First Time Chick Parents, Spring 2016

[clgraham76]

. Thanks!!

 

[kekstrom]

@collie1470, what is fermented feed? I'm a new chick mommy, (got ours 3 days ago), and mine spill their feed everywhere! Also, the little tags on their legs. I had been wondering at what point we could put those on them. Apparently now is fine. LOL. will they outgrow these and need new ones?

Cute babies, btw. We got 5 "buff" from our co-op....I'm guessing they're orpingtons. We also got 2 goldsexlink pullets, 2 Rhode Island Reds, and 3 bantams that they apparently didn't know the breeds of. I've posted in another thread on here and I've been told one of them is a mottled Cochin. The other two, I got different opinions on. So, I'm not sure what they are. But I love them! We are planning to get some ducklings and goslings in June. I seriously can't wait!


One of the possible Orpingtons


Rhode Island Red in front with one of the mystery bantams behind.

Mottled Cochin

Is your mystery clean legged? Or feather legged?

 

[Jess72180]

Hi all!! We are a family with twelve, twelve day old chicks. We think they are Barred Rock and maybe Aracuna but aren't sure yet. So in love with them after just three days!!

 

[clgraham76]

Is your mystery clean legged?  Or feather legged?

Clean. The only feather legged is the Cochin I posted a pic of.

Another pic of mystery bantam

i have tried and tried to post pics of the other mystery bantam, but it won't ever work... It is silvery-black

 

[clgraham76]

Finally, maybe this will post.

. This is the other mystery bantam.

 

[collie1470]

To ferment the feed, you soak it in water until it gets a sweet, beer-like smell. I add some ACV into mine to get it going faster. I'm just feeding the 7 babies, so I just use a quart mason jar. I fill the jar halfway with their feed, add a splash of ACV with the mother, and fill it with water until the water is about an inch or so above the feed. I stir it twice a day, just to make sure it stays evenly wet. There are a few threads on here about it, but I guess it adds some good bacteria into their gut (much like eating yogurt does for us). When there's about 2 feedings left in the jar, I do the same with a second one. Some people use one container, but I prefer two, so I can wash them between batches.

They acted like I was feeding them poop the first day, since they had only had dry feed, but after that first night they went nuts. They don't spill it, I assume since it's pasty...so there isn't really waste. Once in a blue moon, they'll grab a mouthful run around with it so a few bits get dropped...but that's all. Their poop is a bit less stinky too.

 

[collie1470]

As for the zipties, I check them once or twice a day, since the babies are doing a lot of growing. I had to change them the other day, since they were getting a bit too snug for my liking. They don't seem to mind them, so long as I make sure they don't get tight

 

[collie1470]

I picked zipties because a pack of 100 colored ones was like $1 or so.....so I can change them out as much as needed without it being costly haha.

 

[kekstrom]

Clean. The only feather legged is the Cochin I posted a pic of.

Another pic of mystery bantam



i have tried and tried to post pics of the other mystery bantam, but it won't ever work... It is silvery-black

This one looks like it could be an OEG...

From Dunlap Hatchery-

 

[kekstrom]

Finally, maybe this will post.

. This is the other mystery bantam.

Maybe this?

Golden Seabright Bantam