Baby - weeks 2-4 questions....

[LisaMarie81]

So, we made it through brooder preparation, arrival of our first day old babies, and the entire first week and a half. We've been on top of the water, food, heating lamp, bedding, pasty butt, etc. All seem healthy from what little we know.......

But now as we approach weeks 2-4 (and beyond) I have SO many questions and worries

1) Food and water is becoming more and more a disaster (even with chick feeder/waterer). I think it's because they are more active, hoping, fluttering, etc. Advice to keep it cleaner? Can they get sick drinking it with their own darn poop in it?
2) When do we switch from the chick starter food to something different? (and yes I'm using the medicated food)
2) Roosting. I've read they like to roost starting young and we've put a 1/2" dowel in the brooder only about 3" off the ground. Is this ok for 2 wk olds? Some have to hop over it cause it's too low and I worry, but a couple are already sitting on it.
3) With them far more active in the brooder and wing feathers developing what do I need to watch out for behavior wise? I've read on here folks losing birds even as far as 6 weeks old due to other chicks picking on them. How do you avoid this best? I have a red heat lamp, but when it's gone as well.
4) Speaking of heat, we're at 90 now, wk 3 we'll be at 85. Beyond that how long do we use it?
5) Any signs other than the obvious (fatigue, lack of eating or drinking) to watch out for?" I also read here on here that one person picked theirs up only to discover it was skin and bones, but not really fatigued so didn't know it wasn't eating and they lost her.
5) when they get outside to the coop (5wks? 6wks? beyond?) I've read to provide a safe haven for smaller chicks (i.e. -bails of hay, pallet on blocks), any other advice? (I've got 3 bantams and 5 bigger hens - no roosters, but still a significant size difference and worry about them being picked on, trampled, etc
6) gnats - I've read folks say these can suffocate them?? solutions?
7) any other bugs to watch out for?
8) predators (yes we have Fox and Eagles where we are, and yes they will be fully enclosed and yes the coop will be splayed out with a large skirt to avoid the fox digging), but the sheer "terror" of a predator I'm assuming can be scary and cause issues. Does anyone use any deterrents? I've read about this flashing red light thing that's suppose to discourage predators (cause they think it's another animal watching them).
9) I've read on here of folks having trouble with their young chicks staying in the run overnight. Is there a way to encourage them into the coop? Should the coop be closed at night for safety? What habits are folks into here that have predators common in their area?

I'm sure I'll have more questions, but want to get basics now.
If there a "section" here for info on the older chicks that I missed, I apologize - just point me the right way)

BTW -- this site ROCKS!!! Thank you!

A little background to go on:
** 8 hens - all mixed. 3 bantams though and 5 larger breeds (Polish, Silkie, unknown bantam, Partridge Cochin, Barred Plymouth Rock, Buff Brahma, Buff Orpington, Lace Wyandotte)
** Chicks arrived from MPC on May 7th as day olds, so 10 days old today.
** Currently in a small brooder which I'll have to expand (only 2ft x 4ft)
** Already worried about the 3 littles as they seem to be very tiny

Quick add - Our coop is pre-made (and I know folks don't like those), but my husband and I are buying some extra material and supplies to reinforce it and strengthen i. It's a 25 bird coop and we only have 8 so hoping it's sufficient for them as I know they are smaller pre-made

 

[newchicks5]

just stay calm they,ll be fine.

 

[Al Capon]

 

[ChickenCanoe]

1) Food and water is becoming more and more a disaster (even with chick feeder/waterer). I think it's because they are more active, hoping, fluttering, etc. Advice to keep it cleaner? Can they get sick drinking it with their own darn poop in it?


Set it up on bricks so the rim is at the height of their backs. That will keep it cleaner. I don't recommend chick feeders and water founts. They aren't useful for very long. You can go straight to adult type.
2) When do we switch from the chick starter food to something different? (and yes I'm using the medicated food)

Read the feed bag. That will give the mills' recommendation on when to switch to a different feed. They alone know what is in their feed and who it is intended to feed.
2) Roosting. I've read they like to roost starting young and we've put a 1/2" dowel in the brooder only about 3" off the ground. Is this ok for 2 wk olds? Some have to hop over it cause it's too low and I worry, but a couple are already sitting on it.

The dowel is OK but chicks don't really need to roost till they are much older. And when they do, they need something much wider - like a 2X4. They do like to climb on things to hang out during the day.
3) With them far more active in the brooder and wing feathers developing what do I need to watch out for behavior wise? I've read on here folks losing birds even as far as 6 weeks old due to other chicks picking on them. How do you avoid this best? I have a red heat lamp, but when it's gone as well.

You need to give them more space. A mother hen raises her chicks outdoors, providing a warm spot under her for them when chilled and unimited cool space. She doesn't heat all ambient air. That's how you should be raising them. The more closely confined, the more likely they are to be picked on by their flock mates. I haven't used a red heat lamp in many years. In smallish brooders, you don't need that much heat. I prefer a ceramic heat emitter in the range of 75 to 150 watts depending on the space. Even better is a Premier 1 heat plate which doesn't waste a lot of electricity. With either option, you can then provide a dark period each night which all earthbound animals need.
4) Speaking of heat, we're at 90 now, wk 3 we'll be at 85. Beyond that how long do we use it?

I go with 90 first week if there are enough other chicks to cuddle with so by week 3, I'm at 80 or less. I'm assuming they are in your house. If so, you may only need heat another couple weeks. You need to judge their comfort by their behavior. Crowded near the heat and they're cold. Avoiding the heat and they're hot. Moving al around and they're OK.

5) Any signs other than the obvious (fatigue, lack of eating or drinking) to watch out for?" I also read here on here that one person picked theirs up only to discover it was skin and bones, but not really fatigued so didn't know it wasn't eating and they lost her.

I would call it lethargic and not fatigued. Fatigue is tired, lethargic is sick. Some probiotics, clean food and water with big ventilation and the ability to move between cool and warm zone to find their comfort zone they should be fine. Coccidiosis can become a problem if the bedding is allowed to get wet. That could cause emaciation.


5) when they get outside to the coop (5wks? 6wks? beyond?) I've read to provide a safe haven for smaller chicks (i.e. -bails of hay, pallet on blocks), any other advice? (I've got 3 bantams and 5 bigger hens - no roosters, but still a significant size difference and worry about them being picked on, trampled, etc

Putting small chicks with adult birds will likely be a problem. The new birds will be seen as a threat to the security of the flock. I would keep them separate till they are near the same size.
6) gnats - I've read folks say these can suffocate them?? solutions?

Should not be a problem.
7) any other bugs to watch out for?

Lice and mites. Most other bugs will be eaten by the chickens.
8) predators (yes we have Fox and Eagles where we are, and yes they will be fully enclosed and yes the coop will be splayed out with a large skirt to avoid the fox digging), but the sheer "terror" of a predator I'm assuming can be scary and cause issues. Does anyone use any deterrents? I've read about this flashing red light thing that's suppose to discourage predators (cause they think it's another animal watching them).

The light you refer to only works at night. At night your birds will be inside the coop and asleep so may not know a predator is afoot.
9) I've read on here of folks having trouble with their young chicks staying in the run overnight. Is there a way to encourage them into the coop? Should the coop be closed at night for safety? What habits are folks into here that have predators common in their area?

Have all large openings covered with hardware cloth and no uncovered openings as large as one inch. Lock them up at night. I let mine free range all day with all sorts of predators afoot but I have at least one good rooster with each flock.
...

 

[LisaMarie81]

Newchicks5 and Al Capon.....hahahahaha...thanks for that! LOL
ChickenCanoe - thank you so much for the response! I feel better.