First Timer - Panicking

[Sharon Bee]

Not to worry. I am a first time backyard chicken owner as well. Mine came May 14th. I ordered 10, received 11 and they are all thriving and healthy as a pig in poo..lol. They were in my "kiddie pool brooder" with heat lamp in the garage until about 5 weeks old and then put them in their coop that my husband built for me in our carriage house. They are happy and singing.

Just keep them warm under the heat lamp - although not sure about this time of year for heat lamps. I had to keep raising my heat lamp. I put them on chick starter medicated and now they are on a grower feed until they start laying. I also put the organic apple cider vinegar in their water every time I changed it. Just a splash. Watch out for pasty butt. I had to wash off about 3 or 4 of mine the first week or so.

They are outside in their little "run" that my husband put up for me with chicken wire. As a matter of fact, I have to get out there and make sure they are all ok and didn't fly over it.

Also I should add that I had the brooder in our attached garage. I used pine shavings for the bedding and didn't give them anything else for treats until they were about 4 weeks old when I put them out on the grass for a little outing in a dog run for about an hour or so before they went into their coop.

 

[wsmith]

I ordered to have them vaccinated. Was that a good idea? Oh man, I'm freaking out. I just want to do everything right. I really don't want to lose one. Especially if it's the rooster. Does everyone usually lose around one of their chicks? It kind of seemed that way when I was reading all the reviews. I got mine from Meyer.
If there is five of them, how big do ya'll think the box has to be to accommodate them until they can go outside? I've read that some people put theirs in bigger boxes, but they have like, ten. I'm kind of struggling to apply what everyone else seems to have done to my small little flock. Also, is it a bad idea to keep them in my room if I'm going to be checking on them often, then?

Don't freak out All will be fine. Unfortunately, there is always a chance of losing a chick. The boix will probably be about 10 inches square and 4 - 5 inches tall with ventilation holes.

I just ordered 1 male Dominique chick, 2 female Dominiques, 1 female Light Brahma and 1 female New Hampshire. They're going to arrive Sept 10-12. I have a dog kennel that we'll be modifying to accommodate them once they're old enough to live outside. Until then, I know they have to be in a box with a lamp and everything. I guess I just kind of feel like I'm winging it even though I've been reading up for hours on chicken forums and even a few of my friends who've raised chickens are offering to help.
I just don't want to get them and then totally not know what to do.

A box with an infared heat lamp will be fine. You will need enough room for food, water, and for them to run around. Bigger is always better.

Thanks for all the info and advice. Do the chicks show up all in one box? I mean, will I be able to tell them all apart? Like, if one of them dies and I'd like to have it replaced, will I know which one? Even if it's one of the Dominiques and I want to know if it's the boy or one of the girls?

I hear that I should call the Post Office the week they should arrive. Are they not being delivered to my home?

Sorry for all the questions. I thought I would have this explained in my order confirmation or something but there's nothing?

The chicks will all be in one box. The Dominiques will be easy to tell from the other breeds. The cockerel will usually have a less defined head spot, and will also usually be lighter overall.

Thank you everyone for your replies and help! All your stories and advice is starting to make me relax a little bit.

Do they need the lamp on 24/7? It doesn't bother them when they're trying to sleep, does it?

The heat lamp should probably be there 24/7 until they are fully feathered. Of course, that depends on the actual temperature. Dominiques are tough, and don't really need the temperature to be as warm as is usually stated. Use a thermometer under the heat lamp to make sure they aren't getting too hot or too cold. They will self regulate, and move together for warmth or scatter out if they are too warm. By the time they are a couple of weeks old they will be fine if the temps are in the high 70s - low 80s.

Did any of you guys know if Meyer differentiates the chicks at all? If I'll be able to tell who is who... which is really important to me if I lose one.

See my reply above. The red will be reddish, the Doms are black with white spots / splotches.

Not really going to make a new thread so I'll just keep posting my little journey here, if that's okay.

I got a lot of the supplies I need. Chick feed. The feeder and water things. I've got puppy pads and some aspen bedding. I got a thermometer. I am using a space heater. Is that okay? I played with all the settings and monitored the thermometer in different parts of the crate and I can get it to maintain 93-95 degrees.

Got a gate up across the door to the room to help regulate the temperature, but keep the dogs out of the room.

I just have to clean all the supplies before they arrive.

Also called the post office to notify them that I'll be expecting live animals mid next week. Would it be wise to keep hand sanitizer by the brooder so we can keep our hands clean before and after handling the chicks when they're strong enough to be handled?

Be careful with the space heater, you don't want to start a fire. The only time I have felt the need to wash up before handling chicks is if my hands had something dangerous on them, and after only if they pooped on me (which happens) or before preparing dinner.

You will have fun.

 

[wsmith]

Forgot to add: I think you will like the Dominiques. Generally not overly personable when young, but are usually very gentle and attentive as they get older. They don't get too big, but by their second year of laying you should be getting nice large brown eggs nearly every day or so. My favorite breed. Be attentive to the rooster as he matures. Between the age of 20-28 weeks he may show signs of aggression, if he thinks he is in charge. Be sure that as he is growing, you give him attention , but that he knows you are in charge, and are the giver of food, etc. He will take complete charge of the hens, but you are over him in all things. Otherwise you may end up with a rooster that is a problem. Do not put up with an aggressive rooster. Aggressive roosters are tasty. but not tolerated in a flock.

 

[itgns]

Thank you so much for the detailed answers! I just finished sanitizing everything I'm using and will be setting it up all ready for when they arrive. I hope they arrive tomorrow. I'm getting really excited and anxious at the same time.

I picked Dominiques as the majority breed because they remind me of my Grandma, who used to have lots of chicken decorations that had the same coloring as Dominiques. And after I looked into their personality and egg-laying, I thought they were a good fit. Also, I heard their roosters can be fierce which is what we need out here in the valley since we've got lots of small chicken-loving predators. I'll remember to keep him in line, though.

 

[itgns]

They shipped! *Deep breath* Whew. I can do this.

 

[newbie32]

They shipped! *Deep breath* Whew. I can do this.

yeah you can it is pretty easy and when you realize how easy you will look back and laugh at how scared you were. All new experiences are scary until you plunge in and do it.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The chicks will all be in one shipping box. They provide heat for one another that way by cuddling or huddling up.

As for myself, I would not want my chicks left on the front steps or on the ground by the mail box. A rain or wind storm, cold snap, or perhaps the neighbors dog could make quick work of them outside and alone.

Chicks quickly lose their baby fuzz and begin to grow their first preteen feathers, after that they change even faster.

So being able to tell each chick apart form its brothers and sisters will depend on you and on your knowledge of what each type of chick looks likes in each stage of its development, all the way from chickhood to adulthood. I am a contrary type person and I have never been able to quite understand why someone who has maybe never kept a parakeet before would start raising chickens by buying 15 baby chick of 12 vastly different breeds or varieties. In my book you will learn nothing of value about any of them in this way. Fifteen hens of only one breed are easy to keep separate in your mind's eye, especially if you spend a fair amount of time watching them and caring for them each day. When you have that one variety down pat then add another.

Good luck!

 

[itsbob]

Well, let me join the fray. Currently I have a small varied flock. I have Red-Xs, Araucanas, Leghorns, Buff, silkies and 2 I'm not sure what they are. Also have a varied selection of 9 chicks in the brooder about 3 weeks old.

Also 2 Pekin ducks (I think I just figured out I have one male, and one female by their voice) and two Khaki Campbell ducklings in the brooder with the chicks. These little guys are PIGS. I have a jar feeder, and have a pint sized canning jar on it. I fill the bottom of the feeder up and THEN fill the jar up, and I still have to refill it twice a day.

I'm trying to go with one particular breed, and have on the schedule to be delivered this week 16 Araucana Chicks. We love their disposition, they are friendly, and tend to lead the pack welcoming us home every night. That and we love the turquoise eggs!

We have one person buying eggs from us, and IF we were going to sell any seriously I'd like the idea of providing "special" eggs in variations of green and blue.

We will probably be adopting out most of the chicks currently in the brooder, and some of the chickens we have that are producing when the Araucanas get old enough to start laying. Have to figure out what I'm going to do with the male duck.. Guess I could start a flock of Pekins too because we LOVE duck eggs.

 

[itgns]

They're all here! They are sitting nicely in the dog crate with the heat lamp. Everything is going well. I picked up a Buff Orpington chick (less than a week old) from the local feed store. They all seem to be "getting along" as well as chicks can. The Dominiques are definitely much more active than the other breeds. They're all easy to tell apart.

They have some unflavored pedialyte that they've all drank from and chick starter that they've all been pecking at. They've all been pooping and all have clean butts, no pasty butt.

Is there anything else I should be doing? Any behaviors I should watch out for? Some of them seem to be falling asleep. I mean, I assume they're really tired.

 

[jdoane]

Yay!

congratulations!

Just watch for pasty butt and make sure they all continue to eat, drink, and poop! Lol. And pay attention to warmth. They will tell you better than the thermometer. All cuddled together undsr the heat lamp then they are too cold. Staying plastered awaythey are toom the heat lamp then they are too hot. Moving around regardless of heat zone then they are just right!

and most important...... have fun!