Have to check new chicks 5 times a day?!

[LynnGrigg]

I watch my adults all day long... if I'm home-just cuz I enjoy it.. I wasn't home all day long with my chicks. You could run into trouble if your heat lamp goes out and you aren't home to fix it. Other than that, you should be all right.

 

[EweSheep]

I dont see a problem checking chicks twice or three times a day...once before you go to school, again when you get back from school and again before bedtime...works for me!

 

[Ellie]

I got mine just 6 weeks ago. I took Friday off and made a three day weekend out of it. I am glad I did. In the beginning, you need to regulate their heat and clean their hinies.

By the time I went to work, I was missing them, but they did ok. Like the others, I checked before and after work and before bed and even in the middle of the night if their temp monitor showed not enough heat.

They will survive...

Ellie

 

[bluie]

Thanks everyone for replying. I see that there is a wide range of opinions. Still have to build the coop, but we have a week off from school in April, so maybe I'll plan for then. I can check on them every 30 minutes (LOL) the first week and then after that 4 times a day. Bluie

 

[OHChick]

Wow I had never heard of that checking on them 5x a day thing. We got ours in May, I work about an hour from home, so I'd leave them at 7:30 or so in the AM and not be home until 5 or later. They were fine! The first day I left them I did panic a little on the way to work and called the little neighbor girl to come by and check on them, but they were fine.

I say go for it!

 

[ukchickengirl]

Go for it! I used to keep ducks when i was a school and they only got check on 3 times a day and they were all fine, i've got a 19 weeks old daughter so she comes first but i still check on my chicks of course but not as often as i'd like!

school isnt as long as some of the working hours so your'll be fine but i would agree, either get them on a sat or if you've got a few days off so your happy that they've settled in ok.

Good luck and enjoy!!

H x

 

[Rebel Chicken]

I would wait until your out of school. chicks definatly need more care when their young. I check on mine far more than 5 times a day.

 

[Chickemee]

I had a chick hatch 2 days ago and it is sort of hard to keep up with it since i have school but other than that it going great. If you think you can do it go for it.

 

[OffSpring]

I just read this post and am a little confused (it doesn't take much) lol

I asked on here a while back something like "what happens if you don't use an incubator and let the broody hen take care of the chicks from hatch".

I got loads of replies saying they will do all the work (provide heat, show them food, water, keep them safe from the rest of the flock and basically mother the chicks etc.)

So is this not true? Do I still need to provide a heat lamp and show the chicks food and water and check on them regularly?

My eggs are due to hatch soon and I want to be prepared (I thought I was) lol.

 

[OffSpring]

Anyone?