Chick Care
Things you need
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Brooder
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Heat Lamp or Heat Plate
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Thermometer
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Bedding
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Waterer
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Feeder
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Chick Starter
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Chick Grit
FIRST
Before your chicks come home you should have your brooder area set up for 24 hours, with the heat lamp or plate running to ensure that there are no issues with your set up, and so that way the temperature inside the brooder can stabilize
Picking up your chicks, (post office, from the store or local farmer) during the transportation home, you should try to keep the chicks as close to brooder temperature as possible. Turn the heat up in your vehicle!
When Your Chicks Get home.
When you first get your chicks home, I highly recommend taking the chicks one by one and dipping their beaks in the water and the food gently. I also recommend placing something shiny in their food and water, like a few marbles, washers, or silver coins. Chicks are attracted to shiny things and will peck at them. By placing something shiny in their food or water in encourages them to eat and drink. After the first week these things can be removed, because they will have learned where to eat and drink. (This is not necessary but extremely helpful.)
First 24 Hours
The first 24 hours watch your chicks closely, you're going to want to pay attention if they are spread out, (too hot) or if they are cuddled together too closely, (too cold). If your chicks are staying right on top of each other then they are too cold and could smother each other. Or if they are one side of the brooder and not exploring the whole place, then there is a draft.
Provide them with as much food and water as they want. Do not place the food and water directly under the heat lamp. Also placing the food and water on a slightly elevated surface such as a small board may help prevent the chicks from getting their bedding in their food and water.
* Also keep watch on their bums, for any poop build up. This is called pasty butt and can be fatal if not cleaned off, use a damp tissue or cloth to clean it off*
First Week and Beyond
Continue to watch your chicks as they grow, you will need to adjust the temperature as they do. First week of life their brooder temperature should be kept at 95*F. Every week beyond that you should be able to decrease the heat by 5*F until they are fully feathered at around 8-10 weeks old. If you are in a colder climate you might have to keep the heat available for a little longer, if you are in a warmer area then you should be able to remove the heat and start adjusting your chicks to life outside in their coop. But make sure you are keeping an eye on them as you are adjusting the temperatures.
At Two weeks old you can start offering chick grit to help them better digest their food. Once they are full grown you may offer treats such as meal worms, crickets, sunflower seeds, scratch grains. But those are TREATS and do not provide the nutrition that they need to grow healthy. Chicks should stay on a chick starter until they are at a laying age, and once they start to lay, then they can be switched over to a layer feed.
I am not a vet. I am only giving information from my own personal experience, and what works for me and my personal chicks.