Chicks for the first Time

[Natalijaasbj]

Just in case there are some other people who are new to chicks - I would give an advice which HELPED me a lot. I had couple of little Maran chicks who for some reason would not eat Chick Starter food. I tried another (organic) option - still did not eat much. Then I read somewhere that just soak the Food a little bit. And they all started eating much better. Also I learned that most old tiome farmers gave the little ones mostly boiled eggs - cut in tiny pieces(or mashed).

 

[Natalijaasbj]

I meant soak them a bit in the WATER - just make it like little puree

 

[cajun chick]

Day two and my chicks are beautiful. They have been calm and content all day. Only one pasty butt so far but I caught it early.... the oldest one... about a week...is already learning to perch on a stick I put in the brooder. I guess I need to fashion a little roost for them. They all learned to scratch today. Poor little molly was scratching with one foot and spinning in circles but she finally got the hang of it.

 

[cajun chick]

Hi I was wondering wat do you do wen your chicks have poop build up on their butts?

 

[Jeanna Marie]

Hi I was wondering wat do you do wen your chicks have poop build up on their butts?

The first thing you should try is a warm wet wash cloth. Hold it on for a few minutes and then gently break it apart with your fingers.

If this does not work run warm water in the sink up to the chicks behind and let the chick stand it until its disolved but don't let your chick get too cold.

Once you gotten the poop off rub a little olive oil on the vent and surrounding down to prevent it happening again.

Also I would add a probiotic to the water to aid in digestion. Some folks add apple cider vinegar with the mother to the water to get the same effect.

Pasty butt as this is called can be fatal to young chicks! Treat early!

 

[kynewbchickie]

RE: Pasty/Poopie Butt...

I actually just used my fingers and warm water to get it loose and cleaned off, used the olive oil on their vents/surrounding down, and put the probiotic into their feed and the natural ACV in their water. 1 tbsp/1 gallon of water is the recommended strength for the ACV; certain probiotics have different dosing scales so just follow the directions on the label and you should be fine. I didn't put it in the water simply because the ACV would have destroyed the probiotic; adding it to the feed lets them get it in their tummies before they drink (mine eat about 15 minutes before they go to the waterer). Good luck! I saved 10 chicks from certain death at the local store because they were totally covered and caked in poo and huddled in a corner...they looked so bad that the store manager sold them at half price saying he wouldn't refund if any died. They're still alive and active and healthy today, 5 weeks later!

 

[kynewbchickie]

I'm considering going back to see if they have anymore pullets left...there were about 20 yesterday that looked pitiful, red sex links and some more EE's. I can't stand it.

 

[dennymeyrand]

I'm having some issues keeping my brooder at the temperature it needs to be (95 degrees). It's been running around 75. Will this hurt the chicks at all and what can I do to help get the temp up? Add another lamp? I have 2 with 250 watt bulbs in it already and I put a cover over part of the lid this morning to hopefully hold some heat in.

 

[Jeanna Marie]

I'm having some issues keeping my brooder at the temperature it needs to be (95 degrees). It's been running around 75. Will this hurt the chicks at all and what can I do to help get the temp up? Add another lamp? I have 2 with 250 watt bulbs in it already and I put a cover over part of the lid this morning to hopefully hold some heat in.

How big and what kind of brooder are you using. Is it inside or outside. How many chicks?
I found that the biggest problem I had with temp control was drafts. Just walking by the brooder makes a draft.

 

[Jeanna Marie]

My six chicks are about three weeks old and just got moved out of their Rubbermaid brooder in the kitchen to a large cardboard box in the basement. They're red sex links and I can see their brown feathers starting to come in. I can't believe how big their legs are getting too!

Here are some pics I took yesterday.

Such beautiful babies. Dont you love the curious looks they give?