Help me prepare for new arriving chicks

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

You know I have raised MANY MANY chicks and never had one drown...never used rocks or marbles in the water at all either. Just used a standard waterer and let them be. Never one accident. Now Seramas I do use the marbles for as they are SO tiny! But I would not worry about them drowning. They are bigger chicks and should do just fine.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I'm thinking a tad bit too small (what is the size of the box in inches) becuase they need some space to get away from the heat source if they get hot. AND how tall is that? In a week or two they will be flying right on out of there LOL I would put some screen on there after a week or so. Plus leghorns are flighty anyhow so they may even start earlier

Oh and a good tip is if you put wire over the top (framed in wood of course so it's sturdy) then you can set the heat lamp directly on it and it's perfect. I set mine about 18-20 inches up (a 250 watt red bulb) and they are good with that.

 

[ayedrianna]

It looks much bigger in person ^.^ its 2 feet by 1 1/2 feet roughly. i hope thats not too small

 

[ayedrianna]

& it is about 2 feet high

 

[Gonzo]

I use storage totes for my chicks, it prevents drafts, easy to clean, and they're cheap. You can take the lid, cut out the center, and attach some hardware cloth (rabbit fence) to that, to keeping them from jumping out when they're bigger, and it keeps predators out. I'd put a few pieces of gravel in the red drinking area of the waterer for a week or two, we almost had one drown last year in the same exact model. Good Luck!

 

[faykokoWV]

Last year I used a baby pool and the bath tub. I used a box for my first set this spring, I taped two boxes together and it was a little over 3 ft long. I only had three chicks in it. With my second batch I gave up on the box and bought a 50 gal storage container at home depot. It cost $20 and was worth every penny. I just put an old window screen over the top when they started flying. they had plenty of room to run around and it kept them until they were 5 weeks old and probably would have lasted another couple of weeks had I needed to.

I guess I'm trying to say there are many ways to keep them lol. you really do need to have it a little longer though so they can get away from the heat if they get too hot.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Ya I'm thinking a bit too small. And ya they will be jumping out of that right after they turn two weeks old. I would go for about I would go for about 3ft by 3ft box and that way they can have their "cool" area and their "warm" area.

 

[ayedrianna]

ok

ill try taping it to another box to make it bigger.i cant wait to get the chicks, ive been searching for a hatchery EVERYWHERE that could ship a small amount of chicks. i came accross nature's hatchery, but they wouldnt have chicks in till may. then i came accross my pet chicken and put an order right away. they should be here by tmrw.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I remember how excited I was with my first order

And I just picked up another order today in the mail (Ameraucana's) and I STILL get excited to see them LOL I will have about 200 chicks in my garage by the time hatching season is done for me. WHEW! My largest crew ever! I just knew I shouldn't have gotten that sportsman incubator!
Your going to be very addicted in no time at all and need other breeds

I started with 6 and now have um...well, I can't even tell ya now!

Just think lots! I have four coops and one of those is huge and has several little coops inside it. Just wait! It will bite ya soon! The chicken bug

 

[ayedrianna]

THe post office should call right? My mom is going to receive the call and im worried because she always avoids the phone when its ringing but im telling her to answer when they call i have a billion gazilllion post offices near our house, so which one will be receiving the chicks? the closest one?