Advice on equipment needed for chicks arriving please.

[sydney13]

Quote:
i had 25 chicks come a few days ago and i thought i would be able to fit them in a large container like yours. once you put in the shavings, feeder, waterer, and of coarse the chicks it is a lot more squishy then you think it would be. i moved mine into a big walk in closet were they now have plenty of room

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Quote:
The dipping there beaks part is so they know that the food and the water is there and this is what it looks like,as for the Medicated feed as long as you are useing the grower /starter feed you will be good it is already ready to be fed to the chicks.

No sorry you will need to cut the tops open and put the hardware cloth over top of it (Do a search for rubbermade brooders here on BYC) so you will see one done this way with the HC on it.

The reason I said to make sure they all eat some of the grow stuff is it is all the things they need to start growing but there will be strong ones and weak ones that will need the things in vit and min that is in that which is why you need to make sure that all of them get some no force feeding just sit it down and show a few with dipping there beaks in it and the rest will follow and then if they don't you will need to dip their beaks in it but follow the dirtions on the package for what to do with it but place it on a throw away plate or something. You will need to dip their beaks but only one time unless one wont drink or eat as I said the rest will follow suit and eat or drink from it but stand back when you refill the feed they a pigs with feathers and you may pull back a nub (

) I Know with mine as soon as I drop the feed bucket they are on it right now I don't even get it sat down all the way.


As I said before Good luck and please keep asking questions it is the only true way to learn.

 

[downstownlady]

Gosh...I have been like an expected new time Mom (and I have 3 kids, 2 dogs, & 2 cats). I am expecting either tomorrow or the next day...and I have already realized I am not as prepared as I thought I was. Today, when I was sterilizing everything and realized the waterer took up the whole end of the sterlite container that I got for a brooder. Luckily I bought 2 of everything when I was shopping for stuff...so we sawed 1 side out of each of the containers and got out the main tool in the handy man's tool box..."duct tape" and doubled it. This should accomodate 13 chicks and the waterer, feeder and give them plenty of time to run around. Phew...I still need the rocks for the waterer...(I thought I had some...duh...note to self...stop thinking!!!) Everything else should be ready, I hope! Congrats to all my newbie sis' & bro's...I am so excited!!!

 

[crimsontide]

good luck my lady i am tryin to suck up as many ideas also ... one question though u all say heat lamp with no wattage bulb size ?? on size also i have seen pics with lamps 4 inches away also 12in & heard 18in away ?? which is best

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Quote:
It depends you can get a reg old flood light or one of the red brooder lights but with me I used a reg old 90 watt light bulb the old kind not the new curly q ones as far as what level to put it at the chicks will tell you that if they are to cold they will dog pile under the light put it closer if they are as far away from it as they can be, say piled in a corner trying to get get away from the light rais it up its way to hot I start out with mine about a foot off the shavings and then let them tell me, If they are running around playing then they are good to go it's just right.


Now after the first week if you go My route with the reg light bulb it is 90 the first week then a 75 then a 60 then a 40 then off..
If you do this right they will be ready to go outside byt the end of it.
As I said let the chicks tell you...


Good Luck to you.







ETA
Quote:
It is normal I remember that first day and night I was sitting there watching them play and chirp for hours and bringing them home was like bringing a child home for the first time so enjoy the ride so far it has been a great one for me.


Good luck

 

[Peppermint]

Yes, the thrashing of the food seems to be an awesome time for the chicks. I'm curious to see how others have set the feeder up to catch more of the food frenzy spillage.

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

I Drilled holes into a pie pan and then took some twine and tied it to the top of the container that holds the foods (I have an eye hook in it so I can raise and lower it) and then when the food is gone in the container they eat it out of the pie pan and I don't replace it till they do eat it all out of the pie pan.