Chicks arrived😁❤️

[MagistraTn]

Our chicks arrived safely this morning

so far so good. We have hydro hen in the water, they’ve had a long drink and are eating and pooping like crazy. They’ve figured out how to get in and out of the heat plate. I hope it’s warm enough under there. They are bumping their heads a bit, but also we’re all huddled under the lowest part. They cont to come out and go in, though so I suspect it’s ok (the first one I gave a drink to got pretty wet- I hope she is drying out ok. Any words of wisdom?)

terrible first pics, but here they are!

 

[mrskenmore]

OMG they love their new digs and are SO cute- looks like you got an extra! Congrats and enjoy. If they are going in and out of the heather they are self regulating which is good! The one that got wet should be dry if she hangs by the heater. Just make sure no drafts are on them and they should be good to go!!

 

[theoldchick]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...first-60-days-of-raising-baby-chickens.47691/

 

[MagistraTn]

OMG they love their new digs and are SO cute- looks like you got an extra! Congrats and enjoy. If they are going in and out of the heather they are self regulating which is good! The one that got wet should be dry if she hangs by the heater. Just make sure no drafts are on them and they should be good to go!!

Thanks. We added more marbles, so hopefully it won’t happen again.

 

[arizona_chicken_noob]

So cute! Take lots of pictures, they grow FAST

 

[mrskenmore]

Our chicks arrived safely this morning

so far so good. We have hydro hen in the water, they’ve had a long drink and are eating and pooping like crazy. They’ve figured out how to get in and out of the heat plate. I hope it’s warm enough under there. They are bumping their heads a bit, but also we’re all huddled under the lowest part. They cont to come out and go in, though so I suspect it’s ok (the first one I gave a drink to got pretty wet- I hope she is drying out ok. Any words of wisdom?)

terrible first pics, but here they are!View attachment 2997664View attachment 2997665

How's it going with the new littles?

 

[MagistraTn]

How's it going with the new littles?

Thanks for checking on us. They are certainly keeping us busy. We’ve had a couple of cases of pasty butt. One today was pretty traumatic for all involved and she Is pecking at her rear, or trying too.

We expanded their brooder today. (Two large boxes taped together with an opening. It’s like two rooms. We lined the food and watering side with plastic, as the chicks seem fond of spilling all their water. And we put the heat on the other side.) all afternoon they were coming and going. Then we went out for a couple of hours and I found them all huddled in the corner of the feeding room instead of using the heated area. I could not get them to go under it at all. So, I raised it up a bit and put it in the room with their food and they are now coming and going. It’s like they collectively forgot they could change rooms! They also started spilling their food if time. So I took it away for a little while and my husband checked them and said they looked hungry. Sure enough!

Now a couple are hanging out on the edge of the heater. Maybe the garage warmed up in the afternoon sun more than usual today I guess that could explain the brooder shenanigans.

We found a nice twig for a roost to add soon. I assume it’s ok to use an actual branch with lichen and bark? I do mix chick grit into their food just in case.

 

[Iluveggers]

Absolutely ok to use a real branch! I had a couple in my brooder & the girls loved jumping up and sitting on it throughout the day. I put my water container on a small block of wood, and that helped with some of the mess as it would spill on the wood block instead of the shavings, hopefully that would help!

 

[casportpony]

Congrats!

 

[arizona_chicken_noob]

They also started spilling their food if time.

One thing that has surprised me with raising chicks (and then having chickens) is that they just really have no regard for where they walk, regarding food / water / poop. They just DO NOT seem to care about keeping their water or food stations intact, nor their feet clean.

This is made weirder by the feeling that adult chicken feet can be warm and are skin. At times it feels like you are holding a tiny old woman's hand And then she steps in gross squirty cecal poop with impunity!

PS: At some point when they are strong enough, you can put a shallow pan of dirt in the brooder (if you want) and they will root around / dust bathe in it.