chick problems

[smokinhotchick]

Hi. Im 12 years old and this is my mom and I's first time raising chicks. We have 6 of them. all about 2-3 weeks old and we just got them yesterday. I am currently experiencing some problems and questions.
1-There is this black 3 week old one that keeps on pecking at all the others. I have tried giving him other things to do but he just goes back to their eyes and beaks.
2)Im worried that the red heat lamp is to hot for them. when I pick them up out of their cage they feel really warm but when I turn it off they feel cold.
3) should I be constantly cleaning their cage? they poop everywhere and peck at it. I am worried about the cleansliness of it all.
4) Can I feed them other things besides the starter food like worms, eggs, fruit, veggies... if so what can I feed them?
I have so many other questions as this is my first time but it would be so awesome if people could answer atleast one of these questions for me and/or give me some advice to what I should do to help them become the best chickens they can be.

Thanks, Lily

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Hi. Im 12 years old and this is my mom and I's first time raising chicks. We have 6 of them. all about 2-3 weeks old and we just got them yesterday. I am currently experiencing some problems and questions.
1-There is this black 3 week old one that keeps on pecking at all the others. I have tried giving him other things to do but he just goes back to their eyes and beaks.
2)Im worried that the red heat lamp is to hot for them. when I pick them up out of their cage they feel really warm but when I turn it off they feel cold.
3) should I be constantly cleaning their cage? they poop everywhere and peck at it. I am worried about the cleansliness of it all.
4) Can I feed them other things besides the starter food like worms, eggs, fruit, veggies... if so what can I feed them?
I have so many other questions as this is my first time but it would be so awesome if people could answer atleast one of these questions for me and/or give me some advice to what I should do to help them become the best chickens they can be.

                    Thanks, Lily

First Welcome to BYC

Second if you think the heat lamp is too hot, raise it up a little higher. No you shouldnt constantly clean, try cleaning twice a week. Yes you can give them those treats along with their normal feed.

 

[salt and pepper]

on number one I can't help you, on number two, a hot chick will pant, and keep away from the lamp when it is too hot, and will huddle together when too cold, if you are worried you can raise the lamp a little to decrease the temperature. number three) with that many chicks I would clean twice a week. unless it seems too dirty. number four) if you want to feed them treats you need to get chick grit so that they can digest the treats properly. hope this helped.

 

[chicks are me]

Backyard chickens has a edible food chart for chickens but when my chicks were that young i feed them clover flowers

 

[chicken pickin]

Everyone has great advice so far. What size brooder/box do you have them in? and do the chicks have room to get away from the heat lamp? At 2-3 weeks of age the temp should be about about 85-90 degrees(probably closer to 85) at chick level. DO you have a thermometer in with them. Also You can give them treats here is a list https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens. Make sure to give them chick grit if you give them anything other than chick starter. It helps them grind up all the foods to digest. You can offer the grit in a small dish or sprinkle it on their chick starter. As for cleaning i clean alot thats just me, but I think 2-3 times a week of scooping out some poop and adding some new shaving will be good.

Good luck with your new chicks, chickens are great fun.