Enjoy chicks for a visit with you and your family and then return them to our farm where they can lead healthy and productive lives. Chicks come with everything needed for a two-week visit with you and your family!
If you decide that adoption is for you: Once they are old enough to move out of their brooder box (usually at 3-4 weeks old), you will need to provide your chicks with a secure night-time roost area and a daytime free-range grazing area that is protected from predators. Your chicks will grow to adult size and start laying at 4 – 6 months old, and can live as long as 10-15 years, although egg production will start to diminish after about 2 years. Hand-raised chooks (Australian for adult chickens!) make friendly, engaging and easy-keeping pets.
Chick Care Kit & Housing Options: Easter Chicks come in groups of 2 or 3 with a Chick Care Kit that includes a 2 week supply of chick feed, grit and bedding; a Care Info Sheet; and feed, water and grit containers. Several housing options are available:
- Regular - cardboard brooder box with wire lid
- Chiquarium (pictured) - clear plastic box with wire lid
- DIY – for folks with their own brooder box and lamp (a desk lamp is fine. You will also need a 60W, 40W and 25W incandescent light bulb).
Caring For Your Visitors: Chicks need to be kept warm and safe inside your house. They will need fresh water twice a day, and you will need to make sure that they always have feed and refresh their bedding from time to time, Chicks can be handled carefully for short periods, and of course common sense hygiene should be practiced. Your Care Info Sheet will give you detailed information on how to take care of your chicks.
Pick-up and Return: Chicks usually arrive at the farm mid-week and we keep them for a couple of days so they can get acclimated to their brooder box. They are available for pickup on Friday evening or on the weekend. Return is Sunday afternoon, two weeks after pickup or at another time by arrangement.
Availability: Chicks can be rented/adopted at any time of the year, although additional costs may apply depending on timing. Reserving your chicks 3-4 weeks ahead is recommended, although in spring and fall, lead times may be less. At Easter chicks are generally available at short notice.
Cost: Regular/Chiquarium $40; DIY $25. Full payment or $10 non-refundable deposit required with reservation. When we don't have chicks available at the farm, we can supply chicks at an additional charge of $60 to cover the special trip we would need to make to pick them up from the hatchery.
