New chicken momma as of, say 20 minutes ago..

Hi friends...
So that day has FINALLY come, we brought home 2 of what will, in a week, be a flock of 8. Today, the Australorp chicks... Despite obsessively reading every single post I could manage- I am such a nervous momma. My brooder temp is perfect ( I have been tweaking for days), dipped their beaks in water (just very briefly, and only once). They pecked a tiny bit at the food but have since gone totally silent and are a bit laid out ( heads down) on the periphery of the heat lamp. I know this is probably fine, but I am of course, completely obsessed and was just hoping for some reassurance, or info if I am off about something.

Thanks!! I know you have probably felt the same the first time. Just so nervous and excited!!

I am a new Chickie Momma too and I completely understand what you're saying! My babies are 5 weeks now and I remember when I brought them home, I was afraid to touch them and afraid to leave them alone. Despite all the research I was a mess...ha ha. My chicks did the same thing. They slept for a bit after I brought them home. I imagine it must be exhausting to be a baby chick and travel so much. The funny thing is they usually don't sleep long. They will nap get up poke around and then almost fall over sleeping again! Good luck and keep us updated! Congratulations on your new baby!

jennieclaire said:

Hi friends...
So that day has FINALLY come, we brought home 2 of what will, in a week, be a flock of 8. Today, the Australorp chicks... Despite obsessively reading every single post I could manage- I am such a nervous momma. My brooder temp is perfect ( I have been tweaking for days), dipped their beaks in water (just very briefly, and only once). They pecked a tiny bit at the food but have since gone totally silent and are a bit laid out ( heads down) on the periphery of the heat lamp. I know this is probably fine, but I am of course, completely obsessed and was just hoping for some reassurance, or info if I am off about something.

Thanks!! I know you have probably felt the same the first time. Just so nervous and excited!!

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Your doing great! They are just tuckered out from the stress of traveling and will sort of act this way for a day. As you know just keep an eye on them to ensure they are trying to drink/eat and move around. I started my first flock in February and now they are 6 weeks old and in the coop! The best advice I can give is to watch your chickens, they will let you know what they need. I researched and researched and all of it helped, but the chickens will be your best indicator on what they need.

Good luck and welcome!!

Thank you, thank you both! Gonna add just a touch of sugar to their water and stand guard like a new mom does. can't wait to share their progress!! ( and I'm sure, more questions!)

Congratulations on your new flock. They sound perfectly normal. Just think about how much time a newborn baby sleeps. Chicks are fluffy newborn babies. It is so cute to watch them all wake up when they hear something; play, eat and play for a little; and then, as if given a cue, all lay down and fall asleep at the same time. ChickTV never gets old.

Something that keeps stressing em out is brooder temp!

Our house is 100 years old and the house temp varies so much that I'm constantly having to readjust the lamp from day to day to keep it in range.

Yep, same here on house age. It's beautiful, but over a century old. As such we chose what we know to be the warmest room for the brooder, but have been adjusting the lamp regularly to try to maintain temps. So far so good. It's a bit stressful, but this old house, and the land that came with it are why we get to have theses chickie babies at all! So we are thankful. A couple of hours in and they have moments of activity, but mostly sort of move around and then rest. I'm in love.

The laid out chicks panicked me on day one. I gave many a little poke to see if they were sleeping or dead. (Very paranoid new momma). Turns out everyone was tired and I got better about telling myself they are just sleeping.

ChickenGirl23 said:

The laid out chicks panicked me on day one. I gave many a little poke to see if they were sleeping or dead. (Very paranoid new momma). Turns out everyone was tired and I got better about telling myself they are just sleeping.

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When I first got my chicks I was doing the same thing . After having them for a few days I've been doing it less and less, since they hate it so much. I still check on them all the time though to make sure they are breathing.

Another anxious new mom here. 3 Buff Orpingtons, hatched Sat., arrived last night from a local breeder. If the feather test is still accurate at 4 days old, I *think* I have a hen and 2 roos in the making. Their behavior makes me think this might be right, b/c 2 have kind of turned into a "couple" and the third (the most aggressive) is left out and cranky about it. Going to have to watch him! Mine actually played around a good bit when I got them home - they found their food & water, got checked for pasty butt, picked around in the shavings a bit, and then KONKED out when the sun went down! I'm pleased to report they seem to have survived the night in good order - they were bright-eyed & bouncy when I woke up. I am very worried about temperature, b/c I'm terrified to keep a heat lamp going in a doublewide while I'm at work - so I took a leaf from what the breeder did, which is heat the small (former!) guest bedroom they are in with a space heater with a temperature gauge and just keep the ambient temp. in the room pretty high. Hope that works!

Now for the bad news: I think they may have (a mild case of) chicken mites. What's safe to use on baby chicks less than a week old?

Congrats to all the new chick moms!