Chick Checklist

[fiddlebanshee]

Tractor supply has a good selection of chicken related things, if you have one nearby. I've found SS to be hit or miss and I don't very often go there. Now that TSC has chickdays they are fully stocked up for chick and brooder needs, but you'll probably find more empty shelves at the end of the weekend. Fridays I would think would be a good day to find supplies as the stores would have stocked their shelves for the weekend chick buying frenzy.

 

[Weasleymum]

Thanks, we do have a tractor supply! I think the only thing I'm still needing is a thermometer, I'll give them a try tomorrow.

Playbox sand OK as chick grit?

 

[fiddlebanshee]

No you should get chick grit. TSC has it for sure. Or if all else fails go to petsmart and get parakeet grit. Sand is too fine.

 

[sonyamatos]

How old are chicks in the store usually? Should I keep them on starter?

 

[cafarmgirl]

How old are chicks in the store usually? Should I keep them on starter?

They will only be a few days old. They need to eat chick starter/grower until they start to lay, about 18 to 20 weeks old or so.

 

[eggocentric]

I hope someone can help. I have chicks that hatched today (my first). Our temps at night are in the 30s and 40s. Do I need to supply heat to the coop to help the hen keep the babies warm?

 

[kynewbchickie]

I hope someone can help. I have chicks that hatched today (my first). Our temps at night are in the 30s and 40s. Do I need to supply heat to the coop to help the hen keep the babies warm?

She should be fine to keep them warm with her own body heat. She'll instinctively eat enough feed when she leaves the nest to eat to burn enough calories to keep the little ones toasty.

 

[kynewbchickie]

Thanks, we do have a tractor supply! I think the only thing I'm still needing is a thermometer, I'll give them a try tomorrow.

Playbox sand OK as chick grit?

TSC here sells the Manna Pro brand poultry supplies - they have chick grit in a nice resealable bag. I've given mine the grit in one hand before I offer them treats. Once I did that a few times, they got used to going to one hand first for the grit, then to my other hand to look for a tasty worm, slice of squash or zucchini, and we're now up to anything they peck at in the yard when they go out for an outing - bowl of grit nearby in a 6'x6' enclosed "play" area.