In this video I will show you the difference in activity levels of store bought chicks and home raised chicks. Chicks from stores are usually kept in small crowded stock tanks with a very warm bright light on and an endless food dispenser. Chicks need a natural light cycle to develop properly. One things people don't consider on their brooder lights is that they are keeping a light source on 24/7 which destroys the circadian ryhthm and hormone regulation.
Your circadian rhythm is a 24-hour biological cycle characterized by sleep-wake patterns. Daylight and darkness help dictate your circadian rhythm. Light exposure stops the release of melatonin, and in turn, this helps control your circadian rhythms. This is true for chicks, humans, or any other creature with a pineal gland. When we are exposed to light pollution, especially on a 24/7 basis, it severely disrupts our hormone levels.
This is why I use a ceramic bulb which only produces heat and no light. They are relatively inexpesive too at around $12 for a 100W bulb. This should be sufficient for small clutches of chicks.
Most chicks at stores are fed the cheapest chick food available which is often made from ground corn and may contain medication. I use a mix of chia, flax, milo, and millet seeds which are high in proteins, fats, carbs, fiber, vitamins and minerals. You can see my chicks have developed their wing feathers much more than these store bought chicks. The store bought chicks are also much heavier for their age than the home raised.
Feeding your chicks from a feeder also encourages them to be lazy. I throw their food on top of the hay and they love scratching away to find the food. This is how chickens naturally find their food and will encourage them to forage. Have you ever noticed chickens spilling their food or hiding it under the bedding? This is perfectly normal because they'd rather "find" it than just eat out of a feeder.
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