Chick Season Prep: Get Your Brooder Together (Before the Peeping Starts)

Chick season is adorable… and also the fastest way to discover you’re missing exactly one crucial thing (usually after the store is closed).

If you’re getting chicks this year (first time or fiftieth), the secret to a smooth start is simple: prep the brooder before chick day. Because nothing says “welcome home” like scrambling to rig a heat lamp while a box of tiny dinosaurs yell at you.

Here’s how to do it right, without making it weird.

Build the brooder first.
Then pick your chicks.
Then enjoy the fluff chaos like a prepared adult human.

Here’s the friendly guide to making chick day smooth.

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Step 1: Build the Brooder Like You Mean It

Your brooder does not need to be Pinterest-perfect. It needs to be safe, warm, dry, and easy to clean. That’s it. That’s the standard.

The essentials checklist

Brooder space

• A tub/tote/stock tank or enclosed area that’s draft-free
• Somewhere you can clean without crying
• Protected from pets, kids, and anyone who thinks “just one more cuddle” is a lifestyle

Heat

• Heat plate or a securely mounted heat lamp (Secure = not “balanced on hopes and dreams.”)

Bedding

• Absorbent bedding + extra for changes
• Keep it dry. Wet bedding turns into problems fast.

Feed + water

• Chick starter feed
• Chick feeder + chick waterer (less mess, fewer “how did you even do that?” moments)
• A clean-water routine (fresh water isn’t a suggestion)

The “Is my temp right?” cheat code

Chicks will tell you immediately:

• Huddled tightly under heat = too cold
• Avoiding heat / panting = too hot
• Spread out, active, peeping like they own the place = just right

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Step 2: Choose Breeds That Match Your Goals (Not Just Your Vibes)

We fully support picking a chicken because it’s pretty. We just want you to also like living with it.

Before you decide, think about:

• Egg goals: quantity, color, consistency
• Temperament: calm and friendly vs. “I choose chaos”
• Cold hardiness: yes, it matters here
• Space: coop/run size and flock dynamics
• Family/4-H: if you want birds that are easier to handle

Tell us what you’re aiming for and we’ll help you choose breeds that make sense. Not just ones that look like they have a personal stylist.

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2026 Planned Chick Breed Lineup

Last updated: Feb 1, 2026
(Planned breeds are subject to availability. Hatchery schedules can shift and quantities can be limited. For weekly breed arrival updates, follow us on Instagram or Facebook.)

Here’s what we’re planning to bring in:

• Americana
• Appenzeller Spitzhauben
• Barred Rocks
• Bielefelders
• Black Australorp
• Blue Laced Gold Wyandotte
• Buff Brahma
• California Grey
• Chocolate Orpington
• Columbian Wyandotte
• Cream Legbar
• Crevecoeur
• Cuckoo Marans
• Dark Brahma
• Easter Eggers
• French Black Copper Marans
• French Wheaten Marans
• Lavender Orpington
• Lavender Wyandotte
• Light Brahma
• Midnight Majesty Marans
• Mystic Onyx
• Mottled Houdan
• Partridge Plymouth Rock
• Pearl Onyx
• Prairie Bluebell Egger
• Rhode Island Red
• Russian Orloff
• Sapphire Olive Eggers
• Sapphire Splash
• Silver Leghorn
• Speckled Sussex
• Starlight Green Egger
• Welsummer

Yes, that list is dangerously cute.

Looking for a different breed or a specific combination?

If you’ve got your heart set on something specific, ask us about a special order—we’ll walk you through timing and what’s realistic.

Special orders: the quick reality check

Special orders depend on hatchery availability, but generally:

• Some breeds require lead time
• There may be minimum quantities
• Timing can depend on hatch dates and shipping windows

Translation: the sooner you ask, the smoother it goes.

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Step 3: Make Chick Day Easy (Because It Should Be Fun)

If you want chick day to feel like “new flock joy” instead of “panicked hardware store speedrun,” do this:

1. Get your brooder set up
2. Test your heat + temp stability
3. Stock bedding, feed, and clean water supplies
4. Then bring home your chicks like the calm legend you were meant to be

If you want help, tell us:

• How many chicks you’re getting
• Heat plate or heat lamp
• Your coop plan (space, run, and whether you already have older birds)

We’ll help you build a simple list—and we can set items aside so you’re not trying to remember everything while you’re staring at baby chicks and making emotional decisions.

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Quick note

This is general setup guidance. If chicks seem lethargic, aren’t eating/drinking, or something looks off, getting help early (and looping in a professional when needed) is always the right move.

Fall Prep Made Simple: 3 Things Your Barn (and Herd) Need Before the Temps Drop

 Fall is sneaky. One day you’re swatting flies and baking in the August sun, and the next you’re pulling on a jacket, realizing your waterers are crusted with ice, and your pasture looks like it’s seen better days.

That’s why smart livestock owners don’t wait for the first frost — they prep now. The good news? A few simple steps can save you headaches (and money) later. Let’s break it down.

1. Get Your Pasture Ready for a Long Nap

Think of your pasture like a tired student after finals week. It’s worked hard all summer, and now it needs a reset. Overseeding in early fall helps fill in thin spots, boosts forage for spring, and keeps weeds from moving in.

• Pro tip: Choose a hardy seed mix that thrives in our climate (we can point you to the good stuff).

• Bonus: A well-fed pasture means healthier animals and less money spent on hay later.

2. Deworm and Mineral Up — Because Parasites Don’t Take Vacations

Fall is prime time to reset your herd’s parasite load before winter. A targeted dewormer plus the right mineral combo keeps your animals in top condition when nutrition gets tight.

• Horses: Deworm now, not mid-winter when parasites are laughing at you.

• Livestock: Mineral packs help boost immunity and fertility going into colder months.

If you’re not sure which products fit your herd, don’t worry — that’s why we’re here. We’ll walk you through it without the jargon.

3. Barn Cleaning: Your Future Self Will Thank You

Nobody wants to muck out stalls when it’s 25° and snowing sideways. Tackling a deep clean now makes winter chores faster, safer, and far less miserable.

• Clear out cobwebs (hello, fire hazards).

• Check doors, latches, and water systems before they freeze up.

• Fresh bedding + proper ventilation = healthier animals and a happier you.

It’s not glamorous, but it beats wrestling frozen hoses in the dark.

Ready to Tackle Fall Prep?

Prepping your pasture, herd, and barn doesn’t have to be overwhelming — especially when you’ve got a local team ready to help you choose the right seed, supplements, and supplies.

Stop by Eastern Sierra Feed this week, and let’s make sure you (and your animals) head into fall healthy, comfortable, and stress-free.

Because the only thing worse than forgetting to winterize? Explaining to your horse why their mineral tub is empty.