Chicks vent pecking aftermath questions (first time mom)

[Jeanw]

Also, before you know it they will outgrow the tote you have them in. I kept mine in a huge home depot Cardboard box until they were ready to go outside to their coop when they feathered in. For heat I used the radiant heat plate with adjustable legs. Chicks are so adorable, enjoy them!

 

[jmb52]

They are very messy, nothing you can do but clean up brooder daily. At this age you may be able today paper towels over the shavings, that makes cleanup a little easier

also provide chick grit for them if you are offering grass. They need the grit to break down that sort of item.

as far as light, they only need during the day. they will not wake up during the night unless there is a light on. No need to worry about them seeing the food and water at night. If you are using a red heat lamp it won’t keep them awake.

Thank you. I had started to put out grit but then I noticed they were too young for it according to the age on the bag so I didn't know what to do. I feel so bad that keeping a light on for them may have caused the stress! It's interesting to me that for all of the blog posts on how to set up a brooder I don't feel like any mentioned guidance on keeping it darker.

 

[jmb52]

Also, before you know it they will outgrow the tote you have them in. I kept mine in a huge home depot Cardboard box until they were ready to go outside to their coop when they feathered in. For heat I used the radiant heat plate with adjustable legs. Chicks are so adorable, enjoy them!

So I have one of those heat plates but gave up on it because I feared I didn't have the right temp for them and maybe that was causing the stress. It didn't seem that warm under there to me, unless I was touching it. Also, I was afraid they were pecking each other under there and I couldn't see. How do you know how high to position it?

 

[Hannahnic14]

So I have one of those head plates but gave up on it because I feared I didn't have the right temp for them and maybe that was causing the stress. Also, I was afraid they were pecking each other under there and I couldn't see. How do you know how high to position it?

We have a heat plate on our bantams. When I looked it up it said that the heat plate should be just high enough that they can walk under it without bending over. Hope that helps!

 

[jmb52]

It sounds like your on the right track! Keep your hopes up! Your doing all you can Unfortunately these things do happen sometimes, nature just seems to have its own way sometimes. Keep us updated!

Thank you again!

 

[jmb52]

We have a heat plate on our bantams. When I looked it up it said that the heat plate should be just high enough that they can walk under it without bending over. Hope that helps!

Thanks. Maybe I'll try switching back once I have them in a larger box. For now it is kind of nice to be able to see them at all times! I'm watching you like a hawk, you violent adorable babies! haha

 

[Jeanw]

Thank you. I had started to put out grit but then I noticed they were too young for it according to the age on the bag so I didn't know what to do. I feel so bad that keeping a light on for them may have caused the stress! It's interesting to me that for all of the blog posts on how to set up a brooder I don't feel like any mentioned guidance on keeping it darker.

Don’t worry, really. There is chick grit available by some feed companies. or you could crush up bigger grit if you have the time, energy, tool, etc lol. If you plan to free range eventually I don’t think they need bought grit since they can get natural grit from the environment. I haven’t given mine bought grit for 3 years and they do fine.

Regarding the light, I just like to keep it like nature, they have light when the sun is up and when the sun sets they go to sleep

 

[jmb52]

Don’t worry, really. There is chick grit available by some feed companies. or you could crush up bigger grit if you have the time, energy, tool, etc lol. If you plan to free range eventually I don’t think they need bought grit since they can get natural grit from the environment. I haven’t given mine bought grit for 3 years and they do fine.

Regarding the light, I just like to keep it like nature, they have light when the sun is up and when the sun sets they go to sleep

Thanks! I gave them a little of the grit I had and tried to pick out the bigger pieces. But now I’m worried that maybe even the small pieces could be too big. I’m so nervous about everything I’m doing for them! We just had a butt checking session and all of them needing cleaned up to varying degrees. I don’t think it’s true pasty butt, at least not for all of them, but it sure seems like we won’t be participating in fluffy butt Friday this week. I’m starting to wonder if they’ll ever look fluffy back there again!

 

[Jeanw]

You are doing fine, don’t beat yourself up. We all go through this with our first chickies! There is a ton of info on this site for chick care. You can never learn or read enough

 

[theycallmechickmagnet]

That happened with one of my chicks once. The baby turkeys had been picking on her vent and it was so bad to where the whole things vent was red and blood-clotty. I had put peroxide on it to clean it, but then was getting serious pastybutt because it's deformed vent and scabs. So I put olive oil on it every time I noticed and now she is almost a month old doing great.