Just got 2 -10 week old chicks what is the most important thing I need to know

[cmcconnell]

Just got 2 -10 week old chicks and need to know most important thing to do to keep healthy .

 

[azygous]

Probably the most important thing to keep your new chicks healthy is to feed a balanced commercial feed such as Purina Flock Raiser. Keep the scratch grain to about a tablespoon per chick once a day after they've had all the feed they need for the day. It's like holding off on dessert until a child has eaten their meat and veggies.

Other things such as a well ventilated coop to prevent respiratory illness and frostbite and a secure run and coop so a predator doesn't sneak in and eat or badly injure them are also crucial for health an well being.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Prevention & Maintenance ... Proper feed, don't over treat & keep their living quarters clean & predator proof the best you can ... Enjoy & we're here to help, check out the different forums to learn.

 

[Feather Fanatic 2000]

Prevention & Maintenance ... Proper feed, don't over treat & keep their living quarters clean & predator proof the best you can ... Enjoy & we're here to help, check out the different forums to learn.

I agree. Compared to most live-stock animals, chickens are pretty low-maintenance, but that doesn't mean that you can just let them loose and expect them to survive. The most important things are

• Space-both inside a coop and out. If they aren't free ranged, the coop needs to be larger. Most people agree at least 2-3 ft^2 per bird inside (twice as much if not let out) and 8-10 ft^2 in a run. Perching requirements are about 1-2 ft of perch per bird
• Nutrition-At 10 weeks old, chicks still need grower feed, and can be switched over to layer around 18 weeks of age. Decide whether or not you want to go organic, non-gmo, etc. Scraps and snacks are good, but shouldn't make up their whole diet, recommended less than 10%
• Protection-One of the biggest problems people face with chickens are predators. Make sure to keep your birdies safe from those that run, fly, burrow, and climb.
• Weather-chicken coops must be prepared for all manners of weather, depending on where you live. For cold northern winters, they need to be well insulated and draft free (but still have ventilation). For hot southern summers, ventilation and shade are key. The coop should also protect the birds from the weather, whether it is snow, wind, rain, or shine.
• Cleanliness-like anything else, chickens are not healthy if they are kept in unsanitary conditions. Wet or heavily soiled litter can lead to a host of problems, from parasites and bacteria to skin and respiratory problems. Most people find that wood shavings work the best (not cedar-it's poisonous), but you can experiment with what you have. They key is to be absorptive, easy to clean, and easy on your chicken's feet.
• Equipment for Flock's purpose-this means some kind of nest boxes for laying hens, butchering tools for meat birds, or separate pens and coops for breeder flocks.

I think this is mostly it, but if I left anything out, please feel free to expand on this. I hope your chicken raising experience is fun and worthwhile. Welcome to the chicken keeper community!

 

[lazy gardener]

I like to see a minimum of 4 s.f. in coop and 10 s.f. in run per bird, especially if you live in snow country. Also, ventilate! 1 s.f. minimum of predator proof ventilation in coop per bird.

I can't stop at 1 important thing. Everyone has their own style, but here's mine:

fermented feed.
secure them in a predator proof coop without fail every single night.
hawk proof run.
deep litter in coop and especially in run.