Ordered my 1st chicks!!

[Jeanette01]

Just ordered my first chicks.. Super excited!!

But now I am a little anxious and worried that I may be missing something..

Ordered from California Hatchery.. Has anyone used them before?? What did you think??
I got 2 Rhode Island Reds and 2 Barred Rocks, all hens..

Setting up my brooder box this week, got some chick grit and medicated chick feed (is medicated or non-medicated better?),
have a couple little roosting bars, and my Sav-A-Chick Electrolyte & Vitamin supplement is on its way.
I am going to go pick up my feeder, waterer, marbles, bedding, and heat lamp... What am I forgetting??

Very nervous 1st time chicken mama here, any and all advise is more than welcome.. Encouraged even!!

TIA!!

 

[rides2far]

I bought the rubbery shelf liner for my brooders. I bought several rolls & cut them to size. When the got dirty, I rolled them up, shook them out, & ran them thru the washing machine. I put newspaper under them, that I tossed away. Worked out great & I have them for next time. Have fun with your babies!

 

[KatharinetheGr8]

So my chicks finally arrived this morning after an agonizing wait yesterday! All seem to be healthy, though.

We are having an unusually cold day today so I turned on the heat lamp in addition to the mama heating pad. I don't have many good pics yet (I'm trying to be patient, allow them some time to rest and adjust to their new home). I'll keep posting as I get them!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sounds like you have everything covered, I like to start my brooding temperature at 85 degrees for chicks. The medicated feed is to build immunity to cocidiosis, I don't use it because I don't have trouble with it, it seems to be regional, so I can't help you decide on that. I am excited for you, to me, getting chicks is like Christmas for adults.

 

[lazy gardener]

Before you spend money on a heat lamp, I beg you to read this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update

Those of us who have brooded chicks with a heating pad, have sworn that we will never go back to using a heat lamp again! This is a much more user friendly method of brooding chicks. It provides a much more natural method than exposing chicks to bright light 24/7. Gives them natural wake sleep cycles, makes them feel much more secure. Results in chicks that are more socialized, and not as easily spooked.

 

[Mutt Farm]

Ditto, sounds like you have everything covered. I can mention bedding. Some folks don't use shavings for the first day or two, especially on hungry shipped chicks. One, It's a good practice to closely monitor their poop. Two, they pick at everything and have been known to occasionally die from eating shavings. Newspaper is too slick and long term can cause leg problems. I use paper towels or regular towels for the first 2-3 days.
Chickens are so much fun and so funny to watch. Best of luck and Enjoy!

 

[Jeanette01]

Marbles in the water dish will prevent drowning from what I've seen...

 

[Blooie]

While you endure that long, agonizing wait, how about a little reading material to pass the time. I think you'll find this interesting - at least I hope you do!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

 

[lazy gardener]

There is a lot of debate regarding the use of medicated or un-medicated feed. Depending on who you ask, you'll find that folks are pretty opinionated. Amprolium is the product in question. It is a Thiamine blocker. The Coccidia organism needs Thiamine to replicate, so it can't if Amprolium is in the chick's gut. Theory goes that chicks will have the benefit of medication while they build tolerance to the organism that is in all soils. Down side is that they often are taken off the med just when they are turned out onto the soil. The more natural approach, which I use is to expose them to my soils very early, within the first 2 weeks, (this is when they have the most antibodies in their system) so they can start building tolerance as well as getting healthy gut flora from the soil for a more natural flora balance. I've never had a bird with coccidiosis, and do not want to block Thiamine in my chick's diet. Broody raised chicks don't have issues with coccidiosis. Mama takes them out right away and they start eating soil, as well as picking at chicken feces in the yard to build their gut flora.

 

[Jeanette01]

Thanks mutt farm!! BYC really is what's giving me my chicken fix until my babies come..