap it is practical to use and discard (CRAIGSLIST) The one who stays will have diapers, shoes, and a carseat. (YES we have done it many times before) We use a "play yard" to flying stage then a "tent" once they can fly.

[@samlove1081]

You folks are amazing! I love watching your videos. Thank you!!❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jeaniepartridge6701]

I picked up 21 chicks yesterday from a local breeder this is the third time I have raised chicks in my basement I do have a heater and heat lamp. I am also doing my seed starting down there so it keeps me going up and down the stairs so I get exercise too!

[@genal5808]

Great set up. Thanks for explaining different methods and what is working well for you. Cutest chicks too!

[@mylittleruralhomestead]

I always learn so much from you Stacy. Thank you ❤

[@kimpozo3514]

Nice Video Stacey! I learn something new everyday from you! Babies are adorable!

[@jesskan9828]

Thanks for showing how you do your chicks! Stacy I also just love your tourquoise jewelry!💖

[@CATherine001]

I raised chicks when I was very young. We used a box the size of a fridge, placed screens on top to prevent them from jumping out. I had a semi soft sand paper on a 8x8” wood so they can scratch but used cardboard with no ink as floor material ripped up in tiny pieces. Used a heat lamp with plenty of water bottles and ground corn. I had white leg horns very hardy breed produces brown eggs

[@jackandlenora1983]

we had chickens when I was growing up. Im thinking of trying to raise some . thank you for sharing.

[@tional5266]

First time with chicks, I have 11 in a dog kennel in my living room, my favorite is the 1 Orpington (supposed to be a rooster but much smaller than the hens, it’s snowing outside so we’re keeping them inside for now and our dogs react the same way, I do cover them at night, my wire dog kennel works perfectly with a little chicken wire plastic around the outside, they’re so fun

[@angelarasmussen1800]

I'm going to try it... so helpful to have tips without a heat lamp and sand rather than pine

[@hollydayshomestead]

This is my first year ever with chicks. I ordered 15 from Cackle Hatchery and I got a mix of rainbow layers. I will be keeping in the house, but will likely use a heat lamp since this is my first time.

[@lanielder9107]

We have been raising chickens for about 17 years, but this will be our first year raising them off grid. I didn't think we could it until I saw this video. We have been living off grid 7 1/2 years but have been buying full grown hens. Now our chick's will arrive in June (I wanted them a few months earlier, but by the time I was ready to order most were already sold out). We will be getting Speckled Sussex (24 hens & 2 roosters.) I am so excited to get chick's again. Thank you for showing me how to do it!

[@albertdickens8660]

Thank you Stacy information on how to raise baby chickens good we do not have any yet but it will be in the future to have some baby chicken for us thank you again for your time showing us how you guys raise your baby chicken I love it

[@dsawyer8]

I like the pine pellets, like the natural cat litter.

[@taylormclain4017]

Stacy...I so appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us! This is my first year of having chickens & it's been an experience! lol

[@Handle_1780]

2023

[@loisscarberry2595]

I’m going through and watching all the old videos, I love this show and all the great advice! We got our chicks last May 2022, during the rising cost of eggs we R set, and sharing with some close friends!

[@jenniferdavis3483]

Love the barred rock and the sapphire gems.. they are sweet, and lay very well. Thanks for all the tips.. starting to let some broody hens help us out this year and see what colorful things we come up with!

[@suzanneholt8011]

As always excellent information. Love the comments too, great ideas. Love this community

[@Fi0434]

The chocolate tea is so amazing if y’all haven’t tried it do it now!

[@dancnluc1]

Awww the baby chick's are so cute! I have used the Rubbermaid containers before. When they got a little older I rigged a top made from chicken wire so they could not get out. Then we made brooders to keep them in. We put them in the basement. I need to get some chick's this year. Our girls are older.

[@lifeinsully1287]

I can attest the feather duster work really well and they work for ducks as well. Thanks Stacy for sharing your knowledge!

[@katrinaemerson4301]

Always learning new things from you, thank you!

[@ts4918]

Got my first chicks last April kept them in our tub in a plastic tote with heating lamp until we finished their coup. Thanks 🙏 for the information.

[@ironrose888]

We have Easter eggers and an olive egger. As a baby she did well. We also have barred rock chickens. We thought we had a girls but one turned out to be a boy. We want to get some more baby chicks this year too. We like to get about 8-10 at a time. We don’t want the brooder box too crowded.

[@jeanburgin160]

This will be my first year to get chicks... many thanks, I've learned so much. All the best!

[@dustyacres]

This is my 1st time getting chickens, 3 Easter Eggers and 3 Dark Brahmas March 11th. It is cold here in Iowa and they have got to get outside. So was glad to hear they could go out into the coop soon with a few of your keeping warm tips. What I have learned it doesn't take them time before they need alot more room...so don't get chickens to early in the spring wait...they also did well with the heat that was in my home after that initial heat lamp stage. We are excited about the eggs that they will produce in the next several months down the road.

[@tamragarman270]

Thanks for the video! Good info since so many of us are trying to figure out how we can raise chicks at home.

[@hurdbuilds]

Good share - sorry for your losses! Although losses are common with chicks - we still value them all!! 🤗

[@angielewis6840]

I have olive eggers raised without heat lamp but I did keep the room good and warm and I love their olive colored eggs

[@patrickandlaurasouza954]

Even though we are off grid, we can use a heat lamp. If I didn't have inside cats your way would be great! And I love your brooder box. Will keep in mind the wool corners as well. I hope to be adding to the flock later this spring. We have australorps mainly.

[@gladysthomson7326]

PS what you have shared with taking care of chicks will help with taking care of them. Thank you and God Bless you and Doug.

[@GoFishOffice]

I have been around baby chicks all my life and yes we always started them out in our house. But then we we usually would use heat lamps once out if still a bit chilly.

[@shannonsawyer3489]

First time raising chicks! We got 14 egg layers and 14 meat birds ...my favorite one has to be the light Brahmas. They are so sweet and calm, the least favorite are the barred rock. They are bossy... thanks for your video!

[@frankieboy2417]

My list for chickens this year is Buff Orpington, Light Brahma, Buff Brahma, and Silver Laced Polish Chickens. It's been 50 years since I've had chickens and I was asked what I wanted for my birthday and chose chicks. Super stoked and building a palace and a great run, there are many hawks and watched an eagle fly overhead yesterday morning and it nests not a quarter mile away. To save money I'm building the coop out of pallets.

[@Epona52]

I've always liked the silkies - just for looks! But I mentioned bringing chicks in the house to hubby . . . and he said, "Not interested!" To be fair, we aren't off grid - and we have a long list of other projects, before I could get a chicken coop and fenced area put together. We're also in an area with numerous small "farmsteads" - I know of at least four folks that sell eggs. But if the food supply really collapses, I'll miss getting chicken breasts to make dehydrated "chips" for dog treats . . .

[@dontmatter7275]

I love how you made the coop so bright and colorful. Iv never had chickens but the more you educate, the closer I’m getting to think I could care for them properly. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us Stacy!

[@larondacisneros2573]

Thank you for all your help and being so wonderful

[@kathywest5984]

Great info Stacy! We becamefirst time raising cluckers last year. Love our golden and silver Wyandottes, Sex-links and Isa Browns. All great egg producers.

[@SimplyBackwoods]

Thanks Stacy for sharing. I'm going to be getting baby chicks and what you've shared has helped. Still looking for food I can make for them myself.

[@suecook3714]

I don't have chickens but I enjoy hearing all of your great information..thanks for sharing.

[@alicebuckel9059]

I too use a blanket over the broader ( my first time raising fresh from the egg chicks) and at night it keeps them warm and quieter.

[@beverlymichael5830]

I have buff Orpingtons some 5 years some 2 years old. This year I got black austrolops. Beautiful. Five weeks old. I kept them warm with heat lamp in a tote in my barn for two weeks then moved to indoor coop in my barn. Still have the heat lamp if they want it. Just opened the run and now have Lisa’s of room and can choose if they need extra heat on our cold nights.

[@myrahaws5148]

I love the corn cob litter idea. I will have to try that. Also keep sand on hand I put it in the dust bath and we also use it on the ice on our walk ways.

[@cynthiawheeler8978]

You could also line the sides with cardboard, that will help keep the heat in.

[@ksmith3116]

Excellent info.. This is my 3rd year of owning chickens and i am going to get a new batch of chicks in the morning. Love how you explain things plainly and simply. New subscriber here!

[@deniseolczak2519]

This is my first attempt at being energy conscious when raising chicks, so ours were also in the house and sitting next to the wood stove. They loved it! Just moved them outside to our Critter Corner in their own private enclosed and safe area. They are loving the extra room. Totally agree that you need to get enough so that they can cuddle and stay warm. I have 24 meat chickens that in 6 weeks will be in my freezer or canning jars! I did break down and bought a radiant chick brooder/heater as the weather icon has snow in a couple of days.

[@Esther-eh]

So-o-o cu-u-u-te!!! I love the chicks. Ever since I was a little girl, it was my job to look after the chickens.💗🐤🐥🐤🐔🐔🐥🐤🐔💗