Have I Missed Any Supplies?

[3KillerBs]

I'll be bringing my 3-week-old chicks home on Sunday from the woman who was brooding them for me. Here's what I will have ready for them after a final trip to the farm supply store:

A secure coop -- seriously over-built because my DH never builds anything any other way.

A feeder

A waterer

A bale of pine shavings

Starter/Grower feed

All the limp zucchini, overripe cantelope, wormy sweet corn, etc. that is good for them because I work at a farm stand and can bring home everything that isn't salable.

Have I missed anything that they need at this age?

I'll be keeping them in the coop for another week or two while DH finishes the run and they get big enough to go in and out. Nights don't drop below 70 around here at this time of year.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I always suggest to people who are raising chicks to keep Corid on hand in case of a cocci outbreak. It always seems that you'll notice symptoms when feed stores are closed and time is of the essence when treating coccidiosis.

Do you have a heat lamp for them? At three weeks of age they'll also likely need some supplemental heat as well, maybe mostly at night, until they are fully feathered.

 

[TheCrazyClucker]

I would have a heat lamp ready

 

[3KillerBs]

No, I don't have a heat lamp.

Its in the mid-70s every night here and they've been off heat for several days where they are living now.

 

[RonC]

They will need grit either from dirt/sand or purchased when you start feeding them other that their starter. Don't use parakeet grit, it contains calcium they won't need till they start laying.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks.

Once they're out in the run the ground is pure sand. But I'll see about a bit of chick grit so I can give them their vegetables and etc.

The corn that we've had at the stand lately has contained some of the fattest, healthiest earworms I've ever seen in my life. Chicken snack heaven. LOL

 

[steveurkel]

I just picked up some food grade DE for their coop and run.

 

[katelk]

I too just picked up some 3 week chicks (orpingtons) and am new to this.
I noticed earlier that a couple of the chicks would sneeze every once on awhile. There is no discharge other than a tiny bit of clear "spray" when they sneeze. I am wondering if this could be from dust from the pine shavings or something more serious? Other than that they are acting normal.
Also, two of them, only one of which is a sneezer, has a bare spot on their bottom below the vent. They came to me that way so I am not sure how it happened, but I have noticed the two of them pickig their own and each others bums (seems to be a duo thing only? Lol)
Just want to make sure I do not need to be giving them anything special as I have heard mention of adding certain things to water for electrolytes, etc.

 

[3KillerBs]

Just in case anyone was concerned, they're closer to 4 weeks than 3 and almost fully-feathered.

Tonight's low of 70 is the lowest temperature forecast for 10 days and they handled 70 last night happily. They were up and checking out the feeder when I checked on them this morning.

 

[SobbaChickens]

Just in case anyone was concerned, they're closer to 4 weeks than 3 and almost fully-feathered. Tonight's low of 70 is the lowest temperature forecast for 10 days and they handled 70 last night happily. They were up and checking out the feeder when I checked on them this morning.

Fun! Are they using a roost? Mine started roosting around this age. And I personally think you are fine without a heat lamp, at 4 wks mine no longer got heat and it would go into the 60s at night. To each their own