2019 Newbie Chat!

[llombardo]

The ones from last year just turned a year

 

[RevRico]

Well all the chicks have survived the first 48 hours in my care! 2 cases of pasty butt, one on a brahma, one on a silverlight. The silverlight is missing a lot of feathers around his vent, and out of necessity and remembering reading it on site, I sprayed the spot with pam. I couldn't find the vaseline or a&d ointment. She seems fine, the other chicks checked her out and went back to playing.

The brahma worries me a little bit. It's noticeably fatter than the other chicks as well. It's the only chick the regularly makes any noise, and I've noticed when it's chirping it looks like it's trying to poop. I've cleaned it up with warm water and a paper towel a couple times. There aren't any feathers missing, but it's vent seems extended, and at least when I was cleaning it, it was opening and closing. There was a little wet blob of poop on the end. All the other chicks have fairly solid looking brown and white "logs" but this one seems a bit runny when it does come out.

I introduced some grit today, sprinkled on their food and mixed in with a mashed up hardboiled egg. They mostly ignored the egg, which surprised me. Some fought over a bit of the white. I think it might have still been a little big.

I've been putting a clump of dirt and grass from the yard in with them every afternoon too. They like climbing it and picking through it. Even caught the RIRs dust bathing on the paper plate.

I will get pictures of everything tomorrow when I rebuild everything. I realized I built the kennel upside down, and want to rebuild the MHP so maybe I can use a smaller light while they're inside.

 

[MandaRae]

Y'all I'm getting so excited!! I can't wait for these chicks to get here in April!!!

Hopefully the dang weather evens out!!
Stupid snow!

 

[Nekopan]

Hi everyone! I’m a newbie from BC, Canada. Last year I bought 4 hens of unknown breed and age. My favourite girl, Gretchen, was taken by a predator but the rest are still doing great. On a whim this year, I bought an incubator and hatching eggs from a local breeder. I’m now anxiously awaiting for the little peepers to hatch! So far of 12 set, 10 are still looking viable. Hatch day is on Saturday.

 

[KikiRules]

I’m late and new to chicks, I will be getting four in April. We are hatching them from the incubator starting next week, so I will get to bring them home early April. No idea what breed yet, but I can ask. I am so excited for my chicks! Because of how chilly April is down here, they will live inside for a few weeks, then slowly adjust to an outside coop at 4 or 5 weeks

 

[Cyprus]

I'm hoping to have young D'Uccles by the end of May

 

[808momof4]

Our girls are 4 weeks old on Monday. It's about 70° here. Is this warm enough? Also, how old should they be when we move them outside to the coop?

Edit to add: they have adult feathers all over except their heads. Might already be 4 weeks old. Just going by what I was told.

 

[Cyprus]

They should be fine to be outside for day trips. Supervised.
When they are fully feathered, they can live outside.

 

[808momof4]

They should be fine to be outside for day trips. Supervised.
When they are fully feathered, they can live outside.

About how old are chicks when they are fully feathered? We've been doing day trips for a few weeks. The girls are scared of the grass. LOL

 

[Cyprus]

About how old are chicks when they are fully feathered? We've been doing day trips for a few weeks. The girls are scared of the grass. LOL

About 6 weeks is the average