Baby Chicks & Winter Storms

Baby chicks and a March winter storm do not mix well! 

We received our first group of baby meat chicks on Thursday March 12, 2026 and by that Sunday, we moved them into our basement to avoid the single digits (!) predicted with a winter storm. Faced with the decision of what to do and how to keep these tender young chicks warm, we had no alternative but to bring them inside. They were only a few days old and needed to be kept nearly 90 degrees.  There is no structure on our farm that could keep the chicks both warm enough and safe from predators.

So, Brian knocked together a simple 4′ x 8′ x 12″ wood frame that looked like an extra large planter box, lined it with pine shavings and stocked it with food, water and heat lamps.   We had to scoop up all those little critters and transport them to the new brooder.  They literally went back into the boxes in which they arrived at the farm. 

With all the activity and cheeping from the chicks, our pets were wondering, what’s going on in there???

As the winter storm moved through, we went about days with the “tweet, tweet, tweet” of all those chicks!    They stayed until Wednesday when temps recovered enough to safely return them to their usual quarters.   They are certainly cute, but 400 is a lot chicks to be in the house.

We’re happy to report they all made it through the cold spell and transition just fine.   They are lively and growing well!   

You just never know what the weather is going to throw at you.