Hello, I'm Melanie!

[Melminar]

I joined this site because i just got chickens for the first time. I don't know much about chickens at all. I have 5 chicks: 2 light brahmas, 2 araucanas, and one australorp. I like them, but they stink and I still have them in the house. I was told that I shouldn't put them outside until the weather is warmer and won't get cold again. But I have questions! And I think something is wrong with one if my chicks. I guess I will figure out how to post on the right thread about that, though.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

you go to forum at the top of your page and scroll down to raising chicks then over to emerg, you can put them out with a heat lamp and good brooder. i had some in the house. they do stink. lol

 

[Melminar]

They stink real bad, haha! They're in a room with my rat, and I thought he stunk, but they covered that smell right up. What is a brooder??

 

[Granny Hatchet]

a brooder is just what you keep baby chickens in. a word, like if mama is sitting eggs she is called a broody hen. it is usually closed on 3 sides with a hardware cloth front so no predators can get them but i have seen them made from plastic tubs that work just fine. they have a light for heat and a thermometer to keep track of the temps. in the house the cage needs to be cleaned every day. the feed stores sell some thing to cut down on the smell but i have forgotten the name of it right now. lol newborns need to be 90-95 degrees the first week of their life then decreased by 5 degrees every week until its about 70 and they are feathered out. hope your little one is better.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hi there,

and welcome to BYC!

You will want to do some reading in our learning center for lots of tips on taking care of your new babies. As Granny Hatchet has mentioned, you will need to keep your babies under a heat lamp starting at 95 degrees for week olds, and lower the heat by 5 degrees each week for 6 weeks. Here is the link to our learning center. Check out the section on raising new chicks...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

If you need to post in the emergency section, here is the link to this as well...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures

Good luck with your new babies and if you have any questions, that is what we are here for!

 

[CarolinaHen]

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! As granny hatchet mentioned there are some things you can put in the brooder to help with the odor, Sweet PDZ http://www.sweetpdz.com/ can be found at most feed stores and really helps (some places carry a similar thing called Stall Dry)... be sure you keep the brooder really dry and depending what you are using, you may have to change the bedding pretty frequently.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Hello

and Welcome To BYC! As granny hatchet mentioned there are some things you can put in the brooder to help with the odor, Sweet PDZ http://www.sweetpdz.com/ can be found at most feed stores and really helps (some places carry a similar thing called Stall Dry)... be sure you keep the brooder really dry and depending what you are using, you may have to change the bedding pretty frequently.

THATS IT !!!!!!! glad i remembered that name.

 

[Melminar]

Well thank you all! So, if I get a brooder, it goes straight outside? Like not into a coop or anything?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

do you have garage, barn? it would be better. you have to have electric. it just depends on the brooder. is it predator proof? out of the wind and heavy enough nothing can get into it or knock it over. scare them. ect....