Backyard Chicken - Weeks 4–5: The Teenage Stage

Weeks 4–5: The Teenage Stage

Your chicks are now in the ‘tween’ stage! In chicken years, birds are teenagers around 4 to 5 weeks old.
Soon you will notice several changes that include new primary feathers and a developing pecking order. Your birds are also now referred to differently. Pullet is the term for a teenage female while a young male chicken is called a cockerel.
Things to do this week:
Watch them change: Your chicks’ fluff should slowly disappear as mature feathers grow. Chickens will usually be fully feathered by 5 to 6 weeks of age. Their wattles and combs should also start growing larger and becoming a deeper red.
Identify the gender: At 5 to 7 weeks, you will be able to distinguish males from females. As compared to pullets, the combs and wattles of males often develop earlier and are usually larger. Females are typically smaller in size than males. If you are still uncertain of gender, you’ll be sure who the males are when you hear them attempting to crow.
Keep them in the brooder: Keep chicks in the brooder until week 6. Prevent crowding by ensuring 1–2 square feet per bird. The temperature should now be between 70–75°F to help them get ready to move outside. Your chicks require less heat because they are now larger and can better regulate their body temperature.
Adjust feeders/waterers: Additional feeders and waterers may be needed so all chicks can eat and drink at the same time. When evaluating feeders also look at space. Your chicks are taller, so their feeders should be as well. Place a container under the bottom of the feeder to keep feed and water clean. A good rule is to adjust feeders to the height of the bird’s back while standing. This will help keep litter and curious chicks out of the feed and water.
Provide energy: Continue to offer a complete starter-grower feed, like Purina® Start & Grow®, Purina® Flock Raiser® or Purina® Organic Starter-Grower, to provide the added energy needed. Chicks should have access to free-choice starter-grower feed until week 18.
Keep an eye on the pecking order: As chicks mature, they naturally establish a pecking order. This determines each chick’s social position in the flock. The pecking order will decide who eats and drinks first and ultimately who “rules the roost.” Although pecking order establishment is normal, be watchful for excessive pecking in chicks as it may indicate a more serious problem.
Maintain good sanitation practices: Bigger chicks make bigger messes, so you will need to be more diligent about keeping the brooder clean. Keep a close eye on your chicks for signs of possible health issues. Chicks that are sick may appear lethargic or their feathers will be fluffed out from their body, have diarrhea or be unwilling to eat. Healthy chicks will eat and drink often and actively play as a group.
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