First time with day old chicks

[Savannah.Tucker]

Eleanore

Mavis

Edna

Gertie

Mabel


Questions: do I take the food and water out at night?
Do I have to crush up the feed more to make it finer?
Do I have to help them drink?

This is what fleet farm told us to do.

I have 3 buff orpingtons and two Easter eggers.

 

[21hens-incharge]

They should eat and drink on their own.
With very young ones I do crush the food up. I also feed them wet feed. Basically take 1/8 cup of feed and add water let set for 10 minutes. It should be like thick oatmeal. I feed it in the lid from a sour cream container.
They should eat it willingly. Yes use the chick feed that you also keep available dry.
Keep food and water available 24-7. Especially if you are using a heat lamp as it gives off light. They will eat during the night if you are using a light.
There is a thread on here about a mama heating pad is why I say "if" about the heat lamp.

 

[pennyJo1960]

a heating pad with hard wire to hold it up so they can go under for warmth or come out if they do not need it use one without an auto shut off

 

[Savannah.Tucker]

I'm using a heating pad.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Ah.... Then leaving the food and water in at night is optional. Personally I would leave it in as a matter of convenience.

By the way.... Looking at your pics their crops appear to be full so they are eating.

I know you will be watching them. That will give you a chance to observe to make sure they are drinking.

 

[CSAchook]

To make sure they know where the water dish is you can hold them very gently dip their beak into the water. But I that is only necessary if they do not seem to be drinking, as others have said, they may very well find things on their own.
What type of liner/ bedding is in the brooder? If you are using something fairly smooth like paper towels you can scatter some additional dry crumble for them to peck at. They like that.

 

[CSAchook]

Oh! I forgot to tell you how CUTE they are

 

[ninjawesome]

They're so cute!!
No, just for the sake of convenience I wouldn't.
As long as the feed was specifically made for baby chicks, you shouldn't have to crush it up.
It's always a good rule of thumb to - when the chicks come home for the first time - gently grab each and every chick and dip their beak into the water. You're their "mother," and the mother hen teaches them how to eat and how to drink. Hope this helps and happy chickening!!!

 

[Savannah.Tucker]

To make sure they know where the water dish is you can hold them very gently dip their beak into the water. But I that is only necessary if they do not seem to be drinking, as others have said, they may very well find things on their own.
What type of liner/ bedding is in the brooder? If you are using something fairly smooth like paper towels you can scatter some additional dry crumble for them to peck at. They like that.

They are on pine shavings.

 

[CSAchook]

Pine is also a good bedding. I use that sometimes too. As they get older you will want to find a way to raise the food and water dishes up off the ground a bit or they will fill everything with shavings (naughty little chicks lol). Sounds like right now though you have a great set up! Enjoy your time with the little fluffers!