Hobby Farms What To Look For When Bringing Home Baby Chicks Whether you're buying baby chicks from a farm store or a hatchery, or you're brooding your own, look for these signs to spot health troubles in your birds. 617 views PHOTO: PCHT/Shutterstock When you walk into your local feed mill or farm-supply store during the spring, you’ll likely hear the cheep, cheep, cheep of baby chicks. Those little balls of fluff are adorable! But it’s important to resist the cute factor and focus on health to ensure your new flock or additional flock mates survive. Picking healthy chicks isn’t difficult when you know what to look for—from their peepers to their feet.