Day old baby chicks... Hard to raise?

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
OMG!!! That was amazing!! And it does make me feel better about chick hardiness...

 

[Beekercat]

Phew!



I was lurking on this forum, but I have to post!

I work 3/4 time, we have three kids (15, 12 and a "What do you mean I'm pregnant??" 3 year old), two dogs and a cat and I was thinking that I just couldn't handle raising high maintenance baby chicks but that video and you all have really helped ease my mind about the baby chicks we've decided we're going to get. I was beginning to think that raising baby chicks was going to be waaaaay too hard for us, but I feel a lot better now.

Any suggestions on what to do about our cat, though?


Thanks for being here!

 

[paintedsavvy]

My 3 cats at home get along with the chickens really well, and so do the 3 cats at work. (I work at a barn.)

We were cautious with them at first, but I don't even worry about them anymore.

 

[paintedsavvy]

This is my chicken Peaches that lives at my work with his buddy Mittens.

I know cat food isn't great for chickens, but these two have even started eating cat food together!

 

[kelidei]

I know freakin crazy right?

Really puts things in a different light! Poor things! No wonder they get stressed out...​

 

[Amethyste]

They are great fun and easy to raise!!

Just be prepared for the sad truth tho that every so often things happen, and we lose one

Not much we can do about...its just how things go. As long as you realize it is a possibility and it might not be all sunshine and roses, then carry on

 

[mommyof5]

Welcome to new babies, trust me if 5 kids(10,8,7,5,2) and myself can do it anyone can. We also used the super sized Rubbermaid tote and a heat lamp in the bathroom to make for easy clean up, as for your children if you have raised them with such wonderful concern as you show for baby chickies they will be great with them and you should be very proud of them.
Only advice I would give you is to buy a mixed flock it makes telling them apart for night time lock down alot easier.

 

[cmom]

I did a lot of research before I got my chicks.

Gail Damerow's 'Storey's Guide to Chickens' is an excellent resource, as well as this web site which is an excellent source of information.

These sites are especially helpful in selecting breeds.
http://www.mypetchicken.com/breedQuestions.aspx
Henderson's Chicken Breed Chart
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKPoultryPage.html

Here are a couple of good links on raising baby chicks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/raising-chickens-basics.php
https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-first60days.html

Also here are some other good sites, info and more good links.
http://www.mypetchicken.com/aboutChickens.aspx
https://www.backyardchickens.com/lcenter.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/coopdesigns.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

Good luck and have fun.

 

[DODALDO]

Welcome, chicks are very easy to raise, but the problem that cost me one hen was Pasty Butt. You have to watch them very close for the first week week and a half, (thats was the time i had the problem could be longer) and clean them, other than that they are easy I reised my 20-1=19 with twin 2 year old boys and a malamute dog, no problem. I used and old 2ft x 6ft steel livestock water tank with a light on one end so they could go to the other end to cool off if needed. I did put a piece of plywood over the top to hold in more heat on the cold nights, but I had them in there coop from day one, Good luck, Get a camera because there will grow fast. have fun

 

[tristancolli]

big boxes are amazing for day olds if u have an old fish tank i have found having the like from on on the top on the box is a good way for heat it keeps them warm but doesn't cook them. also have the light plugged into a timer that turns on at about 6:30-7:00 am and shuts off at noon then have it turn back on from 3:00-8:30pm