How to Choose Healthy Baby Chicks
You’re at the feed store, suddenly realizing that you’re not going to be able to resist buying some baby chicks. They’re too cute, and you want to bring them all home.
Hey, I’ve been there many times! And as cute as those baby chicks are, however, you need to take a deep breath, steady yourself, and really look at them. Selecting healthy baby chicks is essential for avoiding heartache and raising a healthy flock.
What to Look for When Choosing Healthy Baby Chicks
Although you can’t detect every sign of illness or disease, there are many things you can look at to determine if the chicks you’re choosing are healthy, or on a downward spiral. You definitely don’t want to have to treat a sick chick at home if you don’t have to.
Check Out the Brooder
Your first task is to look at the conditions in the brooder where the chicks are living. There should be a heat lamp, and the chicks should be walking freely and comfortably around the brooder.
Chicks that are all huddled under the heat lamp are cold, while chicks that are on the opposite side of the brooder, pressed up against the sides, are too hot. Getting too hot or too cold can have health implications for baby chicks, and they might not thrive.
The bedding should be relatively fresh. Food and water dishes should be clean, and free of bedding and feces.
Baby Chicks’ Activity
Healthy baby chicks are active and walking around with their flock mates. Chicks huddled off by themselves are often ill or injured.
You also want to listen to the chick. A normal, healthy chick will make soft, regular “peep, peep, peep” calls. Chicks that are completely silent might be ill, while chicks that are making loud, plaintive calls are likely cold, hungry, or injured.
Although chicks sleep a lot, most of the time they will all fall asleep together, at the same time. Avoid chicks that are sleeping when the others are racing around the brooder. Below, you can see some of our chicks all falling asleep at the same time in a patch of sunshine.
Baby Chicks’ Vent Area
Some feed stores will let you pick up and examine chicks before you buy them, while others won’t. Ask the employee helping you to show you the chick’s vent if you’re not allowed to handle the chick yourself . The vent should be clean and clear, with no signs pasty butt, a condition indicated by crusted feces in the downy fluff.
Pasty butt is a common condition in store-bought chicks, and it’s typically caused from dehydration and stress. When a chick contracts pasty butt she can’t defecate normally. If not treated, the condition is fatal. Even chicks treated successfully for pasty butt can die days later. So, you definitely don’t want to choose baby chicks that have any signs of pasty butt.
Eyes, Nose, and Beak
After you check out the vent, look closely at the chicks eyes and nose. The eyes should be bright, alert, and clear. The eyes should not be weeping fluid, or show any signs of crustiness around the rim. The chick should also react when you put a hand close to her face. Sick chicks may not show any reaction when handled.
The nostrils should also be clear, with no signs of weeping or crust.
Next, look at the beak. It should be aligned properly with the head, and the top and bottom halves should close correctly. It should not be crooked.
Body and Legs
Examine the chicks wings. A healthy chick will keep the wings tucked in close to her body. A baby chick that holds her wings out from her body is likely injured.
Take a look at her body, particularly her abdomen. It should not be protruding or look too big. You shouldn’t see any signs of the umbilical cord, or where it was attached.
Next look at the legs. Make sure they are straight and strong, and the chick doesn’t have any trouble walking.
Now for the toes. Most chicks have four toes, although some breeds have five. Count them to make sure they’re all accounted for. And, make sure the legs and toes are holding up the chicks’ body correctly. Toes that automatically curl under are a sign of deformity.
You also need to look at her posture. Healthy chicks will stand tall and walk easily around the brooder. Unhealthy chicks will limp, or hold their legs too far apart. This is a sign of spraddle leg. The chick should be able to stand easily. If she sways or falls, this indicates illness or disease.
Make sure the chick is not holding its head back, towards its body, or staring straight up into space. This is a tell-tale sign that something is not right!
Vaccinated, or Not?
You also need to find out if the hatchery vaccinated the chick and, if so, which vaccinations they received. Many hatcheries vaccinate chicks for coccidiosis and Marek’s disease. However, ask the employee helping you if the chicks are vaccinated. You can feed unvaccinated chicks medicated chick starter to prevent coccidiosis. Vaccinated chicks should be fed unmedicated starter.
Last Word
Getting new chicks is always a fun and rewarding experience. And, giving each of your chicks a head-to-toe check before you bring them home can help you avoid the heartache of ailing chicks, and ensure you have a healthy flock from the start.
