Beginning with Baby Chicks

• 1). Place chicks in a brooder. Chicks under 60 days old must be placed in a box or small animal cage. A cage used for hamsters, guinea pigs or rabbits should suffice. Do not buy a huge cage where chicks can fall and hurt themselves.
  
  
• 2). Add pine shavings to the cage. Flooring helps to absorb the chick's waste. It also provides a comfortable sleeping area. Replace shavings every couple of days for sanitary reasons.
  
  
• 3). Keep a heating lamp with a 100-watt light bulb above or near chicks. Newborn chicks need temperatures as high as 90 to 100 F for the first several days.
  
  
• 4). Attach a feeder and waterer to the brooder. Chicks need their food and water to be easily accessible.
  
  
• 5). Reserve a time to socialize with the chicks through play. Full-grown chickens can be mean and bite if not properly socialized when younger.
  
  

Starting with Older Chickens

• 1). Put chickens over 60 days old in a chicken coop or outbuilding. The coop should be spacious for hens and protected from predators.
  
  
• 2). Spread pine shavings on the coop's floor. Pine shavings are comfortable and absorb waste better than newspaper.
  
  
• 3). Keep water and food accessible in chicken coop. Add chicken feeders for the food pellets and create a water area.