Getting My First Chicks EVER Tomorrow! 1 BR Died

[swampducks]

I finished setting up the brooder in the garage this afternoon, and the box in the dining room. Twenty meat chickens are heading for the garage while my 6 barred rocks and 3 guineas will be in the dining room so my visiting 82 year old mom can see them and hold them. Normally, I'd be more excited but my mom isn't feeling well. Hope things go well tomorrow when I pick them up at the feed store!

 

[ChickenToes]

Good luck! I kept my chicks in the dining room for awhile too...how else was I supposed to look at them all day long while I was supposed to be doing other things!?

 

[Kessidy]

Have fun! That is exciting.

 

[R&RHens]

Sounds great. We just got chicks today and are thinking of adding some ducks to our little family - how do you find they interact? Is there anything special we should do to introduce ducklings to the group? Should we wait and if we do, how long? Can they live in the same coup and pen?

Thanks!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
They may be your first chicks - but they won't be your last, LOL.
I've already gotten chick fever, and I haven't even done a full year as a chiknmama.

Peace -
Meriah

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Aww take lots of pics! I get mine on Friday! Hope your mom feels better soon

 

[swampducks]

Quote:
I am worried I got 6 barred rock cockerels instead of st run. The feed store people were overwhelmed. It was a mad house. No one has ever seen that many ppl there picking up chicks or that many boxes of chicks. They did not have enough help.

I guess I'll find out. One BR seems to be spraddle-legged so I put a small thin rubber band around them as I have seen suggested. It's not perfect but now he seems to be trying harder. They sure are the cutest things!!

My mom is feeling better. Saw the same ER doc as 11 days ago. And even funnier, he was standing in line in front of me at the feed store!! Even doctors need chickens I guess! The doc upped her meds and I guess I'll take her back home next week so she can see her regular doctor. So much for our vacation!

Pix are coming tomorrow.

R&RHens -

These are my first chickens so thus far I am clueless about how they would interact with ducks. My current momma duck and her ducklings are in a separate pen though. I don't think someone the size of an adult duck should have anything to do with my chicks.

 

[swampducks]

Okay, here's a not so very good photo of my new barred rocks and pearl guineas. 6 BR and 3 guineas. Two of the rocks are a bit wonky, I've put some antibiotic in the water and syringe fed them a little, one seems to have perked up but I'm not too hopeful. Should have ordered more I guess just in case. They are cute little devils though.

No photos of the Cornish X's, y'all know that they look like anyway right? They're in the big brooder in the garage. Not eating too much yet, but they are wandering all over.

 

[Julie08]

as long as the chicken and ducks are fairly comparable in age and size they will do very well together.

 

[swampducks]

One of my rocks died this morning. The one that had been standing but seemed to be gasping all the time. The one with the semi paralyzed legs is still fighting on, just sort of throws himself around the box to get where he wants to go.

The other 4 and the 3 guineas seem fine so far.

Both of the ill chicks had very pale legs and googling symptoms led me to dehydration. Didn't help me save the first one though.