Am I doing it all right???

[alabamachick]

Soooooo If you've seen my intro post you know DH and I are new chick parents! We had an impulse buy at TSC Monday and now I have a bathtub full of wood shavings and 6 chicks. Since this IS my first little brood, I thought I would make sure I was doing it correctly.

What we have for a brooder is my spare bathroom tub. Its got a nice layer of shavings in the bottom. I have a small space heater in there to keep the temp set at just 95 degrees, and the babies all seem to be very content.
I do have a question tho, they all huddle to sleep, during the day they run around and cheep and play, but at night when the are ready for bed they huddle all on top of each other. Are they still cold??

Also, the thing at TSC said they needed to be on Durymycin... BUT..I'm kind of in to the "holistic" thing with my other animals, and I figured of I COULD stay away from the antibiotics, I was going to try. Now, if they need it to be healthy, i will get some today, but if not I would LIKE to try them without it...

Yesterday we took the babies outside in our fenced in backyard for about 15 mins (just long enough for me to clean out poopy shavings and put new in) and they seemed to enjoy the sunshine. Is this ok? They did kind peck around the ground, but I figured regular chicks who are raised by momma Hen are outside all the time? So I didnt think it would hurt.

SO is everything we're doing ok?? Hope so, I just love them, cant wait to start getting my Eggs!

Oh, I'll post a pic of the Coop DH and I are buying! Look ok? We are going to build a nice big run for them and attach it to the front.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

If the weather at your house is 90 degrees, I think outside is okay. If not, keep them HOT at least until they start to feather out... once they are fully feathered, they can go outside... be gentle with them, if you got them monday, they're only 3 or 4 days old... TINY babies. keep them inside and safe.

 

[muddyhorse]

sounds like you are doing good so far. most people use a heat lamp instead of a heater. it is normal for them to sleep in a pile like puppies. I don't give mine antibiotics unless they truely need it, I do give them nutridrench which is a vitamin and mineral supplement. electrolytes too. what kind of chicks did you get we want to see pics we HAD to buy some because I only hatched one chick

 

[alabamachick]

They are about two weeks old I think? The "cornish Rock" chicks have quite a few feathers. But none are fully feathered, so I'll definitely keep them in. I live in Southern Alabama, about 90 miles from panama City, so it did get pretty warm, but not 90 degrees!

I have NO idea what I got, I have two (of what TSC said were Conish Rock Chicks

, which I learned are just the Meat birds that we see on the trucks driving to the processing plant) Two bantam somethings with feathered feet, and two black chicks with little yellow spots on their heads.

I have no idea whether they are pullets or little roos.... or anything really. LOL