When Should I Start Chicks in Santa Cruz County?
When Should I Start Chicks in Santa Cruz County?
Late March through mid-May is the ideal window for starting chicks in Santa Cruz County. According to UC Davis Veterinary Medicine, chicks need a brooder temperature of 95 degrees F in their first week, decreasing by 5 degrees each week until they are fully feathered at around 6 weeks old.
Our mild coastal climate gives us a real advantage here. By the time spring-started chicks are ready to move outdoors (around 6 to 8 weeks), nighttime temperatures in the Santa Cruz area are typically staying above 50 degrees F. That makes the transition from brooder to coop much less stressful for the birds. If you start chicks in February, you may find yourself running a heat lamp longer than you would like, and the risk of a cold snap during that early outdoor transition goes up.
I start my chicks in early April most years. My mixed flock in Boulder Creek has done well with this timing. The birds are feathered out and comfortable outdoors by late May, which means they get a full summer of foraging and growth before the shorter days of fall slow things down.
A few practical notes for our area. Local feed stores like the one on River Street in Santa Cruz typically stock chicks from late February through May, with the best breed selection in March and April. If you want specific breeds, call ahead or check with hatcheries like Murray McMurray or Cackle, which ship day-old chicks via USPS. Plan to have your brooder set up and warmed at least 24 hours before the chicks arrive.
For your brooder, a large plastic tub or stock tank works fine. Use pine shavings (never cedar, which can irritate their respiratory systems). A reliable heat source, clean water with marbles or stones in the dish to prevent drowning, and chick starter feed are the essentials. UC ANR recommends medicated starter feed for chicks not vaccinated against coccidiosis.
This week: If you are planning a spring flock, call your local feed store to ask about chick availability and set up your brooder space so it is ready when the birds come home.
