buncha chick questions

[mac_chooks]

I'm new at this so please bear with me!

The chicks came last Wednesday and are doing well. They do keep trying to fly up out of the brooder. Is that normal?

These are 4 chicks as family pets/eggs.

We're trying to handle them twice a day but they are still a little skittish. I found that bringing my hand low and scooping them up goes over better than grabbing from above. Any other tips?

The brooder (see photo) seems large right now -- and I can add another level of height. How long can they stay in there?

Thanks!!

 

[arlee453]

They will be skittish, generally (think, 'we're chickens and everything is bigger than us and wants to eat us' instinct). Handling them helps, as you described. I've found that as they mature past 'tweenagers' stage and get into egg laying age they get sweeter and sweeter, and bringing them treats never hurts either!

They will need to be kept where you can regulate the heat lamp for at least 6 weeks until they are more feathered out. The temps should be 90-95 for the first week, and then drop 5 degrees a week until you get to 70 degrees.

If nights are chilly where you are, then they may need additional heat until they are around 10-12 weeks and completely feathered in, especially since there are a small number so not as much heat from huddling while roosting.

Let's see...what else. That 'huge' brooder won't look so huge after a couple more weeks. Height isn't so important as floor space. Just keep that lid on or they will be flapping over the top in no time!

Have fun and enjoy them!! Oh, and 4 will not be enough if you hang around here long enough...

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

Your chicks should be fine. Chicks will act skittish at first.
Your brooder size is fine, don't worry, in time, they'll grow into it and before long, they'll be outside.

Chicks grow up too fast, so savor the time.

 

[mac_chooks]

Thanks everyone. Some more questions.

How do I keep the brooder clean? I've been picking out the poo and adding a little more pine shavings each day, and then replacing all the shavings once a week (which will be Wednesday this week). Is that ok? Should I do something different?

I'm refilling (and cleaning if needed) the food at least once a day.

About once a day too I knock out the wood shavings from the waterer with the plan to scrub it once a week.

Oh, and know about the pecking order, etc. But I've seen one chick peck the other in the eye. Ouch! They really like to peck at my wedding ring too.

CJ

 

[Henrietta23]

My three chicks are about a week and a half old now. They try to fly around their brooder and the biggest looks like she'd like to fly out given the chance! They peck at my rings too.
I lay my hand on the floor of the brooder, palm up and let them walk around on it. They pick at the hair on my arms and hop on and off. They don't like being grabbed from above, too much like a predator swooping down on them I guess.