First Time Getting Chicks!!

[wesley m]

Today I went in the farm supply store to look for a new 12ga. and came out with 5 baby chicks. It was a spur of the moment thing, but I am super excited and want to do it right. I have already done tons of research on care for baby chicks. I have them in a cardboard box currently with pine shavings, medicated chicken feed, a water dish that is elevated off the shavings, and a 250 watt clear heater bulb (the employee told me to get the white one but now I am thinking the red wouldve been better). I will be building a chicken coop in my backyard and it will be very spacious with plenty of shade (most likely much needed because I live in southern Utah, which means summers are 110 degrees ferenheit.). I picked them out based on looks and they are all egg layers, so I dont want to eat them. I am having a hard time measuring them but they are all in the same stage of their first molt. The fuzz is gone only on the tips of their wings. Probably around an inch of fuzz is gone from each wing. They are all different breeds (I wanted variety) I can only remember the name of one (Rhode Island Red). hopefully you can tell from the pictures what they might be. How old would you guestimate they are? How fast will they grow? When will they be safe to keep outside in their coop? Is my setup okay for now and my future plans for my chicks? I plan on picking up a couple more tomorrow and a bigger box to keep them in for the time being.



The one on the far right is the RIR, the bottom right one is apparently supposed to be completely white and be a really good daily egg layer, the brown one on the left is supposed to be a super pretty chicken when bigger (it currently has chipmunk like stripes on its back and head). I have no clue about the other 2 because they are my friend's.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi Wesley!

That's a nice looking set-up you have there for your chicks! Everything in order and nice and clean. Congrats! That little chipmunk is an eb (Brown) locus based bird. (a locus is the "foundation" color on which the rest of a birds colors are overlaid).
Here are pics of both types of chick down. http://s134.photobucket.com/user/ruffEnuff_photos/library/down colour?sort=3&page=1 Notice the e+ chick. It has the chipmunk stripes and the cleanly defined "arrow" which goes over the skull. the eb chick can also have the chipmunk stripes (or not). However the top of the head will have a brown helmet on it instead of the clearly defined arrow. Both locus types can have eye liner stripe on the side of their head. But the e+ chicks' will be more clearly defined, sharper, clearer. .
This helps figure out which kind of breed the chick might be . Basically, that chick is based on a brown gene. Enjoy your chicks. this is a fun hobby. And your pets make you breakfast! How cool is that? You should be able to tell soon which are males and females. The boys will have more pronounced combs and wattles. If you get more boys than you want, just give them away via Craigslist.
If you like to study chick coloring, here is a wonderful book http://www.chickencolours.com published several years ago.
Order here: http://www.chickencolours.com/index.html
Use this currency calculator: http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
I own a copy and it has just answered so many question for me. Easy to read. The color encyclopedia in the back is so easy to understand. Can be ordered from the author. The reprints are softcover, as I remember. I cannot wait to get ahold of the new "Genetics of Chicken Extremities " book by the same author! It covers the genetics of everything else but the plumage.
Best Regards,
Karen in western PA, USA