Spring Chick Season: The Excitement, The Prep, and What You NEED to Know!

By Momma J

Spring is in the air, and you know what that means—it’s chick season! There’s nothing quite like opening a warm box of peeping fluff balls and knowing your homestead is about to be bustling with new life. Whether this is your first time ordering chicks or you’re a seasoned pro, let’s dive into what you need to know before placing that order, what to expect when those babies arrive, and how to set yourself up for success.

So grab a cup of something warm, put your feet up, and let’s talk chickens!

Things to Know Before You Order Chicks

Before you go adding every adorable chick breed to your cart (trust me, it’s easy to do), let’s talk about a few things that will save you time, money, and heartache down the road.

1. Know Your Purpose

Are you raising chickens for eggs? Meat? Both? Do you want birds that free-range well, or will they be confined? Different breeds serve different purposes, so make sure you’re picking the right ones for your homestead.

• Egg Layers: If you want fresh eggs every morning, go for Rhode Island Reds, Australorps, or Leghorns.

• Meat Birds: Cornish Cross grow fast and are ready to butcher in 6-8 weeks. Freedom Rangers take a little longer but are better for free-ranging.

• Dual-Purpose: If you want both meat and eggs, Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, and Wyandottes are great choices.

• Cold-Hardy Birds: If you live where winter still lingers in April (hello, Alaska!), breeds like Brahmas and Chanteclers handle the cold like pros.

2. Roosters or No Roosters?

Many hatcheries let you choose sexed (all females) or straight run (a grab bag of males and females). If you don’t want a surprise crowing contest at dawn, stick with pullets (young hens).

3. How Many to Order?

Chickens are flock animals and do best in groups of at least 3-5 birds. If you’re ordering egg layers, consider how many eggs your family eats per week. A good layer produces about 4-5 eggs per week, so plan accordingly!

If you’re raising meat birds, order in batches you can manage at butchering time (unless you love processing 50 birds in one weekend—some do!).

4. Where Are You Ordering From?

There are three main ways to get chicks:✅ Hatcheries – The best way to get exactly what you want. Big names like Murray McMurray, Cackle, and Meyer are reliable.✅ Farm Stores – A great option if you want to see the chicks in person before buying.✅ Local Breeders – Ideal for unique breeds or heritage lines, plus you’re supporting local!

Placing Your Order & What to Expect

Once you’ve picked your breeds, it’s time to place that order! If ordering from a hatchery, you’ll usually choose:

• Ship Date: Chicks are often booked out weeks in advance, so don’t wait until the last minute!

• Vaccinations: Some hatcheries offer vaccinations for common poultry diseases like Marek’s. If you’re keeping a closed flock, this may not be necessary.

• Extras: Some hatcheries toss in a “mystery chick” for fun (which may or may not be a rooster).

🚨 Shipping Chickens?! Really?!Yes! Day-old chicks are shipped via priority mail and arrive within 1-3 days. Chicks absorb the yolk before hatching, which gives them enough nutrition to survive shipping. But as soon as they arrive, they need warmth, food, and water immediately.

Prepping for Chick Arrival

Before your little fluff nuggets show up, you’ll need to set up a brooder—their cozy, warm first home.

Brooder Setup Essentials

✅ Warmth: Chicks need a heat source—either a heat lamp (red bulb, not white!) or a heat plate (safer and more natural). Temperature should be 95°F the first week, lowering by 5°F each week.✅ Bedding: Use pine shavings, not newspaper (too slippery!).✅ Food & Water: A chick feeder and waterer are must-haves. For the first 24 hours, mix electrolytes into their water to help with shipping stress.✅ Protection: Chicks are tiny and love to escape—make sure your brooder is escape-proof and safe from pets.

The Big Day: Chick Arrival!

Your phone rings—it’s the post office. YOUR CHICKS ARE HERE! Drop everything and go pick them up immediately.

When you open the box, here’s what to do:🐥 Count them & check for pasty butt (dried poop blocking their vent—gently clean with warm water if needed).🐥 Introduce them to water by dipping their beaks so they learn to drink.🐥 Watch their behavior: Happy chicks will eat, drink, and peep contentedly. If they’re huddled under the heat source, they’re too cold. If they’re far away, it’s too hot.

For the first 48 hours, monitor them closely. Chicks can be fragile, but once they’re settled in, they’ll be running around and getting into mischief in no time.

Final Thoughts: The Magic of Spring Chicks

There’s something special about raising baby chicks in the spring. The longer days, the fresh air, and the promise of fresh eggs (or a stocked freezer) make it one of my favorite times of year.

So whether you’re a first-time chicken mama or adding to your flock, get ready for a season of peeps, fluffy cuteness, and a little bit of homestead chaos—because let’s be real, there’s no such thing as “just one more chick.”

Got chick-raising questions? Drop them in the comments! Happy chick season!

Rooted in tradition, crafted for wellness.—Momma J