Feeding and Housing My 6 Week Old Chicks...I'm a Newbie

[SurfCityBumpkin]

Hi all, I am a chicken raising newbie and brought home my first chicks last weekend. There are 3 of them and they were 5 weeks old when I got them. The breeder told me they were still indoors so I was to keep them inside for 2 more weeks, and continue feeding the starter crumbles until they are 6 months or starting to lay. I bought a nice brooder box (no heat), waterer, pine shavings, and a 30lb bag of starter crumbles. That's it. I have been free feeding them crumbles and making sure their water is always clean. (and, of course, loving on them so they will get used to me and feel comfortable).

Since becoming a member of this great site, I have read so many forums where folks are feeding chicks of this age greens, mealworms, grit, letting them go outside, etc. The breeder never mentioned doing any of this so I am wondering if I am short changing my chicks by keeping them in their brooder box with just water and starter crumbles?

I want the best for them and want to provide all of the things that will make them happy and healthy so I am hoping for some advice. They all seem healthy and active at this point and are warming up to me but they are thin and I can feel their breast bones very prominently. Is this normal for 6 week old chicks or should I be doing more to put weight on them? They are layers and pets if that makes a difference in how I should feed them.

We built a prefab coop prior to their arrival and we are in the process of building a safe
8' x 8' enclosure for them to graze and run around which will have the coop inside once it is complete. Our backyard is pretty large and I worry about letting them out without some sort of containment until the run is finished.

I know I sound like a ninny but I am really hoping for some solid, definitive advice.

Thanks for reading my rambling!

 

[masloozinit76]

I am far from a expert in the area, my chicks are 13 and 14 weeks old and had them since they were 2 days old and before that, I only had them growing up, but I can tell you what I have done. Since mine began fighting to stretch their wings in the brooder, I moved mine to the coop at 5 weeks old, with a heat lamp because at the time, nighttime was still too cool. The lamp was removed at 8 weeks old when the weather no longer called for it. At about 4 weeks old, I was taking them outside to allow roaming and green eating but we have a privacy fence and I had a dog play pen that I used to give them limited space in a safe place. They loved it and the fresh air seemed to do them good! I didn't start mealworms until 8 weeks just because I didn't now that I could until then lol. Before that, it was water (with apple cider vinegar to avoid poo issues) and feed. Now they get to free range during the day, enclosed run and coop at night for safety, get mealworms, lettuce, watermelon as treats and of course, feed.

I would recommend the apple cider vinegar (not white) in the water. Mine had bad pasty butt when I got them and that cleared them up and gave them nutrients they needed. I read about it and seen it's advised to always use it so we do I would also look at the ideas for waterers, it will help GREATLY to avoid constant cleaning of the water. I myself use nipples. Never have to change out water, just rinse and refill Good luck and welcome to chicken owning!

 

[15shenyl]

I put up a small fence for my chicks and sit in with them when there out in the fence. It's really warm now so my chicks have never had a heat lamp, it's deathly hot in the gerage right now. They alway have medicated chick start and grow and I change their water twice a day. I give them meal worms, I have also given a few strawberrys, grapes, and some cheese, very small amounts of these but lots of the worms. When mine got paste the first few days, I put them in a little warm water and let them soak , they even fall asleap. I have been doing this for 4years now and have learned so much, it's really fun and I love telling and herring stories about chickens, also all my chickens are pets, they sit and sleep in my lap and follow me around the yard.

 

[SurfCityBumpkin]

Thank you both for the great advice. Sounds like I need to get these little ladies some fresh air and think about expanding their diet! Do either of you know when I should be introducing oyster shell?

 

[15shenyl]

Thank you both for the great advice. Sounds like I need to get these little ladies some fresh air and think about expanding their diet! Do either of you know when I should be introducing oyster shell?

Leave it out as free choice. None of my chickens like oyster shell, so I crush up egg shell for the young chicks and for the older chickens I just throw the shell out in the yard. You can also mix the oyster or egg shells in the food so they eat it.

 

[chickenmadness7]

Oyster shell is not the same as grit. Oyster shell should be given when your hens are laying as a source of calcium. Grit needs to be given even to chicks as a digestive aid.

 

[SurfCityBumpkin]

Ok, thank you Chickenmadness. I'll start the grit.

As far as the chicks having a prominent breast bone and being thin on either side of it, is this normal for a 6 week old chick? They look plump until you hold one and feel them.

I have one more question, so thank you for bearing with me. My light brahma still has a pale yellow head and still has a few areas that aren't fully feathered. She had been turned out with a large flock already at the breeder but seemed to be getting steamrolled by the rest of the flock and was afraid to eat. She is now eating well but the feathers on the back of her neck aren't filled in nor are they under her wings. Should I be concerned?

I appreciate all of the great tips I receive here but mostly everyone's patience with us newbies!

 

[chickenmadness7]

I'm new to chickens but not to birds. In my opinion, the keel (breast) bone should never be prominent in a baby or adult.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Leave it out as free choice. None of my chickens like oyster shell, so I crush up egg shell for the young chicks and for the older chickens I just throw the shell out in the yard. You can also mix the oyster or egg shells in the food so they eat it.

You really should not be encouraging "young chicks" to consume egg shell - egg shell is provided as a calcium supplement, just like oyster shell - calcium is only needed by hens of laying age. It also should not be mixed into feed as it should only be consumed on an "as needed" basis as determined by the birds themselves. It seems perhaps you are confusing the function of calcium supplement and grit.

 

[SurfCityBumpkin]

I agree Chickenmadness, I too, am new to chickens but not birds. If my green cheek conure's keel were as prominent as the chicks, I would be rushing her to the vet immediately, but I have posted this question before and gotten no answer. There is a forum here somewhere that addresses thinness in chicks and the responses indicated it was normal. I am just hoping for a direct answer from someone who has been raising chickens for years.