Daughter got chicks for birthday, BRAND NEW to this adventure.

[morgandrew86]

My dear friend got my little girl 2 chicks for her 3rd birthday (who gets a kid live animals for their birthday right?) lol. Thats ok, we have been talking about it before and we are going to make this a great learning experience for my 3 kids! We dont have land but we so have a decent sized backyard they will have their coop in when the time comes. I have to say, im nervous ive never raised chicks and I want to make sure im doing this all right! I think our 2 chicks are about a week old. We made them a brooder, clean water and starter feed. They seem to be happy! Im currently keeping them at about 95 degrees and im guessing i need to lower that soon. I am just reaching out for any MUST KNOW advise... ive been reading as much as i can but honestly every site says slighty different things!
I am currently keeping my 2 very curious dogs and bird loving cats away from them till they are older. Im excited to see them grow, just nervous that I am doing it all correctly.

 

[BantammChick]

Soon you will need to put a cover over the top,so that they do not fly out. What kind of chickens are they?

 

[morgandrew86]

Soon you will need to put a cover over the top,so that they do not fly out. What kind of chickens are they?

thank you, i was wondering when a good time was to put something over them, they are getting faster and faster!! These are leghorn chickens (thats what the feed store said at least) im hoping 95 is still ok for them or if maybe i shoudl bring that temp down, she are getting warmer here in nevada, daily temps are about 80 to 85 right now.

 

[shandy]

I know raising just 2 chicks can and has been done successfully, but if at all possible, I would recommend having maybe 4 at least? For a couple of reasons: they are social and like having more friends, they keep each other warm, if something happens to one of them (sickness or dies suddenly) it's extremely difficult to raise only one, and if one happens to be a rooster and you can't have roosters that leaves you with one again. So if possible, I would recommend getting another couple around the same age as what you've got. Otherwise, just watch their behavior and if they are huddled under the light, they're too cold. If they are intentionally laying away from the light, you could raise it a little. Otherwise, sounds like you are off to a great start!!! Have fun

 

[Hteeter2]

Looks like the close up picture is of an Easter Egger from the Cleopatra eyes.

My #1 tip watch Appalachian Homestead with Patera's Baby Chicks and Pasty Butt video@

No one tells you about this when you buy chicks at your Tractor Supply.

#2 Appalachian Homestead with Patara has a lot of good videos about baby chicks

#3 Use this Forum as a life line because there are a lot of people who know more

(I'm into raising my first flock, and it's great to pull from people who know more than me.)

#4 Don't be afraid to ask what you might think is a stupid question. You might find out something really cool because you asked something that no one else thought of.

#5 If you can find a mentor in your area that would be amazing.

#6 Always have a plan B or C because sometimes the first thing doesn't work out.

#7 Poultry nipples... I wish I would of started with them. They keep poop and bedding out of the water.

 

[morgandrew86]

Looks like the close up picture is of an Easter Egger from the Cleopatra eyes.

My #1 tip watch Appalachian Homestead with Patera's Baby Chicks and Pasty Butt video@

No one tells you about this when you buy chicks at your Tractor Supply.

#2 Appalachian Homestead with Patara has a lot of good videos about baby chicks

#3 Use this Forum as a life line because there are a lot of people who know more

(I'm into raising my first flock, and it's great to pull from people who know more than me.)

#4 Don't be afraid to ask what you might think is a stupid question. You might find out something really cool because you asked something that no one else thought of.

#5 If you can find a mentor in your area that would be amazing.

#6 Always have a plan B or C because sometimes the first thing doesn't work out.

#7 Poultry nipples... I wish I would of started with them. They keep poop and bedding out of the water.

WOW that little video was ver helpful, i had NO IDEA they would eat a scrambled egg!! so good to know! I have been looking for pasty butts alot lately im thinking we need 2 more chicks to make 4, just to be safe.

 

[BantammChick]

thank you, i was wondering when a good time was to put something over them, they are getting faster and faster!! These are leghorn chickens (thats what the feed store said at least) im hoping 95 is still ok for them or if maybe i shoudl bring that temp down, she are getting warmer here in nevada, daily temps are about 80 to 85 right now.

Once they start getting feathers,they will learn they can fly!

 

[Hteeter2]

Once they start getting feathers,they will learn they can fly!

My Golden Sexlink babies started flying in about their 1st week and heading into their 2nd week.

 

[aart]

Here's my notes on chick heat, hope something in there might help:

They need to be pretty warm(~85-90F on the brooder floor right under the lamp and 10-20 degrees cooler at the other end of brooder) for the first day or two, especially if they have been shipped, until they get to eating, drinking and moving around well. But after that it's best to keep them as cool as possible for optimal feather growth and quicker acclimation to outside temps. A lot of chick illnesses are attributed to too warm of a brooder. I do think it's a good idea to use a thermometer on the floor of the brooder to check the temps, especially when new at brooding, later I still use it but more out of curiosity than need.


The best indicator of heat levels is to watch their behavior:
-If they are huddled/piled up right under the lamp and cheeping very loudly, they are too cold.
-If they are spread out on the absolute edges of the brooder as far from the lamp as possible, panting and/or cheeping very loudly, they are too hot.
-If they sleep around the edge of the lamp calmly just next to each other and spend time running all around the brooder they are juuuust right!

The lamp is best at one end of the brooder with food/water at the other cooler end of the brooder, so they can get away from the heat or be under it as needed. Wattage of 'heat' bulb depends on size of brooder and ambient temperature of room brooder is in. Regular incandescent bulbs can be used, you might not need a 'heat bulb'. You can get red colored incandescent bulbs at a reptile supply source. A dimmer extension cord is an excellent way to adjust the output of the bulb to change the heat without changing the height of the lamp.

 

[Cayuga momma]

Welcome!

You will get alot of great advice here, so don't be afraid to ask about anything.
More chicks is a good idea, things happen and let me tell yah a single chick is a very needy chick.
You sound like your off to a great start!
The temperature rule is pushed by alot of websites, but I have found that the chicks are happy with cooler temps as long as they have a place to warm up. Alot of people have found that a mama heating pad works great and is much better than the heat lamps.

Your babies are so beautiful!!!