Selecting Healthy Chicks
It’s easy to choose based on color or whatever breed looks cutest in the moment. But healthy chicks turn into healthy hens, and that matters far more than feather pattern.
When you’re selecting chicks, look for alert, active babies that move steadily and explore their surroundings. Their eyes should be bright and clear. Their down should be dry and fluffy. Check their vents — they should be clean, with no dried droppings stuck to them. Avoid chicks that seem lethargic, isolate themselves, or breathe with a wheeze.
Quick Chick Selection Checklist:
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Bright, clear eyes
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Clean vent (no pasty buildup)
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Active and steady on their feet
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Even breathing
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Dry, fluffy down
Also think about your goals. Are you raising for eggs? Personality? Cold-hardiness? Heat tolerance? Matching the breed to your climate and expectations will save you frustration later.
Where to Buy Your Chicks
In March, you’ll typically find chicks at local feed stores, through hatcheries, or from small local breeders. Each option has its benefits.
Feed stores are convenient and seasonal. Hatcheries offer a wider breed selection and often allow you to choose vaccinated chicks. Local breeders can be a goldmine of knowledge and quality birds.
No matter where you buy, ask questions.
Before Purchasing, Ask:
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Are they vaccinated for Marek’s disease?
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What day did they hatch?
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What feed are they currently on?
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Are they sexed or straight run?
Starting with reputable sources makes the brooder stage much smoother.
Building a Simple, Safe Brooder
Your brooder doesn’t have to be fancy — it just needs to be warm, draft-free, and secure. A large plastic tote, stock tank, or sturdy box works perfectly for the first few weeks.
Temperature is critical. Week one should be about 95°F at chick level. Reduce the temperature by 5 degrees each week as they grow and feather out.
But here’s the truth: the thermometer matters, and so do the chicks’ behavior. They’ll tell you if something’s off.
If they’re piled tightly under the heat source, they’re cold. If they’re spread out far away from it, they’re too hot. If they’re evenly scattered, eating and napping comfortably, you’ve nailed it.
Brooder Essentials Checklist:
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Heat lamp or brooder plate (secured safely)
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Thermometer
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Pine shavings (never cedar)
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Chick feeder
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Chick waterer
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Draft-free location
Safety note: Always secure heat lamps properly. March nights can still be cold, and fire safety should never be an afterthought.
Bringing Them Home & Settling In
Transport chicks in a ventilated box and head straight home. Keep them out of drafts and extreme cold. Before they arrive, your brooder should already be warmed and ready.
As soon as you place them inside, gently dip each beak into the water so they know where it is. Most will begin exploring quickly, then crash into tiny naps.
The first 24 hours are about warmth and hydration. Keep things calm and check on them often.
First-Day Priorities:
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Pre-warmed brooder
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Show each chick the water
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Watch for steady movement and peeping
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Ensure they begin eating within the first day
What to Watch for in Chick Behavior
The first week is observation week. Healthy chicks are surprisingly busy — quick bursts of energy, lots of peeping, exploring, eating, then sudden naps in warm little piles.
However, this is also when small issues can pop up.
Pasty butt — when droppings stick and block the vent — is common in the first week. Check daily and gently clean with warm water if needed. Watch for loud, constant distress peeping, labored breathing, or a chick that isolates itself repeatedly.
Behavior Watch Checklist:
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Evenly dispersed under heat
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Active eating and drinking
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Clean vents
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No wheezing or labored breathing
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No constant distress cries
The sooner you catch problems, the easier they are to fix.
Thinking Ahead
Chicks don’t stay tiny for long. In just 6–8 weeks, they’ll need more space. March is the perfect time to make sure your coop is ready before they outgrow the brooder.
Chick season is hopeful and exciting. It’s also noisy, messy, and a little nerve-wracking — especially if you’re new to it. But there’s something incredibly rewarding about starting from day one and watching those tiny fluff balls grow into confident hens who greet you every morning.
If you’re bringing home chicks this month, prepare well, watch closely, and enjoy every stage. March might just be the beginning of your favorite backyard routine.
