Animal Ethics License for Schools
Q: Where can I find the Animal Ethics Committee SAEC Application Form?
For School teachers, please click here 👉 Animal Ethics Committee SAEC application form
Once you open the link, keep scrolling down you will see the SAEC form available for downloading.
General Q & A
Q: How can I tell the sexes of my chicks?
A: Most heritage chicken breeds can not be identified when they are just day-old chicks. When you are buying these chicks, you are most likely to have half-male and half-female chicks. You may have a better clue by growing them to at least 6 to 8 weeks. Chicks that are larger, stockier, have thicker legs, and develop a larger comb and wattles are more likely to be roosters. Smaller chicks with shorter, more petite legs are more likely to be hens. Roosters also carry themselves more upright than hens. Please keep in mind that the provided information is solely intended to assist in identifying the gender of the chicks and that not all chicks develop at the same rate; therefore, it is possible to have larger female chicks and smaller male chicks as well.
Q： What breeds of chicks are they?
A: Some of them are Australorps and some of them are Rhode Island crosses. Mother hens are various coloured Australorps, and leghorns. The rooster is a gorgeous caring Rhode Island Red. All three breeds are excellent layers, and their offspring will also be. Occasionally, we also use other breeds such as cream legbar, this type of chicken lays blue eggs.
Q: What equipment is required before buying day-old and week-old chicks?
A: Here’s a list of essential items for keeping day-old and week-old chicks.
1. Medicated Chick starter crumble for chicks from day 1 to 8 weeks old. Pullet grower crumbles for chicks over 8 weeks till they lay their first eggs. After that, they can be fed on growers/layers crumbles. Weekly treats of meal worms would make a great extra protein source for growing and laying hens.
Common brands of chick starter crumbles are Milne Feeds, Thompson & Redwood and Laucke.
*Please do not feed day-old or week-old chicks with layers crumbles or pellets or only feed grains like wheat, corn or rice etc.
Not only the nutritional contents can not satisfy the rapidly growing chicks, but the size of the feed is also too large for them to eat.
Multivitamins for poultry are highly recommended to be mixed in water and given to chicks from all breeds once a week.
2. Waterer and Feeder: A suitable-sized waterer is important, especially for day-old chicks because they can drown inside the waterer or get very wet if the waterer is too big for them.
There are two common types of waterer
3. Bedding: Hemp& Pine wood shavings are goodbedding material. It will mask odour and absorb the moisture. A dry and clean environment will minimize the likelihood of your chicks getting sick from an unhygienic environment.
Two common bedding materials are pine wood shaving and hemp bedding.
4. Heating: Chicks will need some sort of heat source until they are fully feathered. It usually takes around 6-8 weeks for them to be outdoor coop ready. The best option would be a broody hen if you have one, otherwise, a heat lamp or heat plate will be another option for keeping your baby chicks warm.
Q: How can I tell whether my chicks are too hot or too cold?
A: The best spot to put the heat lamp will always be on one end of the brooder box or cage (not the middle of the cage). It allows chicks to pick whether they want to move to the warmer area or the cooler area.
Chicks will pant and attempt to move away from the heat source if the temperature is too high.
They will huddle under the heat lamp if they feel cold. They will be noisy, which indicates they are distressed.
Q: Can I let chicks go outdoors when the weather is warm?
A: Yes, besides supplying plenty of shade, water and feed to the chicks when they are out. You should also be aware of the potential predators. Wild animals (especially crows) may attacking chicks when they are out and not supervised closely. They would be safer if kept in a fully enclosed outdoor run.
Q: When can chicks stay in an outdoor chicken coop?
A: It takes about 6 weeks for them to be fully feathered. The timing of transitioning baby chicks outdoors will be determined by the outside weather and the type of enclosure you provide.
Q: How long does it take for them to start laying?
A: Most chickens begin laying between 18 and 24 weeks. However, some breeds that are not well-known for their productivity as layers can take up to a year to produce their first tasty egg.
Q: When should I worm my chickens?
A: Worming should be performed every 3 months starting from the age of 3 months old.
Q: Do you vaccinate your chicks?
A: All my chicks are not vaccinated. Poultry vaccines are usually only available in large lot doses, and most can not be stored once opened. Only commercial hatchery or large poultry farm vaccinate their chicks.
Q: Where can I get some more day-old/week-old chicks or pullets?
A: We currently have a limited number of sexed cream legbar chicks (blue egg layers) available, for more detail please contact us at
Cream legbar chicks
How to identify and fix problems if chicks are not striving
Q: Why my chick have a large lump in their chest?
Chicks can over fed themselves and the lump infront is actually a very full stomach.
Reduce the quantity/frequency of feed given to the chicks will help to reduce the likelyhood of overfeeding.
Q: One of the chicks look a bit weak, what can I do to help?
How to Revive a Weak Chick and Keep it Healthy
Q: How to clean pasty butt on chicks?
Q: How to fix chicks with curled toes?
Q: How to fix splayed legs in chicken?
Q: What to do with chicks with unabsorbed yolk sac?
Q: How to treat chicks with coccidiosis?
Q: How to treat with wry neck in chicks?
Q: What to do with chicks have crooked/scissor beaks?