Baby chicks

[ShrekDawg]

So I just checked the heating pad and good thing because it was off. My mom messed with the breakers last night and I asked her to check the lights and, well, the lights work but I completely forgot that it would sort of "reset" the socket and I'd have to turn it on again so I don't know if it was off all night or just this morning or what.... But poor chickies were curled next to it wondering why it was now cold BUT they did eat and drink and stuff, like they were still pretty active, not freezing, and it's pretty warm today, so that's good. Poor chickies. Also I'm 100% making the frame today. I know I said that yesterday and it needs to get done but at this point I'm not really putting it off, now it's just stuff gets in the way. Like for example, yesterday we ended up being gone all day (unexpected) and by the time we got back it was dark and day before that it was raining and this thing can't be unrolled inside. BUT. We did manage to get all of the stuff yesterday and today is gorgeous so I see no reason why it shouldn't get done today. although I am taking the bus just down the street to get more shavings. I need hardware cloth so we can put them back in the garage but not enough money so that will have to wait. Speaking of which, how often am I supposed to clean the thing? Because starting I think yesterday? Or the night before? They now poop SO much. they didn't at first but do now. I heard every week? But that doesn't seem enough because there's so much? Am I maybe supposed to be raking the shavings so the poop gets mixed in/there's cleaner ones on top then full clean every week or something? The shavings are also more compacted now and not fluffy. And water is daily or every other day right? Water wasn't too dirty and they drink from the ground instead of climbing in so haven't changed it yet but I think I will today and add the vita stuff if I can finx it (hopefully it wasn't accidentally thrown out). But I just... I feel like I should rake the shavings? Or scoop the poop out? Or just do a full clean much more often? Or maybe just get a bigger area for them? I don't want them to get sick but I need to figure something out and/or also find a rake or something so I can at least move the shavings around. I feel like I'm terrible at this they do have clean food though and again the water's pretty clean but it seems like at this rate even if I fully cleaned it daily or every other day they would just make the huge mess again shortly after. It's almost like a Catch 22? Need to clean it often (or.rake) so they stay healthy but costs too much to be buying shavings every day

 

[SIMZ]

Change the water at least everyday. If it gets dirty before that, change it again. (Or just dump out the bottom if you're using a chick waterer.) Yes, rake the shavings around to turn them. It looks like you have them in a small pool. Change the shavings when they get wet or very dirty with droppings. Wet or very dirty bedding can make them sick. Otherwise, it's fine.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Change the water at least everyday.  If it gets dirty before that, change it again.  (Or just dump out the bottom if you're using a chick waterer.)  Yes, rake the shavings around to turn them.  It looks like you have them in a small pool.  Change the shavings when they get wet or very dirty with droppings.  Wet or very dirty bedding can make them sick.  Otherwise, it's fine. 

Thanks for the help. surprisingly they don't really get the water dirty but I will still start changing it everyday. I think it helps that it's a bigger waterer and up on bricks. They don't all drink at once either. They're good about one or two going over when they're thirst and they don't climb up anymore except maybe some of the smaller ones, they just stand on the shavings, dip their beaks in, tilt head back and gulp, go get some.more, etc. Until they're satisfied. The feeder they all rush over and try to eat at once and it's off bricks atm so some shavings getting in lol may put it back on bricks but i did switch to the feeder with the holes in it so that helps and no poo in it, just a couple shavings. I think I will wait a few days to put it back up as some of the chicks are still a bit smaller, especially one barred rock. I will start raking the shavings more often and/or completely change them because I do worry. I'm not sure how dirty very dirty is but I think it constitutes as very dirty atm so I'm changing it today plus I'd rather change it more often (or add shavings on top or rake) than have them get sick so I'll have to work on that. Especially with the limited ventilation. But yeah, the pool is pretty small but I'm hoping to move them to a bigger pool and/or make a bigger area with hardware cloth.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Got some paper bedding and some aspen bedding from the pet store to try. Hopefully it works out. Was going to get it from Wal-Mart, not sure why I didn't. But ah well. My mom was too I think embarrassed? Or thought it was awkward to carry big bags (we're on the bus) so I just got two smaller ones the aspen and a decent sized but still smallish of the paper. But we might get one of my brothers to take us another time. But this should hopefully last a while. Was gonna get one aspen one and one pine (they called it softwood) but don't know why I didn't do that either. Oh well. But the aspen was actually really cheap. At Wal-Mart it was like $2.99 I think and at Petco it was like $4.99 which is maybe somewhat a lot but not that much imo. The pine was $3.99. And for the big bags (2 sq ft compressed, 4 sq ft expanded) it was $12.99 aspen, $11.99 pine. I know the dollar difference might add up eventually but it's not that much of a difference. Maybe for large flakes it is. The paper was what was expensive, $19.99 and it's wayyy smaller.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I just checked on the chicks (we've been gone all afternoon again) and noticed that one of chicks appears to have a very dirty bum (all the others are nice and clean) so I picked her up and it seems to be possibly pasty butt? Or maybe just diarrhea? As you can see, the actual vent appears clean but very red. I just took photos of all the chicks late last nighr and it wasn't there and it was not there this morning either so happened some time this afternoon. I accidentally touched it twice picking her up (GROSS!) and it's wet. I plan on wiping her down either way but if it something else I want to know. And I'm guessing this needs to happen tonight and not wait? Plan to anyway but just making sure. They turn a week old on Monday and I believe she is currently the smallest. One chick had a neck issue but not this one and that one appears better and growing fast like the others, this girl is now the small one. I have 9, 2 BRs, 2 BAs, 3 BOs (I think, one is the free one), and 2 EEs. Pretty sure this little girl is one of the barred rocks. They are in a small kiddy pool with fairly high cardboard sides in the bathroom and MHP method. The window is usually closed but I plan on opening it during the day. They are moving to the garage this weekend though and hopefully a bigger brooder. They are on pine shavings and I have not changed bedding yet and didn't stir or do anything the first few days (I know, bad) but I did take everything out and stir/mix and fluff up the bedding yesterday. Also replaced the water first time yesterday (it was clean and they weren't drinking much. Am now replacing daily). I plan on fully changing out the bedding tomorrow and then adding an inch a day and changing every few days. Am also switching to paper and/or aspen bedding (bought both today). On Agway medicated chick starter and grower. And it smells up there which is a large reason I'm changing the bedding but we didn't have a scoopor anymore bedding to do it until today. All seem very healthy and active though but this one seems pretty sleepy last few days and falls asleep in my hands. Bedding and food seems dusty. I think the main issue is the lack of ventilation but could she have something else? And will she pull through if I clean her bum and change the bedding?

Awful pics but she was moving and peeping. Bum is much redder than that.

Oh and they are from Meyer's and vaccinated for Marek's and, again, on medicated feed.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Congratulations on you babies! They are so cute. I had that pasty butt problem with some, the sooner you clean it off the easier it is, warm water with a rag or paper towel. You may want to read the tread bout ACV (apple cider vinegar with the mother) in the water (1T to gal water) and Fermented Feeding. Not sure how everyone else feels about it but I had some on it, it helps cut the smell & get nicely formed poop (easy for picking). There is a "thread" on it, look it up, a lot of ready but very interesting. Enjoy your babies.

I just got 4 2wk olds (2 RIR, 2 Ameraucana) that I are mine to keep. Have raised for a breeder Buff, Blue, Black Orpingtons, Wyndottes, Seramas, OEGB & Ameraucas, from hatch to 8wks old. It was fun but a lot of work but so very enjoyable. Missed having chickens in the yard so now got some of my own

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thank you very much!! I'll tell them you said so and I'll definitely look those up! Thanks.

Aww that's awesome you raise them! Didn't realize people did that but I guess it's similar to fostering dogs and cats or co-owning show or working dogs or whatever. Personally though I'd miss them haha glad you got some of your own now though.

They grow so fast though, it's sad. They turn a week old tomorrow and they're already soo much bigger. Though the.little sick one is still closer to day old size

 

[ShrekDawg]

One of the chicks passed away. I was expecting it because she was sick last night and then really really bad today, so much so I was amazed she was still breathing, so it's not too sad because it was expected and she's not suffering but it's still a life gone and an adorable baby chick. She always fell asleep in my hands. At least she had a good little life while she was here, she would have been a week tomorrow. She didn't have a name yet but lately, cause she was so small and weak, I've just been calling her "little one", so I guess... RIP Little One.

 

[b.hromada]

.
Chickies. One I was holding keeps throwing head back and a teeny less active so worried but under MHP now and will add second waterer with vita pack later. hopefully she pulls through. Still peeping though so idk. Hoping I didn't hurt her dipping their beaks in.

Awwwwwwww!

Congrats!!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thank you so much!! They turn a week old today!