Chicks are here!

[lularat]

Sounds like you have everything planned out and you have a nice set up. I was also quite a worrier with my chicks. I had them in a brooder in our barn. I used an infrared lamp and kept the temp around 95 the first week. My husband would run out to the barn every few hours during the night the first couple of weeks to make sure the temp was okay. We would lower or raise the light to maintain the temp. Of course, they could go to the other side of the brooder if they got too warm. Every week we would lower the temp 5 degrees. I got my chicks the first week in April, so by their 4th week they didn't need any additional heat in the day when it was warmer. I used some heat at night. Be sure to post some pictures when you get those little peeps.

 

[Tappy4me]

Sounds like you have everything planned out and you have a nice set up. I was also quite a worrier with my chicks. I had them in a brooder in our barn. I used an infrared lamp and kept the temp around 95 the first week. My husband would run out to the barn every few hours during the night the first couple of weeks to make sure the temp was okay. We would lower or raise the light to maintain the temp. Of course, they could go to the other side of the brooder if they got too warm. Every week we would lower the temp 5 degrees. I got my chicks the first week in April, so by their 4th week they didn't need any additional heat in the day when it was warmer. I used some heat at night. Be sure to post some pictures when you get those little peeps.

Photography is a big hobby of mine...so there will be lots of pics!!

I've gone back and forth scouring articles on here about raising them...I still am learning something new every time I look! haha. Trying to keep myself busy with research and stuff until I can actually get my hands on some and bring the peeps home!

We plan to set an alarm tomorrow night/early morning to see how low the temp drops under the lamp...it's supposed to get down to 25* at night, so that back bedroom will be cool. With pine shavings, each other, and the heat lamp should hopefully be enough to keep them comfy, but if the temp drops too low in the room, we'll know to turn the heater on low on days it's going to get that cold outside. lol

 

[lularat]

No doubt, you are going to make a great chicken mama. My girls will be a year old on April 3rd and I have thoroughly enjoyed them and have grown quite fond of them. I had always wanted chickens, but never knew I would fall in love with them.

 

[Tappy4me]

Well...we took the plunge! Tractor supply had Silver Laced Wyandottes in this evening. They were straight run, so I hope I didn't pick out 6 little roosters.

Better pics to come later when they're more settled in!! They are so cute!!

 

[Araucana16]

Adorable!

Are you going to pick up one considering at least 3 are roos?

 

[Tappy4me]

Are 3 really roos? I was thinking the one with the really dark head was one... Haha (What do you mean by picking up one?

As for getting more of that breed, they'll probably be gone tomorrow. There weren't many left today-maybe 20 total.

I really hope I didn't pick all Roos Lol!

For future reference, how would I tell the difference between them at this age? I had my husband look online while I was on the phone with him to see if he could find how to sex them, which I tried to do...but obviously failed.

 

[Araucana16]

That was such a cryptic post I don't even know what I was thinking

What I meant was : usually straight run means like... at least 70% roo. So I was thinking you would probably get at least 3 roos out of the mix. I have no idea what gender just by looking at day old chicks.


Anyway, what I meant to say but clearly didn't iterate well for a World War II decoder to understand, is... if you end up with less than 3 hens, are you going to get some more chicks? And are you just going to get some more chicks anyway?

By the way, pretty little guys! Do you have names?

 

[Tappy4me]

That was such a cryptic post I don't even know what I was thinking

What I meant was : usually straight run means like... at least 70% roo. So I was thinking you would probably get at least 3 roos out of the mix. I have no idea what gender just by looking at day old chicks.


Anyway, what I meant to say but clearly didn't iterate well for a World War II decoder to understand, is... if you end up with less than 3 hens, are you going to get some more chicks? And are you just going to get some more chicks anyway?

By the way, pretty little guys! Do you have names?

OH!! *phew* haha.

We are getting about 15-20 chicks total. Southern states will be getting in their chicks Wednesday, and we'll be getting at least 6 more there. And I still am on the lookout for Buff Orpington chicks...may have TSC order some for us. We want at least 10 or 12 hens.

No names yet! Haven't had them long enough haha. I know one pecked me as soon as I took it out of the box and set it down...Take that! it seemed to be saying.

 

[Araucana16]

Sorry to scare you

Oh, so you'll have roosters? That's loads of fun, I wish I could

You'll be putting all the chicks together, right?

Okay, well good luck with the names! A lot of birds to name...

I remember one of mine did that too! She ended up being a very human shy girl. Couldn't catch her if I tried!

 

[Tappy4me]

Sorry to scare you

Oh, so you'll have roosters? That's loads of fun, I wish I could

You'll be putting all the chicks together, right?

Okay, well good luck with the names! A lot of birds to name...

I remember one of mine did that too! She ended up being a very human shy girl. Couldn't catch her if I tried!

All the chicks will be together, yea!! Just slowly acquiring them, since they arrived at the stores at different times!

We probably won't be keeping roos from any of these guys... Don't want to chance inbreeding. (unless there's not a high chance of that from getting from hatcheries?) We do want a rooster down the road, however.