- Jun 16, 2012
- 11
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Hi all, from Long Beach, California,
I brought home six buff orpington chicks yesterday; my first venture into chicken rearing. I have them in a nice box with a securely fitted lid (window screening) so my cats and dog will not be able to dine on chicken fingers (and the other parts of them). I have them on the kitchen table with the heat lamp (250W white bulb) above and have been closely regulating the temp (visually). I've been raising and lowering the lamp depending on whether they are panting, piled on one another, or happily feeding/drinking.
My questions for the group are:
1. I've read that you should handle the chicks (to get them used to human contact) and that you shouldn't handle them (because it stresses them. Which is correct?
2. I have them on a table in a room with a lot of traffic. The movement and noises in the room seem to upset them. Should I move them into a closet where they will not be disturbed? Or, will having them in a more open area, where they can see people and animals around them, get them used to the other critters that will inhabit their world?
3. I've been very carefully changing their water whenever it gets wood chips or poop in it. I washed their feeder this morning and changed out their crumble. I've also picked them up and stroked them a few times. I'm thinking I may be doing too much and should probably leave them alone. They are destined to be egglayers, garden bug removers, compost enriching agents, and, of course, pets.
What are your thoughts?
I brought home six buff orpington chicks yesterday; my first venture into chicken rearing. I have them in a nice box with a securely fitted lid (window screening) so my cats and dog will not be able to dine on chicken fingers (and the other parts of them). I have them on the kitchen table with the heat lamp (250W white bulb) above and have been closely regulating the temp (visually). I've been raising and lowering the lamp depending on whether they are panting, piled on one another, or happily feeding/drinking.
My questions for the group are:
1. I've read that you should handle the chicks (to get them used to human contact) and that you shouldn't handle them (because it stresses them. Which is correct?
2. I have them on a table in a room with a lot of traffic. The movement and noises in the room seem to upset them. Should I move them into a closet where they will not be disturbed? Or, will having them in a more open area, where they can see people and animals around them, get them used to the other critters that will inhabit their world?
3. I've been very carefully changing their water whenever it gets wood chips or poop in it. I washed their feeder this morning and changed out their crumble. I've also picked them up and stroked them a few times. I'm thinking I may be doing too much and should probably leave them alone. They are destined to be egglayers, garden bug removers, compost enriching agents, and, of course, pets.
What are your thoughts?
from Ohio. So glad you to have you aboard. 
