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[ThePlow]

Hello fellow bird peeps!

I did not see this thread so I thought I would start one for individuals ritual for how to take care of day-olds you receive in the mail. This may be helpful for first timers who do not appreciate the detail in controlling the baby bird environment to prevent die-offs.

I know mine is having tall enclosures for holding 5 to 10 birds with a heat lamp and a seed sprout mat. I keep the temp around 90 to 100 F with this.

For food and water I always give my babies a dropper filled with yolk, kiefer (it is like a yogurt/milk mix with probiotics), electrolytes, and chicken vitamins. After this I Mix that into some 10 grain cereal (it ferments from the kiefer probiotic bacteria) and put it in a container they can eat from inside their enclosure. I keep the food by the heatlamp so they dont have to leave the warmth to eat. For water I always keep it warm and on the seed sprout mat. I also change their fod every 24 hours and water about 3 times a day for the first few days.

After two days I switch them to medicated chick starter food. That first meal of yolk, kiefer, and electrolytes is CRUCIAL to their survival, in my opinion. The probiotics and electrolytes ensure they have a chance of surviving the most crucial first few days.

I would love to hear alternate methods as to improve mine!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I feed mine only a chick starter for the first week, with a teaspoon of brown sugar to a quart of water for the first few days, than only clean water. After a week of age I start to give a daily treat of scrambled eggs, otherwise only their chick starter. They get outside on some grass during the first few weeks during nice days.

I use a heat lamp and set my temperature to around 85-90 the first week, drop by 5 each week until I reach ambient outside temperatures.

I integrate my chicks at 4-6 weeks of age into the flock. I rarely see any loses.

 

[coopintheburbs]

I feed mine only a chick starter for the first week, with a teaspoon of brown sugar to a quart of water for the first few days, than only clean water. After a week of age I start to give a daily treat of scrambled eggs, otherwise only their chick starter. They get outside on some grass during the first few weeks during nice days.

I use a heat lamp and set my temperature to around 85-90 the first week, drop by 5 each week until I reach ambient outside temperatures.

I integrate my chicks at 4-6 weeks of age into the flock. I rarely see any loses.

I've read a lot about sugar in the water for the first few days, but haven't read as to why

What's the advantage of sugar water?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've read a lot about sugar in the water for the first few days, but haven't read as to why

What's the advantage of sugar water?

When little chicks have been traveling in a box for 2-4 days they can get low blood sugar, especially if they go over the 2 days, which is generally when hatched chicks will start eating and drinking.

When a chick has low blood sugar it can be lethargic, and may no longer feel the need to eat or even be able to, so a quick energy like sugar can help them get going. Some will use actual products in their water which does the same thing, but I find the brown sugar works fine. How long I use it is based on how the chicks are acting.