chicks on their way from McMurray!!!

[irischick]

Jim and I set up the brooder tonight to make sure the lamp is at the right height, and their new home is nice and ready. I have a little sandbox for them - a 2 inch high tin cake pan filled with play sand. A waterer on a piece of wood, food on a piece of wood (These will be filled when they arrive. The water will have electrolytes in it for them. Bedding is a layer of newspaper then shavings. Did I forget anything?

Questions - 1. should I give them probiotics? What kind? With food? 2. When can I take them outside in a home made "peck and play" under close supervision? 3. Scratch- should it be plain corn or a mixture of seeds?

Thanks everyone, this is so exciting!!

 

[RussianChickens]

No I don't think you forgot anything important. That's all I do for my chicks. Though I do give them an upside down box with a large hole cut in one side to give them some darkness. They use this when they are older and like to climb and roost on it as well.

I don't think probiotics are necessary. I never give it to mine.

You can take them out soon as they are about week old. Just make sure they don't get cold or left out too long.

I would feed chick starter as its already got everything in it.

Have fun with the new chicks! I always love chicks!

 

[RonC]

Don't put newspaper on top of the shavings. It's too slick and can cause leg/hip problems. Use paper towels if you feel you need something on top of the shavings. Mine did fine with nothing on the shavings. And you didn't say what kind of shavings but don't use cedar shavings they are toxic to small animals.

Many people will say not to use play sand. Most of it contain carcinogens which is really odd to me since it's for kids to play in. Coarse sand is better. It provides grit for them also.

Some use electrlytes and some probiotics. You can also feed them some plain yogurt instead of the probiotics. Some people put ACV in the water instead of the electrlytes. Don't put ACV in the water if you have a metal waterer. It will react with the galvanization on the container. Mine never had any of these and did fine.

They can go outside any time after 3-4 days with supervision. Just make sure they don't get chilled. I'm in Texas so it's hard to remember that one here this time of year. It's more don't let them overheat.

Hold off on scratch or treats for as long as you can stand it. They need to eat their starter feed. When they do start eating anything solid other than their starter they will need grit if some sort whether it's chick grit you bought or access to coase sand or dirt they can pick it out of.

Hope I didn't mess up your plans. Good luck with your little ones.

 

[irischick]

Thanks RonC this is very helpful and much appreciated. I was going to put the newspaper underneath the shavings - skip that? I read it in one of the many books I have taken out of the library. I am rethinking it might cause a traction problem.

Thanks again!!!

 

[turkenlurken]

I got chicks from mcMurray weeks 6 ago and they all arrived healthy and peeping. I put an old dishtowel that I was going to throw out anyway over the shavings. Soft and warm and stayed in place well. I only used chick started for them, but did add the electrolytes to the water for the first week. My girls are outside now having a great time. Enjoy the little ones!

 

[RonC]

Under the shaving it shouldn't be a problem. The shavings in my brooder were close to 6 inches deep before they get packed. Stir them daily and the droppings disappear into the shavings and dry out. No bad smells. When you start seeing too many dried droppings change the shavings. No parakeet grit either, it contains extra calcium. Bad for them till they start laying.