I was at the post office at 7am before the first girl arrived to open the door! I got my very first box of day old chicks and I know I was far more stressed then the chicks were. They were peeping up a storm from the moment I wrapped a nice blanket around the box (its snowing out and still cold) all the way home (2blocks) I had the jeep nice and warm so they never got a chance to catch a chill. The moment i unwrapped the box and set it in the brooder box they were all excited and peeping continually. I picked each one and showed them the water while others were popping out, oh my gosh I was frantic to not lose track of who got their beak wet! Well it's 5 hours later now and they are doing just excellent. They have a rhythm going on, they run around peeping eating and drinking for about 15 min then gather under the heat lamp for a 2 min snooze and start all over again. I have checked all their fluffy butts for pasty butt and had only two with poop dried on the feathers around their little hole, I have also had my hand in with them constantly and they are very curious. I got an even bigger surprise today than just little peepers, they came with two dozen eggs also. I called the hatchery and told them all my peeps were alive and thanked them for the eggs (thinking this was suppose to be sample eggs of the eggs to expect) they said "what eggs, you received fertilized eggs by mistake" I laughed and they told me to either eat them or hatch them! I am now trying to find out the quickest simplest way to make an incubator. The eggs are marked red rock so here's hoping I get an incubator going soon.
My brooder is simply a tv cabinet that was un-used. it is 5ft by 3ft and 15 inches high on the sides. I placed a 2by4 across the top and it will hold my hanging feeder when they get a little bigger. I also have a roll of chicken wire to go over top. I have the cabinet sitting on my kitchen table. The table has a layer of thick cardboard then heavy plastic then newspaper then shavings then paper towel...I think I got it figured out! the infared lights sits in the corner and since the chicks came with 4 sheets of some kind of straw stuff I put them under the heat lamp. I got stress-aid in the water 1teaspoon per gallon of tepid water and of course the marbles. I ordered non vaccinated chicks so I have medicated feed. I order the mereks vac and NO beak trimming. I call my chicks after my youngest daughter Ashley ha ha, i had to use her credit card for ordering so she gets that honour. All the Ashley girls are quite content and adorable.
My brooder is simply a tv cabinet that was un-used. it is 5ft by 3ft and 15 inches high on the sides. I placed a 2by4 across the top and it will hold my hanging feeder when they get a little bigger. I also have a roll of chicken wire to go over top. I have the cabinet sitting on my kitchen table. The table has a layer of thick cardboard then heavy plastic then newspaper then shavings then paper towel...I think I got it figured out! the infared lights sits in the corner and since the chicks came with 4 sheets of some kind of straw stuff I put them under the heat lamp. I got stress-aid in the water 1teaspoon per gallon of tepid water and of course the marbles. I ordered non vaccinated chicks so I have medicated feed. I order the mereks vac and NO beak trimming. I call my chicks after my youngest daughter Ashley ha ha, i had to use her credit card for ordering so she gets that honour. All the Ashley girls are quite content and adorable.
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