First time raising chicks; any suggestions or things I should know?

[sablonneuse]

It's my first time with chicks too but I have a mother hen who adopted 12 chicks between 1 and 3 days old. They are now almost four weeks old and we had to build their outdoor henhouse and run in a hurry as they are growing very quickly and were getting too big for their cage in the conservatory. there was a danger that Hilda was treading on them. (She's a large Sussex). They moved into their new home yesterday and are really enjoying their adventure playground. They have clumps of grass in the run and a branch to climb on. The only problem is that the house is raised off the ground and they are not happy about climbing the ladder.
Here's a picture of the new house:

 

[Ellochicken]

OK, my biggest issue when i got my first chicks was them always pushing water into their bedding and rolling around in it! I had to rush out to the side of the house and spray the tub out before school! That always was the thing I least looked forward to in the morning- Finding wet chick bedding.... it makes you go

Also, if you have a cover to keep them in the tub, then I highly suggest that you put it on A.S.A.P because they will jump out and walk around otherwise, I know my birds did that, they will also perch on the edge of the tub and look around for a while.

Well i hope that this helped!

-Ellochicken

 

[JodiLynn]

Melabella, I thought you may enjoy pictures of my little ones and their "grass clump". You were right it was a hit!!!

 

[Melabella]

What wonderful pics! Yes, see, like an amusement park for the little kiddies! What pretty chicks, love the yellow one with all the black markings, what kind is that? Thanks so for posting them, did you have a chance to look over the Hencam.com website? I enjoy reading aound, she has a lot of information and the cams are fun to watch too..

So hot here in Upsate NY, i keep changing out their water to nice fresh cool water.

Keep the pics coming!
MB

 

[JodiLynn]

Oh I know the heat here is terrible as well and on top of that almost 90% humidity! I let the new babies out in the main area of their grow out pen; out of the brooder because it was just to hot in there. They are finding tiny bugs and learning to dust bathe which is soo funny & cute.
I did take a look at the webiste (and still looking) thank you for pointing me there and yes the cams are just to cool..haha

**Oh and the little yellow chick with dark strips is an Americana, I cannot wait to see what colors he feathers out to.