Babies are ordered... how does my 'chick'list look?

[BridgetC]

Ok,

So I ordered my chicks through a feedstore near me (I'm in Los Angeles), and the chicks are coming from Fresno (Belt Hatchery) in mid-April. I ordered all day-old sexed pullets; 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Barred Rocks, 1 Delaware, and 1 Golden Laced Wyandotte.

So that is my chick list, but what I am really concerned about is my checklist of things to get before the babies arrive!


1. 30 Gallon Plastic Storage Bin
2. Screen to modify the lid
3. Clip lamp
4. Red heat bulbs (2) --> I am keeping the brooder in my house, based on that and the size of the brooder, will a 75 watt heat bulb be enough?
5. Pine pellets
6. Unmedicated chick starter feed
7. Sand (not until they are a week and start eating other treats)
8. Poly-vi-sol (without Iron)
9. Chick feeder
10. Chick waterer
11. Maybe a stuffed animal and mini-roosting poles

With the chicks only coming from Fresno, should I worry about trying to get the grow gel from McMurray?

Thanks for any and all advice!!!!

-Bridget

 

[ksct]

First I like the variety of your chicks.

-make sure the clip lamp is double secure. We did because I can't even think about it anything happening to them.....
--i'm a little concerned about the pine pellets. I think I read somewhere here on BYC that pine isn't good for the birds. if you can get just regular wood shavings. I think you'll be better off. TSC has a HUGE bag (their brand) and it's 5.79 here.
I don't think they need any stuffed animal. I'd put a block of wood or something solid in there for them after a few days maybe a week. Before that, they don't really use it. too busy falling asleep everywhere. lol
I hope i've been some help to you.

this is what we had in there at first to give them a little something to climb on. we had wood blocks as well. We also had a brick in there but you have to be careful not to put it directly under the light or it will get too hot for their feet. and i'm a worrier.

 

[Deanner03]

CEDAR shavings are a no-no. Most of what you find available is pine!

As they get larger (even under a week) you'll want something to elevate the food/water to keep the bedding/feces out of it. We use pieces of 2x6.

I had a baby drown (under 24 hours old) in my brooder in the waterer. I recommend putting marbles in it for a few days.

If your average temps in your house are high, a 75 watt MIGHT be enough. It's cold here, so we're using a higher powered light.

Post pics when you get them!

 

[BridgetC]

Thanks for the responses!

Yes! I totally forgot about raising the food and water.

I have read that cedar is a no-no... others here have mentioned that you get less dust with the pellets over the shavings.

I can't wait! I will post pics as soon as they come!

Thanks again,

Bridget

 

[Ariel301]

Pine is what you'd want, actually. Most shavings meant for animal bedding are pine. I've never seen any commercially packaged ones that were not pine.

Your list sounds good. I would not worry about the gro-gel. I shipped my chicks from Texas to Arizona, which took three days, and they were fine without it.

If your house is pretty warm, that light should be fine. We've got about 80 watts of light on each brooder we have set up, but our house is very cold.

 

[smallcitychick]

I agree Cedar is a no no, but I've actually seen a few different places that say that Pine is also not a good thing to go with. I have one book that I read recently about it (City chicks, by Patricia Foreman) says that many people are unaware that the pine can be harmful to chickens. In fact many people raise chickens on pine bedding and have no problems, but some studies have been done and that in general, chickens raised on bedding other than pine generally have less deaths. Pine is widely available, but you can find Aspen wood shavings too (I found mine at the local pet store).....so do what you want with that info...just sharing what I learned.

I wouldn't worry about getting the gro-gel. they should do fine with the food and water you plan on feeding them, especially since they won't have the extra stress of being mailed.

If you wanted, you could also add a small mirror for them to look at and inspect. I'm sure they wouldn't object, as long as there was no danger of it falling on top of them.

Your list sounds great, and sounds like you're ready.

 

[FF]

Well looks good! It is a good list. The pine shavings has always worked good for me. I have always used pure pine. I don't know why they wouldn't be good enough. Maybe the toxins in the pine. Well not really toxins but chemicals. The nautural chemicals a tree produces. Good luck!

 

[lorrir]

This year I'm investing in a $25 childs wading pool from walmart. They are about 18" high and I can just lay chicken wire over the top when they are a couple of weeks old. As they get older I'm going to stand some wire upright and make a frame around the pool and use the same wire topper. I saw this set up on this site a couple of months ago and I've been honing it in my head for a while. I have plenty of room for the pool (4.5 feet round) After the chicks are ready for the coop I'll wash out the pool and give it to the grandkids.