With sprouting spring flowers and egg hunt preparations come a new seasonal batch of chicks, which may tempt many potential owners this year amid high egg prices at grocery stores. These tiny chirping bundles of joy enamor owners of all ages, but they also bring an abundance of responsibilities to ensure their well-being.

Dr. Kristina Paradowski, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, provides insight into how to properly care for young chicks in their first season of life.

Chicks have become the embodiment of the spring, as their hatching timeline often coincides with Easter traditions.

Beyond tradition, bringing home chicks at this time is beneficial because the warming weather supports their health and development.

“The nights are getting warmer in the springtime, which is very important because chicks cannot regulate their body temperature well,” Paradowski said.

“Additionally, getting chicks in the spring allows them time to mature through summer before winter comes again,” she said. “The chicks will be better able to regulate their body temperatures and will be less susceptible to the cold nights of winter.”

Before bringing home a bundle of chicks, owners should prepare their new home to create a safe and welcoming environment.

“The habitat or ‘brooder’ should be set up before the chicks’ arrival,” Paradowski said. “I usually start mine in a sheltered area, such as a shed or garage, until the chicks are fully feathered. There are many options for chick brooders — you can be as basic or as fancy as you would like.

“You also want to provide a soft bedding to protect their feet and assist with warmth,” she continued. “I usually avoid smaller flakes or cedar shavings, as they can cause respiratory issues or may include toxins.”

According to Paradowski, having a heat source for the habitat is vital. While heat lamps are most commonly used, heat plates are another recommended option. In both cases, however, chicks also need a cooler area of their habitat where they can go to prevent overheating.

“Food and water should also be available and set up immediately upon the chicks’ arrival,” Paradowski said. “The feeders and waterers for adult chickens are often too big for the smaller chicks, but chick-appropriate feeders and waterers can be found at feed stores.”

Chicks should be fed high-quality chick starter feed for at least the first eight weeks of their lives to ensure they receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals for growth.

It’s also important to regularly clean out and refresh their water container. Paradowski recommends adding electrolytes made specifically for chickens to the water to prevent dehydration.

“If you do add electrolytes, the water should be changed every 24 hours, at minimum,” she said.

Handling chicks from an early age is key to ensuring they grow up into friendly chickens.

“Ideally, chicks should be handled minimally during the first few days to allow them to adjust to their new environment,” Paradowski said. “After that, very careful handling is necessary until they are approximately 2-3 weeks old, as they are extremely frail and can be injured if dropped.

“I always use two hands, one under the chick and the other essentially cupping the chick from above so only the head peeks out,” she said.

If you want your chicks to become used to handling, they should be handled daily. The consistency will also allow you to check on each chick and identify health problems early.

Owners should be cautious about allowing children to handle chicks, however, and should never let young children hold chicks unattended.

The delicate nature of chicks means that some may not survive to adulthood, even with the best care. Some common causes of chick fatalities to watch out for include:

— Coccidiosis, a parasitic disease of the intestinal tract
— “Pasty butt,” a condition where feces adhere to the chicks’ rear end because of dehydration
— Exposure to excessive cold or heat
— Falls or drops
— Stress from overcrowding
— Lack of nutrients from decreased intake or improper feed
“If your veterinarian is comfortable seeing chicks and chickens, it is absolutely appropriate to contact your veterinarian if you notice any chicks that seem more lethargic, are failing to gain weight or grow, or refuse to eat or drink,” Paradowski said.

Once a comfortable habitat turns to a tight one, it’s most likely time to “upgrade” chicks to the status of chicken and move them to an official coop.

“The key here is their feathers. Chicks can be transitioned to a coop when they are fully feathered, which is typically around 6-8 weeks old,” Paradowski said. “With the development of their adult feathers, they will be better able to regulate their body temperatures. To be extra cautious, I also like to make sure that the nighttime temperatures are done dropping below 50 degrees.”

With proper preparations, a gentle hand, and continuous care, your chicks will soon be well on their way to graduating into chickens — a feat that’s only possible with an owner’s loving touch during this egg-cellent spring season.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to vmbs-editor@tamu.edu.