Any advice for a first time chicken mommy? :)

[AJ666]

On Friday I will be getting 5 day old chicks! One EE roo, 2 EE hens, 1 Buff Orphington hen, one Domonique hen. I forgot to order a silver laced wyandotte, but she will hopefully be coming in next week

whoops.
But I am verry excited, and nervous. So who wants to give a first time chicken owner some advice??

I would be eternally grateful

 

[turney31]

I know you will enjoy your fuzzy butts. Watch their temperature, dip their beaks in sugar water when they get here.

micah

 

[noodleroo]

Just love them lots...you're going to have so much fun with them...show us pics when you get 'um...

 

[cdluvschicks]

Awwww. Give them lots of kisses...

 

[nuts4chickens]

My advice... BEWARE! Chickens are very very addictive and build your coop 10 times bigger than you think you should. Good luck!

 

[kona silkies]

Why sugar water? I just dipped mine in water- oops... please elaborate...

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

AJ666 Cacle Hatchery has an awesome sheet for first-time parents of chicks.
You can check it out here: http://www.cacklehatchery.com/page14.html
Enjoy your little treasures, and prepare to fall instantly in love!

Brightest Blessings

 

[write2caroline]

I used plain water too and it was fine. Some people give sugar water for energy. Electorlytes come from a little salt though. Some people add a little apple cidar vinagar (ACV) is the abbreviation (Like Rachel Rays EVOO Extra Virgin Olive Oil) Keeping the temp correct is important. Making sure they can get under the heat when cold is good and out of the heat when too hot is also good. I taped a wooden 2X2 to the mirror and clipped the heat lamp onto that so I could raise and lower it to provide the right temp and it worked really well.

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I also learned to use sand instead of pine shavings - it is heavier but I really liked it more. You will find your own preferences and it will be fine too. (no cedar)

Use crumbles and you don't need grit

Clean water, clean food - (Oh they will poop in it!) Clean brooder (for the smell control alone is good thing) The right temp for each week. And lots of love will get you through these first weeks of chicken ownership. Take a lot of pics because they grow right before your eyes and in a week you will not believe they could have doubled in size.

Enjoy
Caroline

 

[elmo]

Try to relax and enjoy them! I was so nervous with mine. They're actually quite hardy little guys.

 

[ctaynton]

Rachel'sFlock :

AJ666 Cacle Hatchery has an awesome sheet for first-time parents of chicks.
You can check it out here: http://www.cacklehatchery.com/page14.html
Enjoy your little treasures, and prepare to fall instantly in love!

Brightest Blessings

Where abouts is Otis? I am also from Oregon and have never heard of it Just curious!​