Bantam Chick Questions

[Lavender and CJ]

Hey y’all! This will be my second batch of chicks, and my first ever bantam flock. I’m getting 4 D’uccles and 2 Silkies, all sexed females from Meyer Hatchery. They will hatch tomorrow.
-Does anyone have any tips about bantams specifically?
-Our feed store sells chick grit, but will that be too big for them?
-We are in Utah and I know that Meyer is in Ohio. I wish we were closer to the hatchery but I wanted sexed bantams. Has anyone shipped them this far, and will they be okay?

 

[Folly's place]

We've had both bantam chicks and standard chicks shipped from Cackle, and in general had a slightly higher % of deaths in the bantam babies. Never everyone, but a difference. And six is a very small number, more issues with either cold or heat in shipping possible.
Grit will be necessary when they have other than chick starter available, and chick grit would be best. However, it now seems that the 'adult grit' available here has many tiny pieces of stone, and seems like your babies could manage with it in a few weeks.
Love d'Uccles!
Mary

 

[Lavender and CJ]

Thank you!

 

[ChickenChick46]

I've got 12 bantams, but I bought them all straight run from my local TSC or RK. I've got 3 groups of 4, they're 6 weeks, almost 3 weeks, and about one week.

I've been giving them medicated chick starter so they would hopefully be better prepared to deal with any potential coccidia exposure when I started taking them outside. They also get Manna Pro chick grit, and they've never had any issues with it being too big. Around 2 to 3 weeks old, I've introduced some bagged mealworm/veggie treats and fresh things like basil and kale. They love it. This is personal preference. I've seen other folks say they wait 6 weeks before giving anything other than starter.

I use brooder plates with mine instead of heat lamps. I've only had one instance of pasty butt. It was my silkie and he came home that way from Rural King. After a few days, it wasn't an issue anymore. That said, if you are going to use a brooder plate, I would have a heat lamp on hand as well, since shipped chicks may need faster rewarming and a lamp is better for that.

You may want to have some electrolytes on hand too. That way if any seem weak, you can give them a boost.

I don't have any standard size birds yet, just my bantams. I've got some due to hatch on the 29th, also from Meyer. They'll be my first standard birds. I hope you have a great experience with your babies! What breed/s did you order?

We're looking forward to the pictures!

 

[Folly's place]

Cackle recommended using a heat lamp at first for their shipped chicks, and then the brooder plate. For feed store chicks that are in good shape, the brooder plate is fine immediately, IMO.
Mary

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Adding poultry cell or nutri drench to their water is a good idea for a little boost. I give them all a little bit via their beak and also put some in the water along with electrolytes when they first arrive as shipping is stressful. I do the same with ones I hatch myself too.

Agreed on the brooder plate. It is a lot safer than a heat lamp and I have more confidence in it. Just make sure it is low enough. ChickenChick46 did point out that shipped chickens may need a faster rewarming. You can do the heat lamp or I personally leave them in the shipping box and sit outside in the sun with them to warm up if it is a hot/sunny enough day. this is also when I dose them all with poultry cell and make sure they are all looking good.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Cackle recommended using a heat lamp at first for their shipped chicks, and then the brooder plate. For feed store chicks that are in good shape, the brooder plate is fine immediately, IMO.
Mary

I agree. All of my chicks so far were bought locally, and I've used just the brooder plate, minus the heat lamp for about 3 days. I didn't like it and I didn't trust it. Especially in my house. I've been so much more at ease with the plates. But I did keep my heat lamp as Meyer also recommended the lamp at first.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Adding poultry cell or nutri drench to their water is a good idea for a little boost. I give them all a little bit via their beak and also put some in the water along with electrolytes when they first arrive as shipping is stressful. I do the same with ones I hatch myself too.

Agreed on the brooder plate. It is a lot safer than a heat lamp and I have more confidence in it. Just make sure it is low enough. ChickenChick46 did point out that shipped chickens may need a faster rewarming. You can do the heat lamp or I personally leave them in the shipping box and sit outside in the sun with them to warm up if it is a hot/sunny enough day. this is also when I dose them all with poultry cell and make sure they are all looking good.

The syringe to the beak for electrolytes works great. I bought my new 4 just yesterday morning from Rural King, and I had one that just seemed "off". She wasn't as active as the others. She'd eat and drink when I set her near the dishes, but didn't seem overly interested in going to the food and water on her own. And she just seemed really sleepy. I mixed up some electrolytes and did the syringe method. She perked up quickly, and by evening I was feeling much better about her. And by this morning she seemed as spunky as her brooder mates and has had a normal day.