Chick Feed

[The Happster]

Best before date is Aug 2022. I think it was bought very recently too.

 

[NatJ]

I'm using an egg cup for the chicks water right now, don't want to put too much in. Couple of drops?

I do not think you should put vinegar in their only source of water. Give them a second one, and put the vinegar in it, if you want to use vinegar.

Also it could be the temperature. They are in my room and I keep changing it because they seem too warm. They don't even seem to need the heat and they're only just over 1 week old. [...] Their box has a tunnel going to another box.

Are you using a heat lamp, a heat plate, or changing the temperature of the entire room?

It would be best if ONE of their boxes has a heat source (heat lamp, light bulb, heat plate, heating pad). The OTHER box should NOT have extra heat, and should be a temperature that's comfortable for people (70 degrees fahrenheit is good, 80 degrees is OK, but try not to have it hotter than that. Cooler than 70 degrees is also fine.)

Chicks do best if they can choose their own temperature.

If you're trying to solve the pasty butt issue, I suggest you try giving them absolutely NOTHING except that chick feed and plain water, for several days. I suggest no oats, no greens, no yoghurt, no corn, no probiotics, no vinegar, no bugs, no treats. Nothing. (Yes, if they have grit, leave that. Yes, leave the dirt in the box, but do not add any more corn to it.)

Changes can upset a chick's digestion. So if you set it up for them to control their own temperature, and you stabilize the diet, and then don't change anything for a few days--I expect things will settle down pretty soon.

It's not bothering either of them in any way. It's more me worrying it could get worse.

Or you could just decide they are fine, and keep doing what you have been doing.

 

[The Happster]

That is how it is. One box is below the heat lamp, the other isn't. The heat lamp box is relatively big. If I notice them going to the other side to sleep I turn off the heat lamp or move it higher. They are in my room so I have to keep the door shut so the cat/dog doesn't get in. So the heat does build up. They don't like going into the other box through the tunnel at the moment because it amplifies their cheeps. I've been carrying them over rather than making them go through as I don't want them to build up a phobia. I have no idea what the temperature is, or has been. I have been changing it based on how they act. One of the chicks can now fly out of the box. He's been doing this frequently because he wants attention.
Since I last cleaned the chicks (this morning) they haven't had it again yet. I'll wait to see what happens before making any decisions. I'm glad it isn't the food, anyway. I hate having chicks in a brooder. It's not natural. They should be with a mother that can spend the entire time with them.
Thanks for your help, everyone.

 

[NatJ]

Can you cut one side out of each box and tape them together, to make one long box?
It really does work better when they have lots of space to get away from the heat lamp on their own, if they want to.

I'm glad the pasty butt seems to be improving!

 

[The Happster]

They're different sizes. I suppose I could but I like the tunnel
Their box is big enough that they can go far away from the heat lamp if they're too warm though.
Thanks