Chicks in 3 days... Freaking out.

[ConnecticutCowgirl]

Ok,

So, my chicks are being shipped out on Monday, and I have not clue what I am doing. I mean, I have a little clue, but not much. I am thinking of asking my local grocery store for the boxes that they store watermelon in, and using puppy training pads as a ground cover, for now. When should I switch to normal shavings? Also, I have a lot of questions concerning the heating... What should I use? White or red lamps? Also, what is the timing for moving the lamps up? I do know that the chicks will tell you if the temperature is right or not... I just need some help, this is my first time owning chickens, and I am very nervous!

Thanks,
C.T. Cowgirl.

 

[MadAsh]

Well how old are the chicks???

 

[ConnecticutCowgirl]

They will be one day old when they are shipped.

 

[JohnBerry]

I got my first chicks 8 weeks ago. I set up a bunch of boxes to make a pretty large circle. I had 12 chicks and I made the circle about 6 feet from side to side. I used a 250 watt red light. I used red because the color makes it easier for them to sleep at night. Do not rely on the clam on the light to hold the lamp. I used two zip-ties to secure it to the pole I was using. Some people tie them, using two separate ropes. Two are used in case one breaks. A lamp falling into the brooder can cook the chicks or cause a fire. Better safe than sorry.

For the first few days I just had some newspaper down. This allows them to see their food and know what they should be looking for when you start using pine shavings. A friend of mine used sawdust. This was not a good idea and he switched to pine shavings two days later. It was very messy. And it needs to be pine. Some kinds of wood, like cedar, are toxic to the chicks. I added the pine shavings on day 4.

In my coop I am using the "Deep Litter Method". I did the same in the brooder. I started with about 4 inches. Every few days I took a rake and just mixed up the litter. I occasionally added more shavings. While there was a slight smell, it was not a bad smell. Rather than a poop smell it is just how chickens smell. On top of the slight chicken smell there was a lot of "chicken dust". Like most animals, humans included, as they grow chickens shed skin cells (like cat dander). There was a lot of this. The room they were in was covered. That was the only unpleasant thing raising them indoors.

I fed them medicated chick feed. I gave them all kinds of treats. They love corn and just about any vegetable. I also got some hanging treats they could peck at just to keep them from being bored. Hanging an ear of corn provides hours of fun for them. In the second week I brought them outside and let them run in a dog pen that is 12 feet across. I moved it every day like a chicken tractor. They loved going outside and I took them out as often as time and weather allowed. I used a tarp and made a shady area. I also made sure they had plenty of water.

All 12 made it through the first 8 weeks without a problem. They have been a lot of fun and very interesting. I hope my experience gives you some info you can use. Good luck with your babies!

 

[JohnBerry]

About temperature. When my chicks were a week old I saw a neighbors chicken wandering around with her chicks. They were 3 days old and it was 75 degrees out. After reading all of the books I asked myself: "what is wrong with this picture"? My chicks were in a 90 degree room! So I realized that temperature is not that critical. Not having drafts is important! And having the brooder warm is important. But worrying because the books say it should be 90 and it is only 87 is crazy. But it does have to be warm, especially early. What my chicks don't have and my neighbors DO have is a Mommy chicken who, when she sees they are getting cold, hustles them back to the nest and plops down on them to get them warm. I kept the lamp on for a month. Being Summer it was warmer outside than under the lamp on some days. I did not have any AC running but my house stays cool.

I used a thermometer that sends the temperature info to a receiver in another room. They are made so you can tell the outside temperature from inside your house. It cost about $12 and I relocated it to the coop so I can know what the temp is out there.

A 250 watt lamp, BTW, costs a little over a dollar a day to run. Not cheap but worth it.

 

[ConnecticutCowgirl]

Wow... thanks for all of the info! Helped a lot! I am only getting 6 chickens, and am thinking about asking the local grocery store for one of the boxes that they store watermelons in. We are actually going to TSC today to pick up everything we need!

 

[RonC]

The above posts are good but to expand on them a little.

On temperature, they don't need the whole brooder area to be at the recommended temperature. Just an area large enough for them to all warm up in when they get chilled. Being able to get away from the heat will help prevent pasty butt. A Red lamp is recommended to reduce aggression. I used a white one and had no problems however the red ones are the same price. 250 w may be too much this time of year depending on your temps but as long as they can escape the heat should work. Generally people recommend 90-95 degrees for the first week and drop that 5-7 degrees each week after till you get to ambient temperature. As long as they can move from the heat they will regulate themselves. Some use an Eco glow that is a heater they can get under like being under a mama hen.Kind of expensive if you are not going to raise multiple broods although the reduced electrical usage does balance some of the cost.They can tolerate much cooler temps without a draft if they have a place they can warm up. Definitely secure the heat lamp so It can't fall.

I have read where the area they should have in the brooder should be 1-2 sq ft per chick. This will seem huge when you first get them but after 2 weeks they grow quickly. I would recommend the larger size if you only want one to make one brooder. At 4 weeks this will seem small. Depending on the weather and breed they probably can go outside at that point with no heat or maybe only at night. Any kind of enclosure will work but needs some ventilation and a lid so after the first week and they get wing feathers they can't escape.

Mine were on pine shavings when I got them but them were on old towels that I could change till several days old. One week old would be old enough to put them on shavings. You could just put the puppy pads on top of the shavings till then also. I wouldn't recommend newspaper as it is slick and can cause problems with their legs. Get the large shavings as they are too big to eat. I also recommend the deep litter. About 4-5 inches of shavings and stir them daily and they will last at least a week or two before needing to be changed. The droppings dry up quickly when covered by the shavings and don't smell.

Hope we've covered your questions, if not just ask specific things and we will do our best. Relax and enjoy your little ones, they won't stay that way long. The first week is a little scary but after that you and them get alot tougher.

 

[meknowscode]

I just orderd 5 comets, I went to wal-mart and bought a kids plastic pool (16.99) think it will work good. And i went to tractor supply and bought the red light (heat lamp), feeder, water,bag of wood cips(not the fine). 49.00 bucs.....good luck

 

[downsm75]

I used a big palstic tote as a brooder... Reuseable too!

 

[ConnecticutCowgirl]

I love all of these responses!
So, we stopped at our local Stop and Shop today to ask for the watermelon box. Standing at the help desk, the lady that worked there called the people in the back and said, "Hey Lee, do you have any big boxes or something? I have a family that are getting chickens and need a place to put them..." When the man brought the box to the front of the store, he broke it down for us to fit in the car, and said "Good luck with your chickens!" Oh, what a great day!