Colorado

[dennarahl]

I am planning on building a watering system for my chickies and I haven't had any luck finding poultry nipples anywhere near me. I don't really want to order online, but will if I have to. I just thought I'd check to see if any of you had seen them anywhere?

 

[Newchiknmomma]

Hey Ossiander: I have 2 Easter Eggers, one white and black the other is brown, I got them from the feed store in Kiowa. The Easter Eggers for sale last year at Big R where selling out in less than half an hour. I got a Barred Rock and a Gold Laced Wyandotte at Big R in fountain. I wanted breeds that worked well in cold weather and if I was going to do this I thought that green eggs would be cool.

This is my first year raising chickens. My grandmother and sister have had them for a while, so I asked them lots of questions last year.



Green eggs sound cool!! We are still up for seeing your chicks this Sunday. Give us a call. See email. Would also be interested in seeing anyone else's chicken setup in the Springs. My email is [email protected]. I am getting excited seeing everyone's babies in the pics.

 

[ttclan]

Thanks Mtn Margie for the hug and thoughts.

She didn't make it...she was gone within about a half hour after I found her.

She wasn't eating this morning, but they all seem to be eating and running around happy...

This is #3...I'm starting to wonder if we are doing something wrong. They all seem to be okay, running around eating and drinking, although seem to be eating a lot of pine shavings (I called the hatchery to ask about that and they told me that they wouldn't be eating it, but it sure seems like it's going down) sleeping on and off and then boom a new one gets lethargic and we lose it within hours.

We have followed everything we are supposed to do to the letter...90-94ish degrees, plenty of room for them to get away from the heat, in fact we have them divided into two boxes to give them enough space and we have them in the house for the time being since it is easier to keep them warmer at this point. I have been constantly moving the thermometer around to different places in the boxes to see what the temps are in each spot. The sun comes in for a little bit in the morning, so I raise the lamps some so that it doesn't get too hot. Trying to keep it balanced. They are 4-5 days old at this point so I believe the 90-95 degrees would be right. (We got them Monday they were shipped on Sat. - although we also picked up some locally from Murdoch's - they came from same hatchery in the same time period)

We are using electrolytes and vitamins in their water (organic Quik Chik), we added some sugar two days ago after losing our second as per the hatchery's suggestion (maybe I said that), feed - we are not using medicated feed since we were hoping to raise them organically - is there one that will work with that? Should I get them on a medicated one?

We have been keeping their bottoms clean and most if not all the stools look okay, I've seen a couple of runny stools, but with more than 30 chicks it's hard to say whose it is.

This is our first time with chicks, we've only started with full grown hens...so I've been overly cautious and following everything we've been told carefully.

Wouldn't the Quik Chik be the same as Poly-Vi-sol?

Thanks again for the quick response.

 

[ShysCreations]

ttclan,
Sounds like you are doing things ok-- food, water, appropriate shelter no drafts & sufficient heat. Are they clustering to the heat or move back & forth to it?
The only thing I'd change is using wood shavings for litter. They do eat it & it can plug them up. I use pelleted cat litter or small animal litter that doesn't resemble chick crumble. Shipping chicks is tough on the little guys.

 

[ttclan]

ttclan,
Sounds like you are doing things ok-- food, water, appropriate shelter no drafts & sufficient heat. Are they clustering to the heat or move back & forth to it?
The only thing I'd change is using wood shavings for litter. They do eat it & it can plug them up. I use pelleted cat litter or small animal litter that doesn't resemble chick crumble. Shipping chicks is tough on the little guys.

Thanks.

They move back and forth, they run all over the place. Isn't not like they are clustering in one place or another although sometimes several - like 5ish will sleep together in the corner.

I put paper back down today to give them a little break and to be sure that they are getting only food, they want to find food like adults, so I put some down on the ground as well. I'll try switching the shavings. I went with pine shavings based upon the hatchery's suggestion and the local store used them too.

I'll do anything to lose any more.

 

[Mtn Margie]

So sorry the chick passed. If you think they might be eating the shavings, you can top the whole shaving layer with paper towels for a few days. That way any chick starter is obvious to them. I usually line the area around the feeder just to save on the feed that they tend to spill all over. It also helps keep an eye on their poo if they might be getting sick (unlikely),
You don't have to feed medicated starter, it was just a question only relevant in a sickness situation. Good luck with the rest of the little fluffy butts.

 

[P-Funk]

I am planning on building a watering system for my chickies and I haven't had any luck finding poultry nipples anywhere near me. I don't really want to order online, but will if I have to. I just thought I'd check to see if any of you had seen them anywhere?

Can't you use the same ones you would use for a hamster or Guinea pig? Never done it, It seems they would be difficult to keep from freezing, just asking. P

 

[dennarahl]

Can't you use the same ones you would use for a hamster or Guinea pig? Never done it, It seems they would be difficult to keep from freezing, just asking. P

Probably, but not with any ease (I think). The ones I'm looking for are meant to be put into a pvc pipe. Like these: http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products...?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1330743192&sr=1-1. I'm sure I'd have freezing problems, but for a large part of the year it's an easier to keep clean and filled solution.

 

[P-Funk]

I give up. Out of the 12 girls that should be here right now 5 are left. Five. First I had animal control remove the neighbor dog who murdered my first girl. Then the foxes showed up and took 3 more before I finished fencing in their 'pasture' and got a guard dog.
He just sat and watched as a hawk took # 5. He'd never seen a hawk before and didn't know what to do. # 6 just decided to jump the fence right before that huge storm we had last month. 7, well, I can't explain what happened to her. She was found shredded to bits as the rest of the ladies went their merry way digging around their fenced pasture. I think said 'guard' dog did it, but can't prove it.
Oh well, I gave it a run. The remaining 5 are in perfect health. They just can't go 'outside' anymore. It's too bad there are so many predators around here. They will remain in their stall and run in the barn. I hate to see them cooped up, but would rather not bury any more. I had plans to get 2 more EE's and 2 Leghorns this spring, but the brooder is again a large heated water bucket for the horses. The separate 'coop in a coop' will be torn down soon so the big girls can have the whole thing.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't call them by numbers, as they were as much of this family as any other member. I just can't stand to lose any more. P
Edit - It's 3am and I keep running out to the barn to make sure everyone is warm. What's the matter with me? Granted it's 10 degrees here but I'm a grown man. The stallion was coaxed in with an apple so I could lock the last door. Not even the 'guard puppy' will go out in this....

 

[ttclan]

I give up. Out of the 12 girls that should be here right now 5 are left. Five. First I had animal control remove the neighbor dog who murdered my first girl. Then the foxes showed up and took 3 more before I finished fencing in their 'pasture' and got a guard dog.
He just sat and watched as a hawk took # 5. He'd never seen a hawk before and didn't know what to do. # 6 just decided to jump the fence right before that huge storm we had last month. 7, well, I can't explain what happened to her. She was found shredded to bits as the rest of the ladies went their merry way digging around their fenced pasture. I think said guard dog did it, but can't prove it.
Oh well, I gave it a run. The remaining 5 are in perfect health. They just can't go 'outside' anymore. It's too bad there are so many predators around here. They will remain in their stall and run in the barn. I hate to see them cooped up, but would rather not bury any more. I had plans to get 2 more EE's and 2 Leghorns this spring, but the brooder is again a large heated water bucket for the horses. The separate 'coop in a coop' will be torn down soon so the big girls can have the whole thing.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't call them by numbers, as they were as much of this family as any other member. I just can't stand to lose any more. P

So sorry to hear about your girls.