First Time Chick Parents, Spring 2016

[afangel2005]

We are really lucky with our dog, Jasmine. We've had her since she was a puppy, she's almost 8 now, and she listens so well. She's very socialized, goes to dog park/dog beach every weekend.

For trainig her with the chicks, we had them in a brooder where she could see them, and kept them in living room for first several weeks. We made sure we didn't get her excited when we were around the chicks. Of course she was super interested in them, but after awhile, they were old news.

When we let them run around outside (we are in sunny FL so that started early), I gave her treats for being calm and laying down. If she started getting too excited, I'd tell her to go inside. We have a doggy door with a patio door, so she'd go inside and lay down and watch us. Almost like a time out, I'd tell her she could come back outside. I only had to do that a few times before she realized she needed to keep her energy in check around the chicks.

You know your dog better than anyone. My best advice is to know their limits, and how much you trust them, and expose them everyday in a safe environment for the chicks!

Honestly, our training started 8 years ago when we adopted Jasmine!

 

[mamatink7]

We are really lucky with our dog, Jasmine. We've had her since she was a puppy, she's almost 8 now, and she listens so well. She's very socialized, goes to dog park/dog beach every weekend.

For trainig her with the chicks, we had them in a brooder where she could see them, and kept them in living room for first several weeks. We made sure we didn't get her excited when we were around the chicks. Of course she was super interested in them, but after awhile, they were old news.

When we let them run around outside (we are in sunny FL so that started early), I gave her treats for being calm and laying down. If she started getting too excited, I'd tell her to go inside. We have a doggy door with a patio door, so she'd go inside and lay down and watch us. Almost like a time out, I'd tell her she could come back outside. I only had to do that a few times before she realized she needed to keep her energy in check around the chicks.

You know your dog better than anyone. My best advice is to know their limits, and how much you trust them, and expose them everyday in a safe environment for the chicks!

Honestly, our training started 8 years ago when we adopted Jasmine!

wonderful! Yes, it's already not a new thing for her. She's starting to lay by their brooder now just watching lol. Hoping for the best.

 

[16 paws]

Farmerzellman
I dont know but it sounds serious. I would take this over to the emergency thread right away. Someone over there can help you.
Good luck

 

[gillnpunky]

They grow fast

 

[famerzellman]

Thanks 16 paws i posted. She's now gasping for air and I don't know what to do

It's not looking to good for her. At least today she got to get extra love

 

[KiminPA]

Aww @famerzellman I hope they can help you over there, poor girl.

I have a couple questions while getting everything set-up for the babies. I have starter food (I'm going to use fermented and supplement with dry), I picked up a pack of save a chick, and probiotic incase I have any that dont recover quickly from their trip here. I have a feeder, and nipples ordered to teach them to use those (Do I need regular water dish too? or will they learn it on day one) My heating pad is also ordered to do the MHP method. I have pine shavings and a dog crate. Am I forgetting anything?

Also they will be delivered on a Thursday most likely and I work 12hr shifts Thurs, Fri, and Sat nights, so should I get someone to stay here those nights? Can they go south that quickly?


Thanks for the help. Just trying to get things in order before 20 out-of-towners descend on my house for this wedding.

 

[Gowander]

Good day to all
Not long ago couldn't imagine writing a post on a chicken raising website. Now it seems it's my go to site. Ha go figure hey
Just got the 25 chicks 3 days ago. Too funny, we make a point of visiting the brood whenever we can which seems a lot :

So my request for advice is as follows
When we got them all was good and they were peeping and eating drinking and pooping and they still do all that but they seem to sleep/rest more is this normal. Any thoughts would be appreciated

Oh we have five sex a links and 20 Rock cross Giants

 

[Jensownzoo]

I have a couple questions while getting everything set-up for the babies.  I have starter food (I'm going to use fermented and supplement with dry), I picked up a pack of save a chick, and probiotic incase I have any that dont recover quickly from their trip here. I have a feeder, and nipples ordered to teach them to use those (Do I need regular water dish too? or will they learn it on day one)  Vertical nipples can be operated by chicks from day one, but the horizontal nipples can require a harder peck at the trigger to operate than some chicks can muster that early, so it depends on which you ordered. You can always use a shallow container for water in a pinch...I used a deli cup and put a drinking glass in the center to prevent them from wading in it.

My heating pad is also ordered to do the MHP method.  I have pine shavings and a dog crate.  Am I forgetting anything? Getting an emergency kit together is a good idea. They always seem to get sick or injured after all the stores are closed.

Also they will be delivered on a Thursday most likely and I work 12hr shifts Thurs, Fri, and Sat nights, so should I get someone to stay here those nights? Can they go south that quickly? You might want to at least have someone stop by to check in on them Thursday if you can...making sure they're eating/drinking okay, clearing any pasted vents that occur, etc..


Thanks for the help.  Just trying to get things in order before 20 out-of-towners descend on my house for this wedding.

 

[KiminPA]

Thanks @jensownzoo

 

[Werforpsu]

Hi All! This is my first post ever! I have been a chick owner for less then 48 hours. And by that, I mean that 48 hours ago, I didn't know that I was going to spend this week as a chic owner! We had talked about getting chicks this spring and then life got crazy. These little guys kind of fell in our laps so to speak.

We have never had chickens before. Luckily, we are country people and we have friends and neighbors who have chickens, goats, rabbits etc. We also have 20 acres (about 15 woods, the rest house yarns, garden, fruit trees etc)

In any case, I have become a worried chick mama, checking on them constantly and watching them chirp, eat, sleep etc.

Our chicks came from three different sources and are three different sizes. We have 6 black sex links that look to be about 1 week old (they have just the start of a few wing feathers). They came from Tractor Supply. We have 1 chicken we believe is a RIR. We think that it is about 6-7 weeks old and a male (A friend took a look at it last night and this is her opinion. There is a noticeable comb on the head and my friend spread and looked at the wings). This chicken was 'won' at an FFA sponsored family fun day on Saturday. We know nothing about it. The RIR started this whole chicken thing (cause I didn't want it to be lonely!). Then we completed our flock with 4 yellowish chicks about 2 weeks old. These 4 chicks came to us through the friend who visited. They were sold at the Amish animal auction an hour from here. We don't know if they are male or female or the breed.

Right now we have the RIR separated, per the recommendation of someone who said that the RIR could easily kill the smallest birds and they should only be put together for a little while under a watchful eye.

The yellow chicks seem to be quite the handful (my friend said that this is because they are 'farm chicks' not 'store chicks') and they are constantly spilling the water which is making the bedding wet. This morning my 6 black sex links looked a little wet and cold. I cleaned out the brooder, changed the bedding (every square inch of the brooder was wet) and gave them fresh water. 15 minutes later, the bedding was wet again! I googled and ended up being shown a post from years ago on these forums that said to put the water on a block of wood to elevate it. This has been done and now the bedding has been dry for an hour. Most of the chicks are sleeping now which makes me happy.