Going to be a new Chicken Mama! Some questions.

[Watermelon_Gypsy]

I'm SO excited!

I've wanted chickens for a good 2 years now but always felt a bit intimidated by it & my husband thought I was kinda crazy lol Well now he's eating his words - after dragging him to the store tonight he's almost more excited than I am *insert sneacky laugh here* ha ha Soo I've put together a list of things we need to get tomorrow when we pick up our chicks - this is what I have, please add to it if I am missing something & I am open to any suggestions one might have!

Chick Checklist

*heat lamp & bulb
*cardboard box
*pine shavings
*thermometer - 2 one on each end of box/brooder
*chick feed & Feeder
*chick waterer

I know the cardboard box will only last so long, so I've been looking into other options. On Mypetchicken.com they have a neat baby chick starter kit, but I only want the cardboard walls that form the little pen - never seen that before but it's a clever idea! So am going to see if I can find something like that locally as it seems you have to get the kit in it's entirety. If that ends up being a bust, what have some of you done as your chicks have grown? I'd love some ideas.

I admit I'm kind of scared of bringing them home & then doing something wrong & losing one or all. Right now I'd like to start small so am thinking 1 Americana, 1 Orpington & 2 sex-links one black & one buff. I realize 1 or some may be Roo's, hoping not but if so then we'll try again.

Another question. My husband and oldest son have fallen in love with the baby ducks & would both like one. From what I understand they need to be separated (while little) b/c they eat medicated feed & baby chicks don't until their older?

Thanks guys!!

 

[gryeyes]

Go to Walmart or someplace similar and buy a couple of LARGE Rubbermaid bins (or the like) to use as brooders. Easy to clean. If you can, get the ones with clear or translucent sides, rather than opague plastic. That way you can see them from the sides, AND they can see YOU too, instead of just as big, looming Giants from above.

Regarding feed, the common belief is that DUCKLINGS cannot have medicated feed, but this is no longer true. (It's only Amprolium, a thiamine blocker to help chicks develop a resistance to the coccidia parasite.) Ducks can eat medicated chick feed, but most folks prefer to feed them an "all flock" type of feed or even, if you can find it, duck chow or "meat bird" starter.

You would most likely want to keep the ducklings and chicks brooded separately, because ducks make a real mess of their feed and water. And the chicks don't appreciate that.

Both brooders need to have damp bedding removed as soon as it gets wet.

You're gonna love 'em, ducklings and chicks both!

 

[TouchO'Lass]

My first chicks ever, and I was scared too, still am, with the responsiblity for these little peckers, but yeah! Turns out it's not THAT hard (she said, hoping you didn't see the post where I totally misidentified my peeps for the first week!)

Get that bin, like recommended. I only got one for 15 chicks (64qt), and I'll have to add another really soon, but you just listen to the learn-ed folk in here and press forward, and you'll do well. Take a quick look at my page and you'll see a really simple brooder (all the stuff you have plus a $7 dollar bin) that would be gracious plenty for just a few babies for some weeks.

By the way, I got the idea for the brooder from BYC! I do not claim originality, just appreciation, lol!!!

Good luck!

OOPS! Forgot to mention: Doz chickies can't read dat thermometer. I have two thermos, and they ignore them both. Get one to put mostly under the lamp area (mine is digital which doubles as a pecking toy for the peeps!) Temp has been mostly steady since they arrived last week, and some times they hover under, then they go to the other side. Just give them room to get away from the heat and they'll let you know what they like. If they're huddled under the lamp, they're cold. If they're far away, they're too hot. If they meander and crash randomly, you're doing good!

I worked for a WEEK to get the lamp JUST right to reach 95F. NONE of mine wanted 95 when I got them, and I was beriding them for not reading the manual, lol!! First week for me, and they're more comfy with 82 to 85. Whattha?!

Every military service has their motto: Semper Fidelis (always faithful), Semper Paratus (always prepared), etc. Chicken raising, to ME, seems to go with my PERSONAL mantra: Semper GUMBY!

ALWAYS FLEXIBLE!!!

 

[ShortCircuitRanch2332]

Quote:
small? you obviously haven't heard of chicken math yet LMAO it will kick your butt I started with a few when I started again 2 but now im at 33 chicks 5 ducks and 2 turkeys......plus the 15 old English game hens and roos I bought lmao
I will say ducks are amazing little creatures and have great personality's BUT they are worse than children at making a mess with there food and water ITS BAD but I deal cuz I LOVE ducks I found raising them in Rubbermaid totes is easier but you will be changing the pine bedding often lol
and it has to be a 250 watt bulb I go with red they warm better and they have to have room to get away from the heat lamp if they get to hot
oh ya

 

[Watermelon_Gypsy]

Whew this places moves fast! lol I had to go diggin' for the post!

@Linda - I appreciate your advice! A large rubbermaid bin sounds much nicer than a cardboard box. Also, thanks for cleaing up the duck vs chick feed - that's good to know. I think we'll probably get two little ducklings then because I think it would be mean to get just 1 and have him or her be lonely. I did notice that the ducks bin was a lot messier than the ones the chicks were all in lol

@TouchO'Lass ~ That's what I've read as well. I bought the Riasing Chickens for Dummies book, and have read through the forum here, trying to lear as much as I can. From what I understand you lower the temp each week by 5 degree's is it? I have it written down, so I might be wrong. But depending on how old your chicks are maybe that's normal, for them to be more comfy at 85 degrees or so.

@ShortCircuitRanch2332 ~ you totally made me laugh! I so GET the chicken math, before I'd even heard of it we went in looking for MAYBE 4 chicks, we came out wanting ohhh like 15 ha ha I'm totally jealous that you can have roo's - ohhh I want one so bad!! But our city doesn't allow them

We were thinking the red bulb too, I just like the look of it better so glad to hear that they warm better, that's good to know.


Thanks you guys for your replies!

We were going to bring the chicks home today, but I got nervous because we had ANOTHER snow storm (totally annoyed) and I guess were supposed to have more snow tomorrow. I was so hoping it would be a bit warmer, am worried I might stress the chicks out if the weather is wonky. Am I just being paranoid? We will probably get them tomorrow, just hope it works out okay.

 

[ginormous chicken]

Welcome!

The list looks good. Something else to think about but not a have to.... to get my chicks started well... I ususally by save- a- chik water mix. If that is not avalible, you can use poly-vi-sol WITHOUT IRON (that is important, you buy the iron one it'll kill em!) and mix it in the water. (Walmart is the cheapest for that, short of on-line.)

Looks good!!!

Most important thing not on the list, have fun!!! Enjoy the peepers!!!!

 

[Watermelon_Gypsy]

Ohh! I'm adding that to my list. Thank you!

 

[AuburnChickenNewbies]

Okay, I'm on board. Gonna do this tomorrow! BTW, I need to go get Chickens for Dummies. I have the Idiots Guide ... guess I'm too much of an idiot though. It's still not quite basic enough with too much history and background for me. It'll probably make a lot more sense once we get going though.

Where are you that it snowed? Here in Auburn, WA, we had our first dry, clear day, today ... FINALLY!

 

[Watermelon_Gypsy]

Hey there!

I haven't read the Idiots Guide, the history part sounds interesting though - once you get the basics down might be worth reading maybe? I might have to look for a copy. The Dummies book is pretty basic, I've not read it from cover to cover yet but what I've thumbed through & read has been helpful.

We are going to pick up our chicks tomorrow too. My oldest son and husband want two ducks soo bad - but I gotta figure out in my head how it's all going to work

We are in SLC Utah - more snow tomorrow

is all I gotta say lol


What kind of chicks/breeds are you getting, do you know yet? I REALLY want a buff orpington - they just seem so CUTE to me. And an Americana b/c they are pretty & I'd love some blue eggs. I believe the rest will probably be golden sex-links to start with - although the silkies are kinda growing on me too.

 

[AuburnChickenNewbies]

Hi back!

I'm not totally sure yet. Some of it will depend on what our feed place has when we're ready. I want a couple of Rhode Island Reds, but that's about all I know so far. I'm such a sucker for cute, it'll be hard not to walk away with two of everything they have!

Stay warm! I spent a lot of time in Orem for a while & family is from Vernal. Brrrrr.