There are some things about growing up that apply to every generation‚ like going through an awkward phase or clashing with parents. Then there are things that only baby boomers can fully understand. From chasing the mosquito man to driving exploding cars‚ younger generations can't quite relate to these boomer experiences. Today‚ there can't be more than 0.06% lead in paint since the substance is... Source

A high school principal in Texas slow-walked a review of nearly 200 books in the school library that parents flagged for sexually explicit material‚ setting a timetable of 22 years to reconsider them‚ according to documents and emails obtained by The Daily Signal. Parents in Llano‚ Texas‚ told The Daily Signal that they began expressing concerns to Llano High School’s principal in January 2023 about library books rated “adult” by the publishers. Several of the books include extremely graphic sex scenes.  The parents shared their emails to Llano Principal Scott Patrick with The Daily Signal‚ which has not been able to verify their authenticity independently. The high school didn’t confirm or deny the authenticity of the emails‚ which also indicate that Patrick included students on a panel reviewing challenged books. Llano High School serves 529 students in Llano Independent School District‚ based in Llano‚ Texas.  On Jan. 17‚ Bonnie Wallace‚ the mother of a former student‚ filed a detailed form‚ called a “Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials” for the book “Call Me by Your Name” by Andre Aciman‚ which was available for students to check out of the high school library. Wallace said the book contains explicit sexual scenes that are unsuitable for distribution to minors by a taxpayer-funded school‚ such as this one on page 144: I saw one of them enter my room and reach for the fruit‚ and with the fruit in hand‚ come to my bed and bring it to my hard c***… and gently press the soft overripe peach on my c*** till I’d pierced the fruit along the crease that reminded me so much of Oliver’s a**. A Texas bill passed in June 2023‚ the READER Act‚ requires public schools to remove books that include material that is “sexually explicit‚ harmful‚ pervasively vulgar‚ or educationally unsuitable” from classrooms and libraries accessible to minors. The law reinforces existing Texas Education Agency policy forbidding schools from providing explicit materials to minors. Through January‚ Wallace filed reports on four other books with similar issues for concerned parents.  Patrick didn’t remove the books or respond to the vulgar‚ sexually explicit paragraphs that Wallace cited in her reports. It appears that the high school’s principal also ignored or disregarded books’ changed statuses as “adult” by publishers and distributors. The book “A Court of Silver Flames” by Sarah Maas contains multiple scenes in which the narrator describes a character’s request to “f*** me … on this table‚ on this chair‚ on every surface in this house.”  Other sexual scenes in Maas’ book are too vulgar for The Daily Signal to print‚ yet students may read them in Llano High School’s library. The publisher‚ Bloomsbury Publishing‚ changed the rating of the Maas’ entire “Court of Thorns and Roses” series from “young adult” to “adult” in September 2020‚ as Wallace pointed out to Patrick in an email. As of publication of this story‚ the designation for “A Court of Silver Flames’” remains “young adult” in Llano High School’s library. In a January 22 email obtained by The Daily Signal‚ Patrick laid out for Wallace and other parents how the school district would review the cited books. The principal said he anticipated that process would take “roughly 30 days” for each book. His email suggests that the committee would review books one at a time.  Parents have reported 198 books in Llano High School as violating the Texas Education Agency’s regulation and the Texas READER Act. At a rate of nine working months per year‚ Patrick’s email suggests that the Llano school district would spend over 22.5 years reviewing the cited books.  On Friday‚ exactly 30 days later‚ Patrick informed Wallace of the reconsideration committee’s decision on “Call Me by Your Name‚” the first of the concerning books in line. “The reconsideration committee has voted to remove the book from circulation by a vote of 7:0‚” the principal wrote. Patrick didn’t provide a reason in the email for removing the book‚ nor did he respond to The Daily Signal’s question about why the book remained on the shelves of his school’s library during the review. The other books with explicit passages‚ cited in forms shared by parents‚ appear to remain accessible to students in Llano High School’s library. The Daily Signal sought to confirm this with Patrick and the school district‚  but neither responded by publication time. According to Patrick’s emails‚ the “book reconsideration” committee included students until a lawyer recommended their removal from the process. It isn’t clear when the school district or the high school selected students to review the sexually explicit books‚ nor how many students of what ages were recruited. Neither Patrick nor any other administrator in the Llano school district answered The Daily Signal’s questions about how students found out about the book review committee and were added to it‚ or why Patrick suddenly removed them. Patrick told Wallace in a Jan. 31 email: “Students were placed on the committee after the district received parental consent for them to participate.” In a Feb. 6 email to Wallace‚ Patrick said of the students on the review committee: “Although their participation is allowed by policy‚ the district determined it is in their best interest to be removed from the process so that they are insulated from any potential controversy.”  The Llano school district did not confirm the authenticity of the emails and forms sent between Patrick and Wallace. Assuming the emails are authentic‚ Patrick may have recognized a potential controversy in asking students‚ some perhaps minors‚ to read “adult” books with passages detailing sex‚ gore‚ and drug use in vulgar fashion. The school district’s 2023-2024 Student Handbook bans the use of “profane language” in class and on clothing‚ which presumably includes vulgar slang for male and female genitalia and sexual acts. According to parents‚ Patrick acknowledged receiving complaints highlighting sexual passages in the books. The principal didn’t explain why he didn’t immediately remove the books from the school library until they had been reviewed‚ given parents’ concerns. Parents told The Daily Signal that the books remain available in the school library while under review. This is a developing story and may be updated. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Texas High School Put Students on Panel to Review Sexually Explicit Books appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The House passed a bill Thursday that would effectively lift the Biden administration’s pause on new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals. The lower chamber passed the “Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act‚” introduced by Rep. August Pfluger‚ R-Texas‚ by a 224-200 bipartisan vote‚ with nine House Democrats crossing the aisle to join Republicans in voting in favor of the bill. The bill would remove the Department of Energy from the process of approving LNG export terminals and give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission exclusive discretion over whether or not to greenlight LNG export hubs‚ according to its text. The White House handed a major victory to the environmentalist Left when it announced on Jan. 26 that the administration would pause approvals for new export facilities while the Energy Department conducts a wider review to gauge the climate impacts of the facilities alongside other factors‚ like economic benefits and national security considerations. While activists took a victory lap after the announcement‚ elected Republicans and industry groups slammed the policy‚ and energy sector experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the decision will empower foreign gas producers while failing to reduce global emissions. “President [Joe] Biden was pretty clear when‚ as a candidate‚ he said‚ ‘I guarantee you. We’re going to end fossil fuel.’ He has used every weapon and every tool available to make it more difficult on this industry‚” Pfluger told the DCNF. “This export ban is just the latest strike in his efforts to appease his radical climate interest groups‚ who refuse to accept the reality that American energy is the cleanest‚ most secure option for the U.S. and our allies. “If you care about energy‚ about the security of the country‚ and about what the energy industry has done to lower prices for American households and strengthen our allies and partners‚ then this is an easy vote.” The White House criticized Pfluger’s bill on Tuesday in an official statement‚ but it stopped short of pledging to veto the bill should it make it to Biden’s desk. The bill will now head to the Senate‚ where it may or may not receive a vote. Notably‚ the White House consulted with climate activists—including a 25-year old TikTok influencer and members of the disruptive group known as Climate Defiance—ahead of announcing the pause. The White House did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Originally published in The Daily Caller News Foundation. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post ‘Easy Vote’: House Passes Bipartisan Rebuke of Biden Admin’s ‘Radical’ Natural Gas Restriction appeared first on The Daily Signal.

President Joe Biden called Friday for the House to shut down its impeachment inquiry into alleged influence peddling after the indictment of an FBI informant who said Biden might have accepted $5 million in bribes while vice president. Special counsel David Weiss‚ appointed to investigate the financial activities of the president’s son‚ Hunter Biden‚ secured a grand jury indictment against Alexander Smirnov‚ alleging that he lied to the FBI. Smirnov faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. A reporter asked Biden about the indictment at a press conference Friday‚ and whether the House should drop its impeachment inquiry. “He is lying and it should be dropped‚ and it’s just been an outrageous effort from the beginning‚” Biden said of Smirnov and the impeachment probe. But House Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer‚ R-Ky.‚ who is in charge of the inquiry‚ said the impeachment investigation doesn’t rely on Smirnov’s allegation of a bribe made in an FBI form known as a FD-1023. Comer said other evidence shows that millions of dollars in foreign cash went to Hunter Biden and other members of the Biden family. Business associates of the Biden family have said that Joe Biden‚ mostly while vice president‚ was “the brand” in doing business in foreign countries. “We have over $30 million reasons to continue this investigation and not one of those reasons relies on the corrupt FBI or an informant‚” Comer said in a written statement‚ adding: Bank records don’t lie. Bank records and witness testimony reveal Joe Biden knew about and participated in his family’s business schemes‚ and he has repeatedly lied to the American people about these facts. The American people demand the truth and accountability for any wrongdoing. We will continue to follow the facts to propose legislation to reform federal ethics laws and to determine whether articles of impeachment are warranted. Last fall‚ the Oversight Committee released copies of checks showing separate payments of $40‚000 and $200‚000 made directly to the elder Biden‚ filtered through either shell companies or family members. This information was separate from claims made by the FBI informant. The House formally voted in December to approve an impeachment inquiry into Biden. The probe is being conducted by three committees: Oversight and Accountability‚ Ways and Means‚ and Judiciary. SmirnovIndictmentDownload The U.S. Central District of California on Thursday unsealed a two-count indictment of Smirnov‚ 43. He is charged with making a false statement and creating a false and fictitious record after the FBI arrested him at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. A Justice Department press release says: “Smirnov provided false derogatory information to the FBI about Public Official 1‚ and Businessperson 1‚ the son of Public Official 1‚ in 2020‚ after Public Official 1 became a presidential candidate.” The release talks about the FBI informant’s discussion with executives from Burisma‚ the Ukrainian energy company that named Hunter Biden to its board at a hefty salary. The informant told FBI officials he learned of a $5 million bribe to be paid to Hunter Biden and $5 million to then-Vice President Joe Biden in 2016 to pull strings to avoid a prosecution of Burisma in Ukraine. The informant asserted that Burisma officials told him the money couldn’t be tracked because of various Biden family shell companies. The indictment of Smirnov alleges: “Defendant transformed his routine and unextraordinary businesscontacts with Burisma in 2017 and later into bribery allegations against Public Official 1‚ the presumptive nominee of one of the two major political parties for President‚ after expressing bias against Public Official 1 and his candidacy.” In July‚ Sen. Chuck Grassley‚ R-Iowa‚ released the bribery allegation against Biden in a four-page FBI document‚ called an FD-1023‚ that he obtained through a Justice Department whistleblower. FBI special agents use the FD-1023 form to record raw‚ unverified information obtained from confidential human sources. Such forms don’t reflect the conclusion of an investigation.  FD-1023-GrassleyDownload “It costs 5 (million) to pay one Biden‚ and 5 (million) to another Biden‚” the unclassified FD-1023 form quotes then-Burisma CEO Mykola Zlochevsky saying at the 2016 meeting‚ a reference to the then-vice president and his son‚ a Burisma board member. Weiss‚ also the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for Delaware‚ brought two separate indictments against Hunter Biden‚ one for tax charges and another on a gun possession charge. Other Democrats‚ including Rep. Jamie Raskin‚ D-Md.‚ ranking member of the Oversight Committee‚ have called for the closure of the impeachment inquiry. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the url or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Comer: ’30 Million Reasons’ Biden Impeachment Probe Will Continue Despite Indictment of Informant appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The father of embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis took the stand Friday‚ testifying that he backs up her story about storing cash at home‚ listens avidly to conservative talk radio‚ and knew about COVID-19 well before most other Americans.  Willis is defending herself from accusations that her affair with the man she hired as special prosecutor disqualifies her from pursuing a racketeering case against former President Donald Trump for trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.  A former Georgia governor‚ meanwhile‚ said he turned down the chance to be a special prosecutor in the Trump case.  The second day of a court hearing in Atlanta to determine whether Willis and Wade should be disqualified lacked the drama of the first‚ when Willis took the stand Thursday in a surprise appearance and gave combative testimony.  However‚ more facts emerged to provide context in the Fulton County scandal involving Willis and now ex-boyfriend Nathan Wade‚ the special prosecutor she hired. “Your Honor‚ I’m not trying to be racist‚ OK? But it’s a black thing‚” John Floyd‚ Willis’ father and also a lawyer‚ explained to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee‚ the presiding judge. “I was trained‚ and most black folks hide cash and they keep cash.” He later added: “I have told my daughter‚ you keep six months’ worth of cash‚ always.” Floyd related a story about a restaurant in Cambridge‚ Massachusetts‚ that refused to take his credit card or traveler’s checks.  The Willis-Wade controversy emerged in a legal motion from one of Trump’s co-defendants‚ former White House aide and later campaign aide Michael Roman.  Trump and Roman were among 19 persons originally indicted for conspiracy in August by a Fulton County grand jury because they challenged the presidential election results in Georgia.  Willis hired Wade in November 2021 at $250 an hour and their prosecution team brought the criminal case to the grand jury. Wade has billed Willis’ office for over $650‚000 in legal work. Roman’s lawyer‚ Ashleigh Merchant‚ filed the motion to disqualify Willis from the Trump case‚ citing a conflict of interest in her relationship with Wade.  Wade and Willis went on several vacations on cruises and flights to destinations that included Belize‚ Aruba‚ and the Bahamas. Merchant alleged in her motion that Willis personally benefited from hiring a man with whom she had a romantic relationship.  Wade and Willis both testified under oath Thursday that although Wade paid for the vacations with his business credit card‚ Willis reimbursed Wade in cash.  Willis and Wade testified that their romantic relationship didn’t begin until early 2022‚ several months after Willis hired Wade as a special prosecutor for the Trump investigation. However‚ a former friend of Willis’ testified that she saw signs that the two were in a relationship as early as 2019.   When the relationship began could be key to determining whether Willis anticipated any personal gain. Asked on the stand whether he is aware of news reports about the pair’s testimony Thursday‚ Floyd answered: “You can’t cut the TV on without seeing this first thing. I listen to conservative radio a lot‚ and last night for five hours all they talked about was this case.” Willis and her father lived for a time in the same house in the Atlanta area. But after Willis was sworn in as the Fulton County district attorney on Jan. 1‚ 2021‚ his daughter moved out because of threats and harassment‚ Floyd testified.  He testified that protesters gathered outside his daughter’s house and shouted the “N-word” and the “b-word” at her. Someone spray-painted obscenities on her house‚ he added. In what turned out to be an unusual exchange‚ Merchant tried to determine Floyd’s whereabouts in 2019‚ and whether he might have been aware of his daughter’s relationship with Wade. “Did you spend any time in 2019 in California?” Merchant asked Floyd. “I did not. What happened was COVID. Once COVID hit‚ I was just paralyzed. I couldn’t go anyplace‚” Floyd said.   “I may be wrong‚ but I believe COVID was in 2020. I’m talking about 2020. I was asking about 2019‚” Merchant said.  Floyd testified that he spent time in South Africa and Washington‚ D.C.‚ but arrived in Atlanta in spring 2019. The first known case of COVID-19 in China was reported in late November 2019. The first known case in the United States didn’t occur until early 2020.  “Before COVID was even here in the United States—remember I lived in South Africa and I traveled the world. I knew COVID was coming before‚” Floyd said. “I knew COVID was around before. They may have announced it in ’20. But in fact‚ I knew about it and I knew what was happening in ’19.” Willis’ office called former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes‚ a Democrat who now is a lawyer in private practice‚ as a witness. Barnes testified that Willis asked him in 2021 to accept the job of special prosecutor in the Trump case.  “I don’t recall the exact date‚ but I know it was sometime in 2021. And she asked me to come down‚ and I met with her and Nathan Wade‚ and there were several others in the meeting‚” the former governor testified. “She asked me if I would be interested in being special prosecutor‚ to which I replied that I had mouths to feed at a law office and I could not‚ I would not‚ do that.” Barnes added that‚ in an unrelated matter‚ the FBI had warned him of threats from people angry that he was “too close to the Jews.”  “I told DA Willis‚ I lived with bodyguards for four years and I didn’t like it‚ and I wasn’t going to live with bodyguards for the rest of my life‚” Barnes said.  A lawyer who represented Wade in his divorce‚ Terrence Bradley‚ also testified Friday after claiming attorney-client privilege Thursday. Bradley repeatedly said he could not remember details and asked lawyers to repeat questions.  Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Fani Willis’ Father‚ Former Governor Take Stand in Trump Disqualification Case  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Most Americans recognize that the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as a far-left‚ dark-money behemoth with assets of nearly a quarter-billion dollars. The once-respected FBI is now viewed as being similarly politicized. Overall support for the agency has nose-dived to only 37% among the general public and a meager 17% among Republicans. Yet few Americans realize how closely the ADL works with the FBI to advance their leadership’s political interests. This is a dangerous collaboration wherein the increasingly radical group provides ideologically driven guidance to people with the guns. Right now‚ the FBI is pointing those guns at the political enemies of the far Left. The ADL’s work covers the usual left-wing causes célèbres: fighting voting integrity measures‚ pushing for open-borders policies and amnesty for illegal aliens‚ and vigorously defending the Black Lives Matter riots‚ to name a few. The group has now politically weaponized its charges of antisemitism‚ falsely smearing conservatives while excusing blatant antisemitism among its political allies. For example‚ the organization has groundlessly denounced Elon Musk‚ a powerful libertarian voice‚ as an antisemite in a baldfaced effort to drain his social network‚ X‚ of advertising revenue. Yet‚ when now-Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) came to the defense of his uncle for antisemitic remarks he made in the ’90s‚ the organization refused to condemn him. Jonathan Tobin of Jewish News Syndicate traces ADL’s hard-left turn to its change in leadership from longtime leader Abe Foxman to Jonathan Greenblatt‚ a former staffer in the Clinton and Obama White Houses. Tobin writes‚ “Greenblatt has helped shift the ADL from its former stance as the nonpartisan gold standard for monitoring hate to being just another liberal activist group whose priority is helping the Democratic Party.” Last month‚ The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project released an investigative report detailing an “Extremist Sitrep” email from the “ADL Law Enforcement” account to The Washington State Fusion Center‚ a collective of various law enforcement entities spanning from local to the FBI. The email advises law enforcement officers responsible for investigating domestic terrorists to focus their resources on the likes of Matt Walsh‚ Chris Rufo and Libs of TikTok. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) Much like the FBI’s infamous anti-Catholic targeting memo‚ the ADL email suggests that law enforcement agencies—people with guns and the power to imprison and financially destroy enemies of the state-should concentrate their efforts on nonviolent citizens whose only “crime” is to have exercised their First Amendment freedoms in support of political viewpoints contrary to the authoritarian Left. The goal here is clearly to punish the “thought criminals” and force adherence to the dogmas of the state. What’s the big deal about such a problematic email? Law enforcement agencies must get all sorts of memorandums‚ requests and phony tips from every corner of the nation‚ right? The problem here is that‚ according to former FBI agents‚ they are conditioned from the very beginning of their careers to be receptive to ADL propaganda. One of the first experiences of a new agent is an ADL-sponsored trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington‚ D.C. The ostensible purpose of the trip is to impress on new agents that they bear a tremendous responsibility that should never be abused. That lesson should be salubrious. But former agents tell me the trip’s real purpose is to prepare agents to be receptive to the onslaught of propaganda and rewards that the ADL will be sending their way throughout the coming years. At the very beginning of an agent’s career‚ the FBI is sending the clear message that the ADL is a trusted partner. The ADL and FBI partnership only grows from there. According to the ADL’s website‚ “We educate annually an estimated 15‚000 law enforcement personnel from local‚ state and federal agencies.” Moreover‚ “in 2021 alone‚ the ADL Center on Extremism (COE) provided law enforcement with critical intelligence about extremism over 1‚300 times and tracked over 7‚300 incidents of hate on our online‚ interactive H.E.A.T. map.” The ADL even operates a school for executive-level law enforcement officials: In 2003‚ the ADL founded the Advanced Training School‚ which has provided education on extremism and terrorism for senior law enforcement from more than 250 agencies across the U.S. This three-day course provides an examination of major types of extremist movements‚ case studies of recent terrorist acts presented by law enforcement leaders with firsthand experience‚ and guidance on the critical importance of protecting civil rights and liberties. The very agency the feds trust to educate them on matters of “extremism” is producing politically driven‚ far-left reports on who counts as an extremist. Much like the Southern Poverty Law Center‚ the ADL writes and applies the definition they wish government to enforce. They take care to ensure that it predominantly captures those opposed to their ideology‚ while excusing their political allies. Were these organizations to apply a neutral definition of hate or extremism‚ it would undercut the leftist narrative that so-called MAGA extremists and their ilk are the most clear-and-present danger to the United States. Beyond orientation‚ training‚ and propaganda‚ the ADL provides FBI personnel with awards. Since 2010‚ the ADL has been handing out “ADL SHIELD Awards” to FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors for investigative and prosecutorial successes. It’s a brilliantly subversive tactic. The awards cost the ADL next to nothing‚ and in exchange‚ the organization receives a false veneer of legitimacy and builds a list of FBI executives and agents beholden to the ADL. Conditioning FBI personnel to be receptive to ADL political propaganda and then doling out rewards to FBI leaders is beyond unseemly. With this incentive structure in place‚ is there any reason to doubt that the FBI would be more inclined to take in and act on slanted ADL material? Small wonder that public confidence in the FBI is at record lows. One obvious remedial measure would be to end the partnership between the ADL and the FBI. It’s time to draw a bright line between dark‚ far-left operations and the most powerful law enforcement entity in the country and make sure that line is not crossed. Originally published at the DailyWire.com Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the url or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post It’s Time to End the FBI-ADL Partnership appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Are you getting chicks for the first time‚ or simply need a refresher on how to best take care of them? Read along to learn everything you need to know about raising baby chicks in this comprehensive beginner’s guide. This article will cover the supplies needed‚ tips for arrival day‚ brooder basics‚ along with chick food‚ water‚ and temperature requirements. We’ll also explore key health and safety considerations‚ how to transition chicks to living outside‚ and adding new chicks to an existing flock. Raising baby chicks is an incredibly fun and special thing to do. It’s also an important task! Without a mother hen‚ these vulnerable little fluff balls are going to imprint on you‚ follow you everywhere‚ and most importantly‚ rely on you for love‚ protection‚ and proper care. These tips will help you prepare to give them the best home possible. Welcome home‚ my sweets. Preparation and Supplies Before the chicks come home‚ ensure you have all of the necessary supplies ready and waiting. This includes a brooder‚ heat source‚ and other essential supplies listed below. The chicks will need warmth‚ water‚ and food immediately upon arrival. If you ordered chicks in the mail‚ it may be best to take the day off work (or leave early) the day they’re due to arrive if possible. The sooner you can get them settled in their new home‚ the better the outcome! Essential Supplies Here is a list of the key items you’ll need for raising baby chicks: A brooder box‚ which will be their home for the next 6 to 8 weeks. (More details below) A heat source for the brooder‚ such as a classic red heat lamp or modern radiant heat plate. If you use a heat lamp‚ it must be hung in a manner that is very secure (they can pose a fire risk) and also easy to adjust the height. If using a heat plate‚ leave another light on nearby so the chicks can see their food and water‚ including overnight. Read more about about the pros and cons of each heater option in our detailed post on how to set up a chick brooder. Absorbent non-slip bedding material for the brooder. Popular bedding options include pine or aspen shavings‚ hemp bedding‚ coarse sand‚ or chopped straw. Avoid using newspaper‚ cat litter‚ or cedar products. Chick feed‚ explored more below. Food and water containers‚ such as this simple set. Stick with small ones designed for chicks‚ which are most safe and take up the least room in their brooder. A thermometer to monitor the brooder temperature at floor or chick level. The first time we raised chicks‚ we made a brooder from a large plastic storage tub. It’s a great start‚ but they’ll outgrow this within a few weeks! Note the tub also has a modified lid with wire mesh screen. How to Set Up A Chick Brooder A chick brooder‚ also known as a brooder box‚ offers baby chicks a safe warm space to live during their first most vulnerable weeks of life. A brooder is essential for chicks to survive without a mother hen‚ who would normally tuck the chicks under her body for warmth. It contains a heat source‚ food‚ water‚ and bedding. You can make a DIY chick brooder out of a large plastic storage tote‚ plywood box‚ thick cardboard‚ metal feed trough‚ animal crate‚ dog playpen‚ or other sturdy container. A brooder should have a secure‚ breathable‚ and removable lid (such as wire fencing) to keep the chicks IN and other pets or threats OUT. The chicks will be able to jump out or onto brooder walls within the first couple weeks! Provide at least 1/2 square foot of brooder space per chick when they’re one to four weeks old‚ increasing to 1 to 2 square feet per chick at 4 to 8 weeks old. A chick brooder should be kept in fairly warm and sheltered location‚ such as in a spare room‚ laundry room‚ or bathroom in your house‚ or in an insulated garage or shed. If in a chicken coop‚ it’s important that the chicks are protected and separate from any adult chickens. Keep in mind that chicks generate a lot of icky dust‚ so it’s best to keep the brooder away from the kitchen or bedrooms. Visit our comprehensive guide for more details on how to set up a chick brooder – including several DIY brooder ideas‚ FAQ‚ and more. Our next DIY brooder: a 4×4 foot plywood box. For the first few weeks‚ we keep a divider wall in the middle and the chicks in just half the space – opening it up for more room as they grow. Note the heat lamp is hung very securely for safety (on a drum cymbal stand). Arrival Day When your chicks arrive‚ and before setting them loose in their brooder‚ carefully dip each chick’s beak in clean lukewarm water. This shows them where their water is‚ and helps to trigger them to start drinking on their own. One of the most common causes of lost chicks during the first days is dehydration and cold. Providing slightly warm water instead of cold water helps prevent their internal body temperature from dropping too much. Once the chicks are in their brooder‚ try your best not to handle them for the first day. Let them settle in. They’ve likely been on a stressful journey! I know it is really hard to resist – especially for the kiddos – but it’s in the chick’s best interest. I know we’re super cute‚ but please let us settle in for a day or two before subjecting us to photo shoots Mom! Keeping Chicks Warm Warmth is one of the most important aspects of raising baby chicks. They need a constant‚ safe heat source to keep them the correct temperature at different stages of development‚ either from a red heat lamp or radiant heat plate. This replaces the heat that they’d otherwise be provided by huddling under their mama hen. A brooder starts out very warm (90-95°F) the first week‚ and incrementally decreases by about 5 degrees each week as the chicks become older and their feathers fill in. See the brooder temperature chart below. It’s crucial to have a thermometer in the brooder (at chick level) to assess the temperature‚ and then lower or raise the heat lamp to adjust accordingly. Chicks behavior will tell if they’re too hot or cold. When overheated‚ chicks will be extra lethargic‚ try to get as far away from the heat source as possible‚ and may pant. If too cold‚ they’ll usually chirp loudly and huddle together directly under the light. A comfortable chick will be active‚ move about the entire brooder‚ and take regular naps. Chicks warming themselves under a radiant heat plate. Photo courtesy of Heather J via YouTube Week-by-Week Temperature Chart FAQ: How long do chicks need a heat lamp? Baby chicks need a heat lamp for about 5 to 8 weeks‚ depending on the location of their brooder and temperature outside. The brooder is kept at about 90-95°F degrees the first week‚ and gradually decreases by 5 degrees per week thereafter. By week 5 or 6‚ it may be possible to turn the heat lamp off during the day. At 6 or 7 weeks‚ chicks are fully feathered and can begin a gradual transition outdoors‚ but should be protected from temperatures below 40 to 50°F for a few more weeks. By week 8‚ most chicks have moved outside. Food and Water In the brooder‚ keep the chick’s food and water containers near the edge of their “comfort zone” (e.g. not directly under the heat lamp‚ but not in the furthest corner away from it) so they don’t need to be too heated or chilled to get to it. Chick Feed What do baby chicks eat? Baby chicks need special food‚ called chick starter feed. It is nutritionally-balanced for their needs and rapid development at this stage of life. As they mature‚ they’ll transition from starter feed to “grower” (intermediate) feed at around 8 weeks old. Some feeds are both a “starter” and a “grower” in one‚ which they can stay on until they graduate to a layer feed  – around 16 to 18 weeks old. Should I use medicated chick feed? Whether or not to use medicated chick feed is a personal decision. Medicated chick starter feed contains medicine that wards off a specific parasitic infection called coccidiosis‚ discussed more to follow. It’s not an antibiotic‚ and it doesn’t last in their system long. With our first-ever round of chicks‚ we went with the recommendation to use medicated feed for the first few weeks‚ then transition to non-medicated organic chick starter feed. They never got sick. On the other hand‚ we decided to go au natural with non-medicated feed only for our next round of chicks. Unfortunately‚ they all came down with coccidiosis after their first little adventure outdoors. We ended up having to treat their water with CORID and switch to medicated feed for a while to clear it up. Yet I know many people who don’t use medicated feed and their chicks don’t get sick! That was just our experience. To read more about the great medicated chick feed debate‚ see this chain in the Backyard Chickens forum. Transitioning to Layer Feed and Calcium Around 8 weeks old‚ switch from chick starter feed to “grower” feed (unless they’re already eating a starter/grower combo feed). Do not give young chicks regular “layer” feed until they start laying eggs (or just before). Layer feed has too much calcium and too little protein for young growing chicks! It can be tricky to figure out the best time to transition feeds if your young chickens come into lay at different ages. On average‚ most chickens start laying eggs around 6 months old (24 weeks)‚ though some begin sooner – as early as 18 to 20 weeks. At 20-22 weeks old‚ you can start transitioning to layer feed. I recommend mixing half grower and half layer feed until at least one young pullet starts showing signs that she’ll start laying eggs soon – and then transition to only layer feed over the next couple of weeks. See this article about when do chickens start laying eggs‚ including 5 tell-tale signs to watch for! We also put out a source of free-choice calcium at this time‚ such as crushed eggshells or oyster shells (separate from their food.) Learn more about the importance of offering free-choice calcium for laying hens here‚ with important tips on how to save and prepare eggshells to feed them back to chickens. Never give extra calcium to chickens younger than 18 weeks. As soon as your chicks start to show signs of laying eggs‚ begin transitioning to layer feed and offer free choice calcium in a separate dish from their feed. Water Always provide fresh‚ clean water for chicks. Start with slightly warm water for the first few days to keep them warm and comfy. Many chicken keepers provide electrolytes‚ sugar and/or vitamins in their water for the first week or two. If the chicks were shipped‚ this helps them recover from the stress of that ordeal. Additionally‚ it gives any chick a good boost for a strong start. We personally like this electrolyte nutrient powder‚ and use it in a basic chick waterer. Clean and change their water at least daily – possibly twice per day if they really make of a mess of it. If shavings get in their water‚ scoop them out. If you see poop in it‚ change out the water and sanitize the container with hot water and vinegar. Keeping their water slightly elevated above the brooder floor will help keep it cleaner (such as hanging or on a short platform)‚ but make sure they can still reach it easily! Some folks like to use chick nipple waterers‚ similar to what a hamster or rabbit would use. Nipple waterers are easier to keep clean‚ but may also be difficult for the chicks to figure out or get enough water from… which is the last thing you want for day-old chicks. If yours can figure it out and thrive‚ wonderful! We may try this adjustable waterer with legs next time we raise chicks. Chick Treats and Grit As tempting and cute as it is‚ avoid feeding baby chicks treats early on. They need to focus on their specialized food‚ and on growing big and strong! Once they’re several weeks old‚ you can introduce a few treats here and there‚ but it should never be more than 10% of their diet. Extreme moderation is key! When chicks eat anything besides their feed (such as fruits‚ veggies‚ or grass) they need the addition of grit to help them digest it. Grit is like coarse sand or tiny pebbles that they consume to help to break down food inside their crop. The exception is very soft foods like scrambled eggs and watermelon. Yep‚ you can feed chickens eggs! Our babies loved scrambled eggs‚ which we put in the food processor with some of their feed to make it small and manageable for them. You can either purchase grit‚ use clean coarse sand‚ or simply wait until they are outside. Since we are not in the habit of giving them grit in addition to their food‚ we just wait to give them treats until they’re playing outside (not necessarily living outside yet). There‚ they can nibble on bits of dirt that provide the grit needed to accompany a treat like finely chopped garden greens. My friend Crystal puts a small dust bath in her chick’s brooder‚ which then also doubles as a source of grit. Learn more about how to make a chicken dust bath here. Our 8 or 9 week old chicks enjoying their first watermelon treat – once they were already living outside with plenty of grit around. Handling Chicks When chicks are young‚ it is the best time to form a strong bond with them that can last a lifetime! One tip I read about long ago was this: don’t just suddenly reach down in and pluck them out of their brooder‚ especially at first. Instead‚ set your hand down on the floor of the brooder with some crumble feed in it‚ and let them approach you to explore. Once they become more comfortable with you and their surroundings‚ feel free to take them out of their brooder for cuddles‚ but be attentive to their behavior. Chicks will shriek when they are scared or cold. Find a warm spot where they can cuddle up with you‚ or put them back if they seem stressed. Some birds will enjoy being handled more than others! Zoey and Luna – always wanting to sit with Mommy. Chick Health and Diseases When raising baby chicks‚ there are a few health issues that you’ll need to keep an eye out for. It’s important to know the signs‚ symptoms‚ and action tips for coccidiosis and pasty butt in chicks‚ and for the health of your family‚ salmonella. Coccidiosis Coccidia is an intestinal parasite that can affect chickens of any age‚ but is particularly common and more deadly for baby chicks. In fact‚ coccidiosis (caulk-sid-e-osis – the name for a coccidia infection) is the number one killer of baby chicks in a brooder. Here is what you need to know: Cocciddia is carried and spread by infected chickens‚ wild birds‚ and their feces. It is present in the soil of many yards‚ particularly in wet conditions.   All chickens are exposed to and carry coccidia to a certain degree‚ but develop a natural immunity to it over time. Baby chicks are hit especially hard because they have not yet developed a natural immunity. Due to their small size‚ they’re easily overpowered by it. Feeding baby chicks medicated feed can help prevent coccidiosis. (Though there are some arguments against medicated feed‚ saying it prevents the chicks from developing their own natural immunity to it early on.) Symptoms of Coccidiosis The most obvious symptom of coccidiosis is bloody poop. However‚ some healthy poops can occasionally have a reddish tint to them‚ as chickens naturally shed a little bit of their internal linings from time to time. If bloody poops are persistent‚ present throughout the flock‚ and/or combined with diarrhea and other symptoms‚ it is likely coccidia at play. Other symptoms of coccidiosis include weakness‚ reduced food and water intake‚ pale comb‚ decreased growth rate‚ and ruffled feathers. Baby chicks infected with coccidia will usually stand still a lot‚ all fluffed up‚ closing their eyes. The only way to know for sure if it is coccidia is to have their feces tested by a veterinary lab. However‚ because immediate intervention is needed to save their life‚ I wouldn’t suggest waiting for lab results if the situation seems dire. If you notice these symptoms in your babies‚ read this post on how to respond to a suspected coccidia outbreak. Photo from Poultry DVM Pasty Butt Pasty butt is another common health issue for chicks‚ also known as “pasting up”. It’s pretty much what it sounds like. When chicks are first getting their bowels moving‚ there is a chance for it to stick to their bottoms. It is even more common after a stressful journey like being shipped. Pasty butt poses a number of threats. First‚ the stuck poop persistently touching their skin can cause irritation or even skin infections. Second‚ it can form a plug over their cloaca (the name for chickens one hole)‚ preventing them from going to the bathroom and blocking their intestinal track. Therefore‚ it’s critical to regularly take a peek at your chicks behinds‚ especially during the first week. We do a tushie check at least once per day. If you see a chick pasting up‚ DO NOT just pick it off in haste! Pulling could tear out feathers or even tender skin‚ causing injury. Instead‚ soak a cloth in warm water and apply a warm wet compress to the area for several minutes to soften everything up. You should be able to wipe it away soon. Salmonella The last health issue to be aware of when raising baby chicks is salmonella. Some chickens naturally carry salmonella. Not all do‚ but it’s important to be cautious either way. Furthermore‚ birds can carry salmonella without making themselves sick so it won’t be obvious like coccidia. Chicks don’t need treatment for it‚ but you need to be conscientious to protect yourself and your family. As a best practice and precaution‚ it is always recommended to wash your hands well after handling chicks. Especially before touching your face‚ mouth‚ food‚ or other things around the house. This is particularly important for the kiddos‚ who are much more likely to ignore common sense hygiene. Speaking of hygiene… Brooder Cleaning Get ready‚ because baby chicks poop A LOT! Chick poops are quite tiny at first‚ easily picked up after with a little piece of paper towel. Then their poops get bigger‚ and bigger… Do your best to keep the brooder as clean as possible. This will keep your birdies happy and healthy‚ and also keep them cleaner for snuggles! If the brooder is inside the house‚ you’ll be motivated to keep it clean to prevent unpleasant aromas. Clean their feed and water containers daily as needed‚ and clean up droppings just as often. We usually spot-clean (pick out poops) once or twice per day‚ and then change out the brooder bedding completely once every week or two. See! Look at what a mess these crazy girls can make. This was after their one-week birthday party “rager”. Call in the house cleaner! Roosts and Entertainment Chickens like to roost‚ even baby ones! We always provide a very short‚ stable‚ wide little roost inside the brooder that they can perch on. As they grow‚ we replace it with larger and taller versions. Flat wide roosts are more comfortable and easy for chickens to perch on than round dowels (for both chicks and adults). The chicks probably won’t sleep on a roost right away‚ but once they do‚ it helps get them accustomed to roosting before they move into the coop. Furthermore‚ that means they’re that much less likely to try to sleep in the nest boxes later – which is a hard habit to break‚ and leads to poopy eggs. Chicks are goofy and love checking out their reflections‚ so we always put a small mirror in their brooder. You can try to add other little “toys” though ours have never taken much interest in them. For safety concerns‚ avoid adding any small items to the brooder that they could accidentally eat. Like toddlers‚ chicks explore the world with their beaks. Our first flock of chicks enjoying a little roost. Spending Time Outside FAQ: When can baby chicks go outside? Chicks should stay in their brooder full-time for the first two weeks. When chicks are 2 to 3 weeks old‚ you can start bringing them outdoors for short adventures on warm sunny days. Gradually increase the time spent outside over the next few weeks. By age 7 to 8 weeks old‚ they’ll be fully-feathered and ready to move to their outdoor coop full-time. When you bring young chicks outside‚ it’s important to keep them confined‚ safe‚ and supervised. Provide access to food and water‚ and pick an adventure spot that has both sun and shade so they can choose what’s most comfortable. Monitor their comfort carefully‚ as they’re very susceptible getting chilled or overheated at this age! One of my good friends recently lost a chick that became overheated in the sun during an early outing on a hot day. Small chicks are also very vulnerable to predators‚ including cats‚ dogs or hawks. When they’re really small‚ we keep our chicks confined in a pop-up doggie play pen during outdoor excursions. Later‚ we let them explore a larger fenced area or run. Adding New Chicks to an Existing Flock If you already have chickens‚ it’s very important to carefully and gradually introduce and integrate new chicks to an existing flock. Older chickens are prone to picking on new smaller chickens‚ to the point of causing injury or death. The pecking order can be brutal! Never add just one new chicken to an existing flock. Start by letting the older chickens see and get used to the presence the younger ones for several weeks‚ but keep them separated by a secure fence. For instance‚ by sectioning off the existing chicken run. It’s safest to combine flocks when chickens are closer to the same size. Never introduce chicks younger than 8 weeks to an adult flock. If possible‚ wait until the young ones are at least 10 to 12 weeks old. Since they can’t see in the dark‚ slipping new chickens into the coop at night can make a smoother transition. Chickens will compete for resources. Add additional food and water containers to reduce competition. Ensure there is plenty of roost space and room to move around in both the coop and run. Bullying will be much more intense in confined‚ crowded areas. It’s best practice to provide at least 3 to 4 square feet per chicken in the coop‚ and about 10 square feet per chicken in the run. Offering free-range of an even larger space during the daytime (if safe) is ideal! Supervise the introduction‚ but know that some scuffles will be inevitable (expected and normal) as the two flocks establish their new pecking order. Try not to intervene unless the behavior is overly aggressive or causing injury. You can look but you can’t touch! The littles are about 6 weeks here. Letting our big girls and young chicks (7 to 8 weeks old) spend time in the backyard together‚ separate but visible to one another. It was warm enough outside to move our chicks out at 6-7 weeks old‚ but they were still too small to integrate into the “big girl” coop for a few more weeks. So we created a temporary baby coop out of plywood and fenced it off in their own section of the run. And that concludes everything you need to know about raising baby chicks. I hope you enjoyed the read‚ and learned plenty of helpful tips about raising chicks! Feel free to ask questions‚ and please share this post if you found it useful. You may also like our guide on raising backyard chickens. It covers tips beyond chickhood – like coop and run details‚ predator-proofing‚ and more. Finally‚ don’t forget to savor these precious few weeks! Spend as much time with your babies as possible. Take lots of photos. Your chicks are going to change from sweet little fluff balls to gangly‚ super-awkward‚ teenage dinosaurs in the blink of an eye! You may also like: The Top 18 Chicken Breeds for Your Backyard Flock How to Tell the Difference Between Male vs Female Chicks 10 Tips on Caring for Chickens in Cold Winter Weather How to Keep Chickens Cool During Heat Waves or Hot Summer Weather Why We Adopted Mini Donkeys: Fun Facts‚ Meet Our Herd &; More Did you enjoy this article? Want to hear more? Stay in touch! Sign up below to receive weekly updates on new posts from Homestead and Chill. The post Raising Baby Chicks 101: The Best Beginner’s Guide appeared first on Homestead and Chill.

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