Hello, from SoCal.... Newbie here!

[TwistedCrayon]

Hello BYC'ers... We just got 6, 2 week old Chickens 4 days ago. After extensive research and much more after we acquired them.

I should have researched more about how to sex them. We got a rhode island red (she has a line down her head so we are hoping it's a girl like I've researched. We have a white leghorn, a blonde, a brown, and a black Transylvania (naked neck) and a little black one that we believe to be a jersey giant, not sure about her.

They are in a brooder in our living room, we got them purina grow /starter... Lots of fresh water and we thus far have handled them daily and plan to continue doing so...

Any helpful tips, hints or tricks that you seasoned chicken keepers have would be greatly appreciated. Are there things we can do to entertain them or keep them entertained? I've read only to give them the starter/ grow food but the kids want to "treat" them occasionally...

Thanks for your time and help...

--TC

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

If you wait until your chicks are fully feathered (around 6 weeks) and post pics of them in the breed/gender section we can help you identify the breeds and sex:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this

For chick treats have a look here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/181429/good-treats-for-baby-chicks

Just remember to give them grit if you feed them treats to help them digest it. For entertainment, toss a few live crickets in the brooder. You will be entertained as well, trust me! What you can also do for them is pull out a clump of grass and put that with the soil on the roots in the brooder. They will happily peck it and play with it and get some grit from the soil as well as expose their immune systems to something new that will help give them a boost.

Tips wise, some very good advice I got is add organic, unfiltered ACV (apple cider vinegar) to their drink water. It helps prevent pasty butt and it's so good for chicks. The ratio is 4-5 tablespoons vinegar to a gallon water. Enjoy your chicks!

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, TC, and

! Pleased you joined our community! Sumi has you set up with some great reading! Good luck and enjoy your chickens!

 

[drumstick diva]

glad you could join us

 

[thasista]

Hi from Kentucky!

 

[TwistedCrayon]

Thanks for the warm welcome! And thank you soo much for the helpful tips. I have ACV unfiltered, and will get a clump of grass soon

Crickets will have to wait a little while... Eek...

We have named them!! Ya ready ?

1. Felon (Black Transylvania)
2. Tetrazzini (White leghorn)
3. Alfredo (white and yellowish Transylvania)
4. Nugget (brown Transylvania)
5. Bullion (rhode Island red)
6. Bat (the unsure black one)

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[liz9910]

 

[Kevin565]