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[sassysarah]

Do you mean when they will always come back to the coop for the night?

 

[sassysarah]

I would watch them for a few days at about the time the would start going in the coop. Mine usually go in at about seven pm, but your could be different. So anyway I would watch them at about that time and make sure they get into the coop. And always shut the coop door! Count to make sure they all made it in safe for the night. I was keeping my coop open for months! Nothing never bothered them! Until that horrible night 2 of my girls heads were missing! It was terrible! I hope that never happens to you! And won't if your coop is predator proof and you lock them in at night!
Good luck!

 

[sassysarah]

You should probably put them in the first few nights until they get used to it!

 

[3riverschick]

Original poster,
I find it interesting you're asking me what's wrong with your first post instead of going out and finding out for yourself .
chicks could should be given grit after they one-week-old. you give them grit to help exercise their gizzards so they grow a larger and healthier gizzard . this can result in up to 20% more eggs per hen when they start laying. See the BYC thread, " the science of feeding grit to poultry".
Temperature : start at it 90 degrees ,not 95 degrees, lower 5 degrees per week until we get to room temperature or their breasts are fully feathered. never letting them outside until they're fully feathered: chicks can be brooded successfully in an outdoor Coop. there are at least two threads on that subject in the Raising Baby Chicks forum.
so now you know although I think you would have learned a lot more if you look for yourself .
best ,
Karen

 

[Janj76]

I have 15 chicks I got from McMurray and they are 16 days old. I lost one about the 4th day. The others are doing great and growing like weeds. But today I found two with pasty butt. I cleaned them up. I'm using a supplement in their water that I bought with the chicks. I am also putting a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a gallon of water for them. I am giving them some greens and some black fly larvae and offering grit as well. I also gave them a mashed up boiled egg yesterday. They inhale everything I feed them! I'm giving non-medicated chick starter because they were vaccinated. Is there anything else I should be doing?

 

[sassysarah]

Sorry to hear about your loss!
Glad the others are doing great!
Sounds like you are a great mother to them
A couple of my chicks got pasty butts too, I just wiped them with a warm paper towel. They soon were all cleaned up!

 

[Sheddiver]

Our chicks are a week old today. Had 18 shipped last week. When they arrived one was a lot smaller than the rest. We made sure he was drinking and eating but she didn't make it. Went to the local feed store two days later and brought home 3 more chicks. Total now is 20. Several of them had pasty butt and after 3 days we're over that. They are all doing great now. My question is when do you introduce them to the dust bath? What do you use for their first dust bath? Thanks for any help or ideas.

 

[Chickening101]

Our chicks are a week old today. Had 18 shipped last week. When they arrived one was a lot smaller than the rest. We made sure he was drinking and eating but she didn't make it. Went to the local feed store two days later and brought home 3 more chicks. Total now is 20. Several of them had pasty butt and after 3 days we're over that. They are all doing great now. My question is when do you introduce them to the dust bath? What do you use for their first dust bath? Thanks for any help or ideas.

There are lots of different ways to make dust dust bath, and many owners have different opinions.
Some people use food grade diatomaceous earth h, while some people think it's dangerous if chickens inhale it, which is true, in my opinion.
I think the best way is to use soil, wood ash, and sand.

Hope this helps!