Baby chicks come Wednesday! EPPP IM SO EXCITED!! :)

[somissemilyy]

Okay, I've never raised little bities before. I need advice! I'm getting 17 and I need y'all help. My dad has a friend that is getting us a big cardboard box.

What should I put in the box first? Shavings or newspaper?

How long should I give them the gel water, until I give them normal water? Can I keep a regular waterer out and a gel water out at the same time?

What's the best chick feed to get? How long do I feed it to them?

Those are most of my questions but Im sure more will pop up in my head.
Thanks guys!

This is getting exciting! I can't wait to hear all the pep pep peps

 

[<3ChickenForever]

How exciting!!

I remember the first time I got little chickies

. I put saw dust in our chicks box. But shavings help too. And I don't have any baby chicks right now so I can't help you with the feed. sorry

. But Good luck!!

 

[drdoolittle]

I don't think you should use a cardboard box-----it will get wet from the poo and water. You should get at least a 32 gal. rubbermaid container from Wal-Mart----probably bigger because the chicks grow fast! Put a piece of farm fence on top with a reflector lamp and a 75 watt bulb-----but watch the chicks and if they are always trying to be away from the light, it is too hot and you should go down to a 60 watt bulb, or move the light higher. The water should be in a small chick waterer, and food in a small chick feeder---both inexpensive from Rural King or TSC. This way they won't spill water everywhere or waste feed. I wouldn't use the gel for water. Use shavings in the bottom of container, and feed them chick starter-----I've always used Dumor, but any brand is probably fine. I usually feed this until they feather-out, and switch to grower/finisher.

 

[somissemilyy]

Quote:
Okay thanks. I will let my dad know about what you said. Thanks again!

 

[somissemilyy]

Okay when can I give them like broccoli and other things to peck at? Like what age? Because we have alot of beans and things left over from dinner and things and we don't like them going to waste, just trying to plan ahead! Thanks!

 

[HatchingFever]

just saying next time doresearch before getting animals you dont no about i did the same thing u did with my goats worst thing i ever did

 

[somissemilyy]

Quote:
I just saw a video on youtube with baby chicks pecking broccoli. I am doing research.

 

[somissemilyy]

Quote:
I just saw a video on youtube with baby chicks pecking broccoli. I am doing research. I do know about chickens.

 

[Ladybird CA]

My adult chickens never ate broccoli but now that I think of it I didn't cut it up enough lol. I don't know the answers to your other questions but make sure you don't use newspaper as it can cause spraddle leg.

Post pics when they arrive

 

[CannonChicks]

We have ours in a rubbermaid tub, with a heat lamp clamped to one end pointed down. A 1 gallon waterer, and a feeder, the bottom is laid with newspaper. I bought 50lbs of chick starter feed ($18), they'll never eat that much but I pour a cupfull onto the paper to let them scratch. If the tear at the newspaper I've heard it was okay as long as you don't use the glossy paper. I change the paper 4 to 5 times a day. When it's warm outside I take my chicks out to run around for about ten minutes at the most. I just asked another member about the treat situation myself. I was told that at four days old one woman feeds her chicks boiled egg yolks. And another told me that she feeds her chicks at a week or so old No salt canned corn. Some people recommended grit, but I have read a publication that said it was a waste to feed them grit if they are staying indoors and are eating only chicken starter.