Bringing Home Baby Chicks: What to Do from Hatchery to Brooder (Day 1–3)

Rachel
May 8
3 min read

Ordering chicks from a trusted hatchery and having them shipped to your local post office is a convenient and exciting way to start your flock—but it does require careful planning during those crucial first few days.

At Freshcoln Farms, we’ve been doing this for years, and we’ve learned how to ensure your chicks make a healthy, happy transition from hatchery to brooder.

Freshcoln Farms chicks less than 24 hours old.

Why We Trust McMurray Hatchery

For the past four years, we’ve ordered our chicks from McMurray Hatchery, and we truly can’t say enough good things about their customer service and consistency.

This season, we’ve experienced multiple USPS-related delays and errors—not because of McMurray, but due to postal service mishandling, including failure to scan packages and unexpected delivery reroutes.

Through it all, McMurray Hatchery has gone above and beyond, helping us track shipments, send replacements, and navigate delays due to weather and human error. Their team has been responsive, professional, and truly invested in the health and safety of every chick they ship.

If you’re looking for a reliable hatchery partner, McMurray is the one we continue to trust—year after year.

Here are some of the most helpful tips I can give you, when you decide to place your order directly with the hatchery and what happens next:

When You Receive the Shipping Notification

Most hatcheries ship day-old chicks via USPS Priority or Express Mail. Once you get your shipping email:

Call your post office immediately. Let them know you’re expecting live chicks and confirm they will call you as soon as they arrive.
Double-check your brooder. Make sure it’s warm, clean, and ready before the chicks arrive.

Brooder Setup Checklist

Here’s what you’ll need:

A clean bin, tote, or stock tank
Heat source (lamp or brooder plate)
Thermometer (target 95°F the first week)
Pine shavings (never cedar)
Chick starter feed (medicated or unmedicated)
Waterer with marbles or stones
Chick grit (optional for added snacks)

Tip: Run the heat lamp or plate for a few hours to stabilize temperature before your chicks arrive.

Picking Up Your Chicks

Once the post office calls, get there quickly. if you’re like me, and don’t want to trust the post office to call you, get in touch with your local distribution center, find out the manager’s phone number, and make sure they have your tracking info and your name and phone number. Chicks can go up to 72 hours without food or water after hatching, but they need warmth and hydration as soon as possible.

First Hour at Home

Right away, take each chick out of the box and one by one dip their beaks in water. This teaches them to drink. They will be thirsty from their trip and take to it quickly.

Then, inspect each chick. Check for alertness, clean vents, and signs of stress. Encourage feeding by tapping on the side of the feeder with your finger and clucking. Believe me, it works! Most will instinctively peck at crumbles.

After that, let them rest. Keep handling to a minimum the first few days. Your chicks are fragile and the loss rate can be quite high in days 1-3 after their shipping ordeal. Check on them by peaking in on them multiples times during the day, but other than that, leave them to get familiar with their new surroundings.

The First 3 Days Matter Most

These early days set the tone for healthy growth.

Here are some helpful quick tips:

Keep temperature at 90-95°F with space to move closer or away from the heat
Fresh, clean water at all times—refill often
Watch for pasty butt and gently clean if needed
Monitor behavior (huddling = too cold, panting = too hot)

Helpful Extras

Electrolytes added to their water for the first 24 hours can help boost hydration after travel. Probiotics during their first week also help their gut and immune support.

If a chick seems weak, offer this mixture of water by dropper and keep them warm and quiet. Many bounce back quickly with TLC.

In Summary

Shipping chicks is a proven and safe way to build your flock when done with the right hatchery and preparation. With partners like McMurray Hatchery and a solid brooder setup, you’ll be ready to welcome your baby chicks home — even if the USPS throws you a curveball.

Need help choosing breeds or getting started? Reach out through the form on our website — we love helping other backyard chicken keepers grow with confidence.