Broody chicken and day old chicks

[MarlaMac]

I'd consider it a very low risk if they are coming from a major hatchery. Each "farm supply store" is its own business so I don't know where that one is getting its chicks, but if it is a major chain they are almost certainly coming from a major hatchery. There is a risk that people walking around a farm supply store could have chickens at home and could bring in a disease but that is highly unlikely. Besides, yours are going to be kept separately, probably in back and not exposed to the public. I can't give you any guarantees but I would not worry about that at all.


You are in Texas and you will have six. You will probably have the AC on to stay comfortable. I would. You do not need to feed or water them before or during the trip but you can try before you start the trip if you wish. Water can spill while you are driving. Personally I'd have the brooder wet up and ready with food and water before I left so they can go straight in. I'd gas up, eat, drink, and use the bathroom before I picked them up. You do not want to leave them in a parked car with the AC off.

For six chicks I'd use a shoe box with some holes cut in it for fresh air. Put it where the AC is not blowing directly on it. I think they will be fine. Some people might put a hand warmer or something like that in there but I'd be worried more about overheating them than keeping them warm enough.

Good luck!

Thank you. They have some stock labeled "Ideal Select", so I am guessing they get their chicks from Ideal Poultry in Cameron, TX. They don't seem to be a big chain store, but they are very organized and seemingly move a lot of chicks.

I am going to call them and request that they don't move the ones I am picking up into the general public area so that would be one more level of bio security.

Thanks again for your advice.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How far is Cameron? Could you pick them up from there? I don't know if Ideal offers direct pickup, maybe a day earlier.

No, forget that. That would be a separate order and you will not get that worked out in time. But maybe something to consider for next time.

 

[MarlaMac]

How far is Cameron? Could you pick them up from there? I don't know if Ideal offers direct pickup, maybe a day earlier.

No, forget that. That would be a separate order and you will not get that worked out in time. But maybe something to consider for next time.

Yeah, you suggested that on a different thread while I was looking for Blue Australorp chicks. Ideal's next available for them was in Oct and they weren't selling any hatching eggs at the time. My quest lead me to these guys in Denton. Of the two places, Denton is further away, but probably an easier drive.

 

[Mrs. K]

Stop and consider, when I did this, it kind of changed my whole thinking on chicks. They have come to you, barely dried off in a box shipping across country, and they are alive. They are sturdier than you think. Remember if huge amounts of them died, this would not be financially feasible and they would not sell chicks that way. It works way more often than it doesn't.

I would call and ask what time of day do they generally get their shipments, and be there at that time if you want. Check them when you pick them up. They will have a little box, like the happy meal at McDonalds, with a bit of bedding in it. I would leave them in it, put them in the back seat on the floor, and they will keep themselves warm. The AC will be fine on you. They won't be in a direct draft.

They are going to peep all the way home, seriously peep, might drive you nuts, especially if you hit a bump or anything. But a peeping chicks is a live chick.

Really the beauty of adding chicks this way, is she does all the work, temperature regulation, feed, water... cleans their pasty butts, she manages the introduction to the flock.

Mrs K

 

[MarlaMac]

Stop and consider, when I did this, it kind of changed my whole thinking on chicks. They have come to you, barely dried off in a box shipping across country, and they are alive. They are sturdier than you think. Remember if huge amounts of them died, this would not be financially feasible and they would not sell chicks that way. It works way more often than it doesn't.

I would call and ask what time of day do they generally get their shipments, and be there at that time if you want. Check them when you pick them up. They will have a little box, like the happy meal at McDonalds, with a bit of bedding in it. I would leave them in it, put them in the back seat on the floor, and they will keep themselves warm. The AC will be fine on you. They won't be in a direct draft.

They are going to peep all the way home, seriously peep, might drive you nuts, especially if you hit a bump or anything. But a peeping chicks is a live chick.

Really the beauty of adding chicks this way, is she does all the work, temperature regulation, feed, water... cleans their pasty butts, she manages the introduction to the flock.

Mrs K

Thanks for the encouragement!

The store sends out a text when new arrivals get to the post office and/or arrive at the store. I can look through text history for arrival information. Good suggestion!

I also, get a 90% pullet to 10% cockerel ratio.

Need to download some negative energy removal frequency for the drive home I can put in one ear for the chirping. HAHAHA

 

[MarlaMac]

I have a broody that I have been trying to break (sort of) for 2 weeks. She is pretty persistent. I really don't mind that she is broody b/c I am getting 6 day old chick on 6/5 that I am planning to put under her that same day if she stays broody that long (if not, I hope another will be broody at that time - I have at least 3 of 14 who are constantly going broody).

The question is, should I allow her to sit on eggs until that day comes or will she be accepting of the new chicks even if she hasn't sat on eggs?

If I sit her on eggs I will buy some eggs from the store b/c I don't want any of the eggs developing under her. I have a rooster and at least some of the eggs will be fertile if I use my eggs.

The reason I am getting day old chicks is b/c I only have black australorps and I want to add some blue australorps to my flock.

Any feedback will be appreciated.

Thank you.

Got my blues today. 3.5 trip one way and they immediately found the warm spot when they got home. Broody is in her spot and we are awaiting nightfall so we can put these babies with their adopted momma. Hoping all goes well.

 

[Mrs. K]

good luck! make sure the chicks get a drink of water.

 

[MarlaMac]

good luck! make sure the chicks get a drink of water.

Yep. Gave them water when I put them in the brooder. Showed them where it was.

 

[WingItRanch]

Following! Good luck!

 

[MarlaMac]

Following! Good luck!

So, went out at dark. Let babies chirp for a few minutes. Then proceeded to place babies with momma and remove fake eggs.

Mom any baby that wasn't completely under momma she started pecking. So I know, Mrs K said shut the door and walk away. We did, but the babies seemed to be in distress and momma was pecking them pretty hard.

So, we took two of the six babies away and mom seemed to calm down.

We have another momma who hatched one single egg. That baby is 30 days old today. We place the other two babies in with this momma and her baby. She didn't seem to mind at all. But I don't know if this is a good thing.

Just now, watching her on the camera she is peck at them again. She is almost "barking" at them.

Very hard to watch. What should I do?