Preparing for Chicks: What We’re Doing Before They Hatch

There’s something special about the days leading up to hatch day. The incubator is humming, the eggs are rocking ever so slightly, and our whole family feels that mix of anticipation and responsibility. Before those tiny peeps fill the brooder, though, there’s a lot of work that has to happen behind the scenes.

Here’s what we’re doing to prepare.

🐣 Our Setup: Getting Everything Ready Before Hatch Day

We’ve learned that preparation makes all the difference. Once chicks arrive, things move fast — and they depend on us for everything.

Brooders

Our brooders are fully cleaned, disinfected, and dried well before hatch day. We make sure they’re:

• Draft-free but well ventilated

• Large enough to prevent crowding

• Easy to access for daily cleaning

  
  

Fresh bedding is added right before chicks move in, not days ahead, so it stays clean and dry.

Heat Plates (Not Heat Lamps)

We use heat plates instead of heat lamps. After researching and hearing too many stories about fires caused by lamps, we decided they weren’t worth the risk.

Heat plates are:

• Much safer

• More energy efficient

• Closer to how a mother hen warms her chicks

  
  

They allow chicks to move in and out from under the warmth naturally, which encourages healthier feather development and less stress.

Feeders & Waterers

Before chicks hatch, we:

• Wash and sanitize feeders and waterers

• Double-check we have enough for the number of chicks coming

• Make sure waterers are shallow enough to prevent drowning

  
  

We’ll start them on a quality chick starter feed and ensure clean, fresh water is always available.

Supplements

We keep basic supplements on hand, including:

• Electrolytes for their first few days

• Probiotics to support gut health

• Vitamins if any chicks appear weak or stressed

  
  

Having these ready ahead of time means we’re not scrambling if a chick needs extra support.

Lessons from Last Time

Every hatch teaches us something.

1. Have a Chick “Hospital” Ready

One of the biggest lessons we learned was to prepare a small, separate brooder ahead of time — our “chick hospital.”

This space allows us to:

• Separate weak or injured chicks

• Prevent bullying

• Monitor food and water intake closely

  
  

It’s much easier to have it ready before you need it than to try to set it up in an emergency.

2. There Will Be Losses

This is the hard part.

No matter how carefully you prepare, sometimes there are losses. It’s unfortunate, and we never take it lightly, but it is part of the process when raising livestock.

Homesteading has a way of strengthening both your resilience and your compassion. We do everything we can to give our chicks the best possible start — and we also accept that we’re working with living creatures, not guarantees.

What We’re Excited (and Nervous) About

This year, we’re increasing both the number and frequency of chicks we plan to hatch and grow out. That brings a lot of excitement — and a few nerves.

Our biggest question right now:

Will we have enough space?

As chicks grow, they quickly outgrow brooders. Then they need grow-out pens. Then eventually, coop space or pasture space. Scaling up means thinking several weeks ahead at all times.

We’re excited about:

• Improving our breeding program

• Becoming more sustainable

• Providing more for our family (and possibly others)

  
  

But we’re also carefully evaluating our infrastructure so we don’t outgrow our capacity.

Why Raising Animals Matters to Our Homestead Vision

Raising animals isn’t just about food production. It’s about stewardship.

It teaches:

• Responsibility

• Patience

• Observation

• Respect for life

  
  

It connects us to rhythms that modern life often hides — growth, vulnerability, provision, and even loss.

On our homestead, chicks represent more than poultry. They represent the future. They’re a step toward greater sustainability, greater intentionality, and a life that’s hands-on and deeply rooted in care.

Preparing for chicks is about more than setting up brooders. It’s about preparing our hearts and habits for the responsibility that comes with growth.

And now… we wait for those first tiny peeps. 🐥