Baby care basics.

[kesrchicky16]

Probably over thinking this but...

1. How much should my 12 chicks eat? They have feed (chick starter), water, electrolytes/probiotics available all day.

2. Will they just eat when they all eat until full? Will the littles keep trying if the big ones push them away? I have seen the big ones be kinda "bully chicken"ish.

3. What exactly do I need to be concerned with about poop appearance? Should every baby poop be dark with a white cap? Is grain color concerning? Excess water?

4. What do I not know that I should?

These are home bread, backyard mutts. They all hatched on their own over about 66 hours. I know some will fail to thrive and die but I don't want to screw up something and cause more death then necessary.

 

[AlleysChicks]

What big ones? Are these broody hatched? Keep feeders full because they will eat a lot as they grow. Watch for diarrhea and pasty butt. And anything that looks off.

 

[Chelseyb123]

Fill the feeders an leave them they eat a lot.i learned that if you noticed others overly pecking or being aggressive to just you your finiger an give those a little peck on the back. It worked with my chicks but i only had three. Keep track of pasty butt an diarrhea but the Big thing with poop is if theyre are any signs of blood you need to treat it fast. I lost a chick from it over night after seeing bloody poop at 8weeks. All three had it but i treated the other two with home remedies an than got medicated starter feed. They got better within a couple days. Its by choice if you want to use medicated or not. You can add spices or acv to water to help them repel this disease. Im stil new with chicks/chickens but i try an do the home remedies first.

 

[Welshies]

• Give 18% or 20% chick grower free choice.
• Provide a free choice pan of chick grit.
• Brown with white cap is normal. Be concerned if the poop becomes red, runny, yellow, whit e, or green.
• Ensure that they have access to their own private area. Make sure their water is fresh and clean.

 

[kesrchicky16]

Incubator hatched, the first to hatch are visibly larger. They aren't aggressive with me, just "Oh your eating, does your hole have something different then mine? Is your powder tastier than mine?" top chicken stuff. When I get their bigger brooder finished I'll have room to add a second larger feeder (28 more holes).
I feed medicated 20% chick starter. Refilled every evening but never even gotten low.
I Clean their pine bedding out of their water 3x a day. And refresh the electrolytes 2x a day.
I check bums 1x per day and recheck anyone with issues again in about 2 hours later.

12 chicks in 3.75 sq ft. Soon to be upgraded to over 7 sq ft.

Where do I buy chick grit? My local store sells pigeon grit. I give that to my chickens but they free range too and don't care for it. I know it has some oyster shell in it.

 

[Welshies]

Incubator hatched, the first to hatch are visibly larger. They aren't aggressive with me, just "Oh your eating, does your hole have something different then mine? Is your powder tastier than mine?" top chicken stuff. When I get their bigger brooder finished I'll have room to add a second larger feeder (28 more holes).
I feed medicated 20% chick starter. Refilled every evening but never even gotten low.
I Clean their pine bedding out of their water 3x a day. And refresh the electrolytes 2x a day.
I check bums 1x per day and recheck anyone with issues again in about 2 hours later.

12 chicks in 3.75 sq ft. Soon to be upgraded to over 7 sq ft.

Where do I buy chick grit? My local store sells pigeon grit. I give that to my chickens but they free range too and don't care for it. I know it has some oyster shell in it.

Babies should not be fed calcium (laying feed included) because it can kill them.
Try sand, gravel, or granite grit.

 

[kesrchicky16]

Babies should not be fed calcium (laying feed included) because it can kill them.
Try sand, gravel, or granite grit.

Yes I was thoroughly lectured on that but the person that sold us our first nearly laying pullets (1st egg on morning 2). He went so far as to say he doesn't even offer oyster shell until 18 months. My chickens have oyster shell in the run and they are mixed age 6 months to 3+ it is their job to not eat it if they don't need it. I feed grower feed to my flock so no calcium in the food dishes for anyone.

I will look in town for chick grit or the equivalent. Thank you. If I can't find any I'll go find a weed grass patch that I know hasn't been poisoned or fertilized and add a clump to the larger brooder.

 

[kesrchicky16]

Ok got chick grit... we'll try again with introducing it when I pull them out to play and refresh their food. I put the tray in and you would have thought I was the ice cream man! I'll put out their fresh food and then grit. Not sure a tummy full of rocks is the best plan.