Chicks in this morning!

[LemonHead]

Got the call at 6:30 this morning from the post office that our chicks were here! I turned on the heat lamp, filled up the waterer and feeder, and ran off to get them. They are too cute!





One of the black silkies was a little lethargic out of the box (all the rest were fine!) but I got him/her to eat and drink, then he/she took a nap under the heat lamp. A few minutes later it was off scurrying with the others, now I can't even tell which one it was! I hope that means it is healthy and nothing is wrong.

So far they are exploring, eating, drinking, napping, and chirping like crazy, but I have a few questions. First, my brooder is in an unfinished room we added to the house that does not yet have heating or air. The chicks have a heat lamp on one end of the brooder (pic below), but it is supposed to get up to 90 degrees today. I am worried that the entire room may be too warm for them during the day. I have a box fan in a window just to get some air circulating. It is above and to the side of the brooder so no drafts should affect them. Does this seem sufficient or should I consider moving them inside?




Second question, as I pulled each chick out of the box I inspected their vents to check for pasty-butt, but they all seemed pretty clean and fluffy. Is pasty-butt obvious when it's present? Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I know it can be deadly so I worry that I may have overlooked something.

 

[TaylorHobbyFarms]

If you could put a thermometer in the brooder would be idea. We have a chick building and when temperatures are in the 90's, we use 60 watt bulbs and sometimes still have to use an air conditioner. You want the brooder to be about 95 degrees the first week, and drop 5 degrees each week thereafter.

As for the pasty butt, it doesn't usually show up for 1 to 3 days after you receive the chicks, if it shows up at all. Out of shipped chicks, we usually just get a few that have it.

 

[Roxannemc]

Well im picky and if it were me id take them inside.

With the lamp it might get too hot or might anyway.
They just went through terrible stress of shipping (Im REALLY suprise you didnt loose any this time of year! or 1/2 )
Inside the air conditioning temp stays even and so the heat of the lamp will be even too,. I think they need to recuperate from high temps and no water etc. now and not be stressed even more
What I would do anyway.
I tell my buyers to keep them inside in the air with the heat lamp so it doesn't vsry a lot for the first couple weeks until the get older
One older man who had chickens already so should know I would think, took 10 of mine and 7 died because he had the lamp on them then the day got hot.
So be careful they are fragile at this young of an age. GOOD LUCK!

Pasty butt..... keep an eye on their rear ends for the first week or so to be safe .Look at each one
It will show as dark or light poo on the vent You can see it for sure.
Wash gently immediately until its all gone
I use TP and luke warm water.

 

[Elena2424]

I got a call at 6:30 this morning too, we got 12 hens, 1 mystery chick, and my dad got 20 cornish cross(don't want anything to do with the butchering)
4 black australorp hens, 4 buff orpington hen, 4 barred rocks, and a grey Cochin looking thing(adorable)
I am so happy I got from Murray becuase they are all healthy and happy and are so cute

 

[LemonHead]

Thanks for the info guys! I've been keeping an eye on them and as the day went on they started to avoid the heat lamp so I turned it off. They have been running around the whole brooder now, with a few congregating around the waterers. I might get another fan for the other side of the room to facilitate some more cool air flowing. As the day cools off I'll turn the heat lamp back on and see what they think. Would it be fine to add ice to their water?

 

[LemonHead]

Quote:


That's great! Glad they were all healthy! I was so worried when I first opened the box but they were all happily chirping away. Best of luck with your flock, be sure to post some pics!

 

[Roxannemc]

Thanks for the info guys! I've been keeping an eye on them and as the day went on they started to avoid the heat lamp so I turned it off. They have been running around the whole brooder now, with a few congregating around the waterers. I might get another fan for the other side of the room to facilitate some more cool air flowing. As the day cools off I'll turn the heat lamp back on and see what they think. Would it be fine to add ice to their water?

Sounds good the lamp Long as you can monitor how its all going Fan just not on them ....might chill them.They shouldnt have a draft
Also See any panting then get them in a cooler area.
Maybe ice water ... im not sure when they are such young babies
Their little tummies might be a little ticky but it might be good too to cool them. Maybe more cold... not iced?