Do Baby Chicks Really Need Sugar Water?

[jdywntr]

I actually have never had chicks delivered. I did have ducklings shipped from Metzer Farms which is in north CA to central FL and they all arrived in great shape on the second day. So, they literally came all the way across the country in October. I had thought it would be a different PO, as JohnBerry experienced, but they directed me to the right branch. They called me at about 8 am and said they were in the manager's office. I was in the suburbs then and the girl that went to get them had the most shocked look on her face. LOL

Do as much research as you can beforehand.
Try not to stress.
Get yourself a reference book, I like Storey's Guide to Raising _ _ _ _ _ _
If you have a problem, search BYC and then post ASAP. don't wait a few days to see if things are good.
Chicks are fragile but more resilant than you will realize at first. They are intimidating (at least for me ) the first (or so) go around.

 

[ManuelsChickens]

I got 12 chicks from Texas (I am in Maine) and they all made it just fine in June. I let my letter carrier know that I was expecting chickens and she told me where to go to get them. It was actually not the Post Office I thought it was going to be. I also had the option of having them delivered to the door but that would add 6-8 hours. Her husband has 60+ chickens so she was very familiar with shipping chicks. The morning they arrived I got a call at 6AM and I was there picking them up at 6:20.

When I got them home I gave them room temperature water. If any seemed lethargic I was going to switch to sugar water but they all looked alert and active. I was lucky and had no problems. They are 7 weeks now and will move to the coop outside next week. I have been taking them out on nice days and letting them play in a fenced area that is about 15' x 15'. I use a couple old dog pens tied together (they are about 3 feet high). Every day I move it like a chicken tractor and they have new grass, weeds, and bugs to eat. My wife and I bring out a couple chairs and read and watch out Chicken TV. One of us stayed with them at all times because occasionally one gets a running start and ends up flying over the fence. It is fun to watch them when they first go out and they all run around flapping their wings enjoying the fresh air and bigger area.

 

Aww, That's So Adorable .
What Breed Are They? Also
Are They All With Life? Cause I'm Really Worried About My Silkies Diying But Is There A Big Chance Of All Of Them Surviving? Until Adult Hood?

 

[saxonyducks]

How much sugar goes in the water