Chicks just arrived!!!!

[Carlos Spicy Chicken]

I got the call this morning from the post office. The baby chicks are here. They are our first chicks, and we were amazed at how fast they found the food and water. We put the beak of each one in the water nipple, and almost immediately they started pecking at them to get more water. The brooder is in the coop with 14 other chickens that we just adopted. The brooder has a top on it and is vented on all sides with wire mesh, so there is no way the adults can get to the chicks.

I was told to leave the chicks alone for about 24 hours before handling them. They have plenty of food and water. Is leaving them alone for 24 hours good advice?

Other than the sticky butt, is there anything else I need to watch for?

 

[MysteryChicken]

You don't really need to leave them alone for 24 hours. I handle my shipped chicks almost as soon as they arrive.

What source of heat are you using for them?

 

[Carlos Spicy Chicken]

You don't really need to leave them alone for 24 hours. I handle my shipped chicks almost as soon as they arrive.

What source of heat are you using for them?

I have an EcoGlow Safety 1200 Chick Brooder. We have horses in the barn as well, and I have heard horror stories about heat lamps causing fires. I hope they are warm enough. Any suggestions?

 

[MysteryChicken]

I have an EcoGlow Safety 1200 Chick Brooder. We have horses in the barn as well, and I have heard horror stories about heat lamps causing fires. I hope they are warm enough. Any suggestions?

Have you thought of heating plates? They use less electricity, & have a very low risk of starting a fire. Mine get no hotter then 99.5°F - 98.5°F.

Or are you already using one?

 

[Carlos Spicy Chicken]

Have you thought of heating plates? They use less electricity, & have a very low risk of starting a fire. Mine get no hotter then 99.5°F - 98.5°F.

Or are you already using one?

Yes. The EcoGlow is a heating plate and is what I have in the brooder right now. It gets to about 98 degrees. I am in northern MA, so it gets chilly at night. I just hope they will all be warm enough. There are about 25 of them.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Yes. The EcoGlow is a heating plate and is what I have in the brooder right now. It gets to about 98 degrees. I am in northern MA, so it gets chilly at night. I just hope they will all be warm enough. There are about 25 of them.

That should be just fine.

 

[LadyAchee]

Just keep an eye out for pasty butt. Maybe give them a once over to make sure all legs look good. Those are the 2 biggest issues I have noticed.

 

[Tre3hugger]

I have an EcoGlow Safety 1200 Chick Brooder. We have horses in the barn as well, and I have heard horror stories about heat lamps causing fires. I hope they are warm enough. Any suggestions?

They should be fine with the ecoglow warmth wise. I have used it successfully outside from 2 weeks old in MA when it was a little cooler out. 25 chicks may outgrow it soon though. You might need to add another plate before they are fully feathered.

 

[Chicklady707]

I got the call this morning from the post office. The baby chicks are here. They are our first chicks, and we were amazed at how fast they found the food and water. We put the beak of each one in the water nipple, and almost immediately they started pecking at them to get more water. The brooder is in the coop with 14 other chickens that we just adopted. The brooder has a top on it and is vented on all sides with wire mesh, so there is no way the adults can get to the chicks. View attachment 2199001

I was told to leave the chicks alone for about 24 hours before handling them. They have plenty of food and water. Is leaving them alone for 24 hours good advice?View attachment 2199011

Other than the sticky butt, is there anything else I need to watch for? View attachment 2199015

You are using horizontal water nipples from day 1 and they are actually using them and getting water? Is that your only water source? I tried my chicks on the horizontal nipples at 2 weeks and they don’t seem strong enough yet to use them. The horizontal nipples I got from a friend so not sure what brand they are or if that matters. I also ordered some RentACoop brand horizontal nipples but haven’t tried them yet to see if there is a difference. I now keep the bucket with horizontal nipples in the brooder with a quart jar waterer to be sure they are getting enough water. When I manually push and water comes out, the chicks come running to drink but I haven’t seen them do it on their own.

 

[3 NH reds]

I use a 2 liter soda bottle with a nipple on it. I try it out first to make sure it is fine then I take one or two chicks and show them and it is game on. I also leave it low for a day or two so when they go under it they get water, they learn quickly. I also add Apple cider vinegar with the mother to the water. That helps with pasty butt, ACV is great .