My Chirpy Chicken Coop

Medicated Vs. Non-Medicated Chick Feed February 27, 2022 (A bag of non-medicated chick feed.) Question of the century: Should I give my chicks medicated or non-medicated chick feed? There are lots of decisions to make when it comes to raising chickens and one of them is whether or not to use medicated chick feed. Personally, I choose not to..  There's nothing wrong with making the decision to use medicated feed.  I just don't feel it's necessary, and in the spirit of raising my chickens naturally, I extend that to my chicks as well. But each spring, the newbie chicken keepers always ask, "Is medicated chick feed necessary?" So let me explain why I don't feel that it is. To back up and explain a bit, the purpose of medicated chick feed is to help protect chicks from coccidiosis, which is an infectious parasite and the number one killer of baby chicks.  Medicated chick feed, designed to be fed for the first 8 weeks of a chick's life, contains Amprolium which

Brooding Chicks For Cheap February 20, 2022 (Our cheap chick brooder. ;) Chickens, a coop, run, fencing, feed, supplements, waterers, feeders, first aid supplies...the costs can add up when you're preparing for your backyard flock.  But getting started with baby chicks doesn't have to cost you that much! Here are a few clever tips to help you get started for less...but you'll need to start stockpiling some things (if you don't already have them around the house) in advance of bringing your chicks home this spring. The Brooder- Baby chicks need a nursery to live in until they're big enough to live outside in their coop. It's called a "brooder" and can be as simple as a cardboard box. Done. (Or if you have a stock tank, galvanized tub or dog kennel , you can also use that.) Brooder Bedding- The brooder needs something soft and grippy and absorbent on the bottom to keep water messes and poop under control. The easiest (and cleanest) thing I've found i

Spraddle Leg February 13, 2022 (This is what normal  chick feet look like.) Hopefully you will never have to worry about a chick with spraddle leg or curled toes, but as is the case with everything else chicken-related, it's always best to be prepared. Spraddle leg (also called splayed leg) a condition that a chick is either born with or develops within the first few hours of life whereby one or both legs slip out to the sides making them unable to stand or walk. Spraddle leg can occur during incubation or the hatching process if the temperature is too high or varies too much during the incubation period or if the hatch is difficult for the chick.  The more common cause of spraddle leg is an incubator or brooder floor that is too slippery for the chick to grip, which causes the legs to slide to one side. As a result the chick's legs muscles don't develop properly because of the lack of traction. To try and prevent this condition in your newly hatched chicks, a sheet of pape

My New Year Gift To Y'all! February 6, 2022 (Our current chicks free ranging in the grass.) Excuse me for posting this quite late, but I have a special New Year's gift for my readers: 10% Off Any Purchase @ Brinsea ! The coupon code to enter at checkout is CHIRPY2022 . Thank you to all my readers for supporting my blog these past two years!!! You are much appreciated, and Happy New Year!😊