First Time Chick Owner - HELP!

[Crazy4Wyandottes]

I just impulse bought 6 bantam chicks from Craiglist (yes, I know I have a chicken addiction problem). I'm picking them up on my way home from work today.

My Main question is: other than chick starter feed and water, what else do I need to care for them? Can they stay in a box in my house? How warm (temperature) do they need to be? I only have a heating pad that I could use as a fake mother hen to keep them warm. I have full size hens but no broody ones at the moment. I also don't have any heat lamps to keep them warm outside. How old do they have to be before I can introduce them to my adult flock? Can I trick one of the hens into raising them?

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

You’ll need a broody hen to trick into it but that is a big risk. You’ll need a box, and a heat lamp. Keep the area around 99*f and make sure you have a feeder and waterer. They need to be fully feathered before they go out (about 6 weeks or so)

 

[Wezdin]

Welcome To BYC! is the heating pad for chickens? Agree with Fowl guy for temperature, the only other thing is Nutri Drench to give the chicks a boost. That is not a must though

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

When you do introduce them, take it slow and don’t put them in the same coop. Use a standby coop or cage and allow the hens to see the new additions.

 

[Crazy4Wyandottes]

Welcome To BYC! is the heating pad for chickens? Agree with Fowl guy for temperature, the only other thing is Nutri Drench to give the chicks a boost. That is not a must though

I saw on Youtube how you can incubate eggs with medical heating pad and also use the pad as a fake mother hen. Chicks go under it to keep warm and come out to eat and drink. Its just a basic, medical, light blue, heating pad with no shut off. Settings are low - high. It gets up to 100 degrees. I want to use this instead of a heating light if possible.

I'm headed to Tractor Supply on my lunch break. Anything else I should buy other than:
- chick feeder
- chick waterer
- Chick starter feed
- box
- ?

 

[Wezdin]

Yes, that will work well.

 

[Melky]

I did sav a chick electrolytes first 5 days then weekly in water. Gives them a boost. Put marbles in water so can’t fall in and drown. Need cardboard box. 2 sq ft per bird is ideal and heat lamp from TSC. Temp first week 90-95 degrees. Need thermometer at level of chicken inside box to check temps. Wean 5 degrees every 5-7 days till at 65-70 degrees then turn off heat source. Can go outside when fully feathered out. Earliest 4-5 weeks or 6-8 latest. Provide starter grower medicated 20% or Flock Raiser. Provide chic grit at 3-4 weeks free choice and may start offering greens like cabbage leaves or dried mealworms for protein at 3-4 weeks as well. Limit as a treat 10% or less of diet. If broody not caring for them. Good Luck!

 

[Wezdin]

I saw on Youtube how you can incubate eggs with medical heating pad and also use the pad as a fake mother hen. Chicks go under it to keep warm and come out to eat and drink. Its just a basic, medical, light blue, heating pad with no shut off. Settings are low - high. It gets up to 100 degrees. I want to use this instead of a heating light if possible.

I'm headed to Tractor Supply on my lunch break. Anything else I should buy other than:
- chick feeder
- chick waterer
- Chick starter feed
- box
- ?

For the box lost of people use a plastic tote or any plastic box

 

[aart]

I use the heating pad:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/

and brood in the coop from one week after hatch and integrate by 4-6 weeks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/