About the Chick

Chicks are baby chickens, typically referring to the young of domestic fowl. These fluffy, adorable creatures hatch after about 21 days of incubation. Chicks are precocial, meaning they are relatively mature and mobile from the moment they hatch. They are born with a special 'egg tooth' on their beak, which they use to pip (break) their way out of the egg shell. Newly hatched chicks are covered in soft down feathers, which are replaced by adult feathers as they grow. In their first few weeks of life, chicks learn essential skills from their mother, such as foraging for food and recognizing potential threats. Chicks grow rapidly, developing their distinctive combs and wattles as they mature. The care and raising of chicks is a fundamental aspect of poultry farming and backyard chicken keeping.