Blue Swedish came today! Advice on how I'm doing

[chloemama]

Hello - Our 3 Blue Swedish came this morning. I have had chickens for a few years now, but want to make double sure I am doing ok by these little cuties. They are in a ex-large dog crate, I put mesh along the sides so they wont pop out.
On one end I put straw/hay then I put down sawdust towards the front.

I have a aluminum tray that has both a bowl of started, unmedicated, and a bowl/dish of water that has some feed in it.
The heat lamp is clamped to the inside 'roof' of the crate, When I had it hooked to the outside and pointing in they were shivering a bit so I moved it to the inside.

Good? Bad? Suggestions?

Oh they have Brutus the protector watching them He's our German Shepherd. He did the same thing when the chicks arrived.

 

[duckeg]

They are ducklings right? Add some niacin or brewers yeast to their food it's important cuz they're gonna grow up super fast and need strong legs, i have swedish too you're gonna luv them

 

[chloemama]

Thanks for the tip. How much do I add? Also, just making sure I am doing it right, I have a bowl of feed but I put a couple of handfuls into their water dish. Correct?


One is so much tinier than the other two - my husband said they were picking at her bill and eyes, but I see no discharge or anything, thoughts?

 

[duckeg]

I would put a tablespoon of brewer's yeast on their food daily and let them all eat that.

A poultry multivitamin once a week is something else I would do - add it to their water according to directions.

No he/she is gonna be ok as long as they have enough food and space.

Some pic would be nice

 

[chloemama]

 

[chloemama]

Not the greatest picture but there they are.

 

[duckeg]

super duper cute

 

[Yoles32]

Thanks for the tip. How much do I add? Also, just making sure I am doing it right, I have a bowl of feed but I put a couple of handfuls into their water dish. Correct?


One is so much tinier than the other two - my husband said they were picking at her bill and eyes, but I see no discharge or anything, thoughts?

I've spent a lot of time watching my new ducklings and I thought they were biting at each other, then I realized they were just eating food that was stuck to their feathers! They're so messy!

 

[Yoles32]

I've spent a lot of time watching my new ducklings and I thought they were biting at each other, then I realized they were just eating food that was stuck to their feathers! They're so messy!

But sooooo cute.