1st time with chicks, please advise

[glendor787]

So my only chicken don't want to eat. I got a heater near him , water and food, but nothing. Any advice? I don't want him to die!

 

[PhoenixChicks]

Chickens are flocking birds. I would suggest having more than one. Keep the heat source on one side of the brooder that way if the chick is too warm it can move away from the heat source. Dip the chick's beak into the water and that should help it start drinking. My chicks didn't start eating until about 12 hours after they were delivered.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

So my only chicken don't want to eat. I got a heater near him , water and food, but nothing. Any advice? I don't want him to die!

keep tapping your finger in the food so it gets the idea
chicks will eat anything at their feet so for the first few days I keep them on paper towels with feed sprinkled on it.

besides dipping the beak in water to make sure it drinks, sweetening the water slightly will make it more palatable and add some needed energy.
I use agave nectar because it dissolves quickly but sugar or honey work too.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...

1. Our coop dimensions: 9.5' length x 5.5' width x 8' height (sloped down to 7' in the back). The run is 6.5' x 5.5', and the enclosed coop is 3' x 5.5'. Based on those dimensions, does that give you a better idea for how many chickens you think would fit comfortably without feeling crowded? Again, I'm thinking 4. My husband thinks 6. The lady we're getting the baby chicks from says 8 would be fine. I'm thinking about the number of nest boxes that will fit in the coop, and I can't picture how more than 4 next boxes would fit. We haven't built in the nest boxes yet. About how big should a nest box be anyway? If we stack them (like 3 nest boxes on top of 3), how do the chickens get up the top ones if they are a couple feet up? Flap/fly up there, or do they need a ramp to walk up to them?
4 for the coop but the run will be a little tight unless you have docile bantams.
Rule of thumb is a minimum of 4 sq. ft. per bird in the coop and 10 per bird in the run.
6 would be very tight and 8 a recipe for disaster unless she's figuring some will die.
You can save coop space by attaching the nest/s to the outside, that way you don't have to go inside to collect eggs.
1 or 2 nests is sufficient for 4 birds. Rule of thumb is one per every 4 birds.

2. For cleanliness, you recommended food grade DE. Should I just sprinkle it directly on the chickens, or in their nest boxes only, or throughout the coop and run? I am familiar with what DE is and its uses, but have never actually used it or even seen it. On another note, do you have any idea if DE is good for a dog with itchy flaky skin? He is flea-free and eats a really good quality salmon dog food. But every summer in the heat (we live in Florida, he is a shepard mix, 9 years old) he gets itchy flaky skin all around his rump. Someone suggested DE but I haven't tried it yet since I don't think fleas are the problem. Is it good for anything else beside pest control?
I don't think it would do anything for the dog and if it's just dry skin it would probably exacerbate it. Your dog probably needs something to restore oils to the skin. See a vet.
I sprinkle the DE everywhere, on the roosts, in the nests, all over the floor and again on the floor after I add pine shavings. A little goes a long way. 50 pounds lasted me about 2 years with 4 coops.

3. I have read a wide range of average chicken ages, anywhere from 3 years to 30 years. What is an accurate average age for a hen? The ones I am getting are Aracauna (sp?) / Cochin mix, will be free-range in our large fenced yard, cooped at night, live in Florida, will feed them good feed and keep them and their coop clean.
Easily 10-15 years or more but most die from predators or disease before then. Both are partially caused by mismanagement but can happen to anyone.

Thank you everyone for your helpfulness! 4 days until I bring home the baby chicks! So excited!!
Good luck, have fun and delicious eggs.

 

[glendor787]

Hello,

I gave him a mixture of boil egg, baby chicken feed and water. He ate it, so I can tell he was very hungry. Now he sleeping under a feather hat I got, heater on, very quiet. I need him to figure out how to eat by himself by tomorrow as I'm working, took leave today to stay with him. I won't mind getting a play mate for him, but the only guy I know that sell chickens, they are already like 2 to 3 weeks, way too big by tiny Pollito! Fingers crossed for him. He is the only hatch from 17 eggs.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They do need friends and I have chicks together that are a couple weeks apart in age. Pecking order isn't established yet and as long as they have some space they'll be ok together.
You've seen the chick eat so it will be ok without you.