Hello we are new here :)

[Millsfam4]

Hello we just got 6 baby chicks from Royal King On Sunday. I have few questions like what temperature do I need keep them at I would say they are around 2 weeks old I’m not sure this is are first go around with chicks. But we was told buy probiotics which we did been using it in gallon water and they are also on feed with medicine. But I can’t seem keep them happy I feel like they have some watery diarrhea and we already lost one Sunday night. But we did figure out one had (pasty butt ) been cleaning it up often. Well I guess that’s all for now. Going post pictures hopefully someone can help with age so I can’t make sure I’ve got the temperature right for them. Thanks View attachment 2040972

 

[rosemarythyme]

Your photo isn't showing up. To attach a photo click on the insert image icon (the rectangle with mountains on top row of reply window, next to smiley face) and drag and drop your image into the space that pops up.

For chicks I usually provide a mix of probiotics, electrolytes and vitamins for a few days until they're stable at my location, and then just plain water after.

Re: medicated feed, I assume these chicks are not vaccinated for Coccidiosis? If so, the medicated feed supposedly nullifies the vaccine.

Photos of brooder set up along with chick photos (for age guessing) would help with troubleshooting. Also helps to know what temperatures you're getting in the brooder.

 

[Mrs. K]

The first few days, it is not uncommon to loose a chick. Genetically something is not quite right, and they fail to thrive. Do not feel guilty, it happens.

As for temperature, set up the pen, so that there is plenty of room, change the bedding as needed to keep mostly dry. Arrange your heat lamp so that there is a warm spot and a cool spot and listen to your chicks. There should be a peeping, nearly constant, but it should be a cheerful relaxed sound. If it become incessant or wildly high pitched, they are telling you they are cold. Then I would adjust the heat lamp. Active chicks will move from the warm area into the cooler area through out the day, back and forth. This is good for them, and develops feathers.

I feed mine just clean water, fresh water 2-3 times a day, and good chick starter feed. Sometimes too much is too much. People get to adding this and adding that all with good intentions, but really good clean water, and plain food is what they need, not yogurt, or anything else a bird doesn't eat. Stick to the commercial chick feed till a couple weeks old.

Get them outside, in the sunshine and fresh air for a while each day. A little longer each day, and that will make them stronger and healthier. Do make sure there is a wind shelter, and a shady and sunny spot, then let them choose.

More space, fresh air, fresh water, good feed, dry bedding is what they need.

 

[MGG]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[aart]

But we was told buy probiotics which we did been using it in gallon water and they are also on feed with medicine.

Probiotics are not really necessary, plain water should always be available.
Exactly what kind of 'medicine' is in the feed?
Should be on the tag sewn into bottom of bag.

Here's my notes on chick heat, hope something in there might help:

They need to be pretty warm(~85-90F on the brooder floor right under the lamp and 10-20 degrees cooler at the other end of brooder) for the first day or two, especially if they have been shipped, until they get to eating, drinking and moving around well. But after that it's best to keep them as cool as possible for optimal feather growth and quicker acclimation to outside temps. A lot of chick illnesses are attributed to too warm of a brooder. I do think it's a good idea to use a thermometer on the floor of the brooder to check the temps, especially when new at brooding, later I still use it but more out of curiosity than need.

The best indicator of heat levels is to watch their behavior:
-If they are huddled/piled up right under the lamp and cheeping very loudly, they are too cold.
-If they are spread out on the absolute edges of the brooder as far from the lamp as possible, panting and/or cheeping very loudly, they are too hot.
-If they sleep around the edge of the lamp calmly just next to each other and spend time running all around the brooder they are juuuust right!

The lamp is best at one end of the brooder with food/water at the other cooler end of the brooder, so they can get away from the heat or be under it as needed. Wattage of 'heat' bulb depends on size of brooder and ambient temperature of room brooder is in. Regular incandescent bulbs can be used, you might not need a 'heat bulb'. If you do use a heat bulb make sure it's specifically for poultry, some heat bulbs for food have teflon coatings that can kill birds. You can get red colored incandescent bulbs at a reptile supply source. A dimmer extension cord is an excellent way to adjust the output of the bulb to change the heat without changing the height of the lamp.


Or you could go with a heat plate, commercially made or DIY: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate

 

[Millsfam4]

 

[Millsfam4]

 

[rosemarythyme]

The chicks look somewhere in the neighborhood of 1, maybe 2 weeks at most. (In future I'd turn off heat lamp for photos as the red makes things harder to see).

They're a little clustered under the light in that photo but as long as they move around during the day and aren't fussing the temperature should be fine.