Babies coming in 19 days!!! What else can I do to prepare for them?

[Allie Grace Sanders]

Super nervous! I plan on keeping 18 chicks in the brooder. I also plan on giving the fermented non-GMO chick starter (to promote feather growth). Also, maybe (if they seem weak) giving Justin Rhodes' recipe for "Magic Water". I want to raise them really naturally, so I don't want to use Gro-gel or anything like that. This is my first time ordering chicks from a hatchery. Before, I just got them from a local Rural King. I also do not use a thermometer in my brooder. I just lower it and raise it depending on the chick's behavior. Thanks in advance!

-Allie

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Hi, congrats on your coming babies! It sounds like you have pretty much everyone covered. Food, water, shaving, and heat source. Just make sure that you feed them a chick feed that is formulated for chicks, their first few weeks will be very important in terms of their growth. But honestly, I don't think you have much to worry about.

Getting chicks in the mail is a bit different then from getting them at a feed store. What hatchery did your order from? Most hatcheries do a really good job of making sure they are packaged well for shipment. Just look forward to your babies. Post pics when you get them.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Oh that's great I'm so happy for you and your chicks

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

What hatchery did your order from?

I ordered from Hoover's Hatchery...

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

I ordered from Hoover's Hatchery...

I have never head of that one. But I am sure that your babies will arrive safe and sound. I have ordered from several different hatcheries and every time my babies have been fine. I feel like an expectant mother, but in the end it all runs smooth.

 

[ocap]

After arrival there is a possibility of having their poop stick to the vent and collect there. Check the chicks daily for about ten days and remove the stuck poop from the vent area if necessary. I use cotton balls and warm water to soften the poop so the vent area is not injured.

 

[aart]

I plan on keeping 18 chicks in the brooder

Pics of your brooder?

Justin Rhodes' recipe for "Magic Water".

What is this exactly?

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm a fan of Poultry Nutri-Drench. All my chicks get that along with fermented feed, and a plug of sod from an untreated lawn.

 

[lazy gardener]

I also use Mama Heating Pad style brooding. Much safer and more natural for the chicks, promotes natural day/night cycles, reduces stress compared to the 24 hour lighting of the heat lamp.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

You are the first person that had mentioned Justin Rhodes that I've seen! I watch a lot of his videos too. Sounds like your chicks will be fine