Think twice before buying baby chicks

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — While people are stockpiling food and products during the COVID-19 crisis, Purdue University Animal Sciences Professor Marisa Erasmus said one thing people shouldn’t stock up on is baby chicks.

Erasmus said people are buying up chicks with the intention of starting their own flocks so they can have eggs because they fear they will be a shortage of them.

Erasmus said she has talked to several people in the poultry industry and there is no shortage of eggs — everybody is just buying them from the store.

“While it sounds like a good idea to raise chicks, people need to do their homework,” Erasmus said.

Erasmus said that raising chicks from a few days of age until they are an adult hen that can lay eggs can take several months.

Erasmus said if individuals are going to buy chicks and raise them for eggs and possibly meat, they need to know that there are several needs that egg-laying hens need to make sure they are healthy and safe.

“They need to be protected from predators, have enough space and get nutrition requirements,” Erasmus said.

Erasmus reiterated that if people do want to try and raise their own flock of chicks they really need to do their research, including checking city ordinances to see how many chicks are allowed in backyards and an action plan for what to do if their chickens get sick.

Erasmus said not all veterinarians treat poultry.