HELP should I be worried chicks were outside

[Addictedtothebirds]

Hello. I am hoping I am just a worried first time chick mommy like my friend is saying... My friend decided to put the chicks in their brooder outside for 'fresh air'. When she noticed they were dust bathing in the shavings she got them a big dish of dirt to dust bathe in. I have not fed my chicks anything but chick starter medicated since we got them. They are only 10 days old. It looks like they ate almost all the dirt. There is a little in the brooder mixed in the shavings, but we have 16 chicks and the plate she filled is over half empty. Will this hurt them? Would they know better. I know I have read a little dirt is good to act like grit for digestion, but they seem like they ate a lot. Please help. What should I do??

 

[gryeyes]

Relax and calm down. They'll be fine. Honest!

Any extra "grit" or dirt will just be passed.

 

[Addictedtothebirds]

OMG Thank you!!! I have studied and read so much on this site and learned a lot. I was very careful in picking my breeds, brooders, food, coop and everything else that comes along with raising chicks. I have been so careful (ok I am a freak) but it is my first time and I have never had so much satisfaction out of raising anything as I am with my chicks. They are hilarious and they have very funny and different personalities. I guess if my friend wants to daycare my chicks in their brooder outside I will let her and pretend it doesnt scare me a bit.... there are bugs and things they could be eating too early out their too.... but I will take your advice and try to stop being a worry wart!! Thanks for setting me at ease.

 

[satay]

I live in a very hot and humid area in Australia. Mine go out during the day from the time they are born (they have a heat lamp at night) Mine eat bugs and stuff from day one. Love watching the little ones trying to catch moths etc.

 

[gryeyes]

I waited until 2 weeks to GIVE my chicks bugs (and provided some construction/all purpose sand as grit), but I know they caught some of their own prior to that. I saw one catch a fly, another got a small moth, one took out a spider (jeez, my bathroom sure was buggy, wasn't it??) and I did knock an earwig into the brooder for them. One chick got it, ran around like crazy with it until another snatched it away, then another snatched it, and by then the earwig was in about 3 pieces. Which they ate.

So I bought them some mealworms on the weekend when they turned 2 wks old.

They also ate the sand I put down for them in a little dish.

By 10 days, they're generally past the scariest and most vulnerable time of their young lives. Just by being a doting momma, I waited until they were 2 wks old before I started giving them treats.

 

[Addictedtothebirds]

Thanks everyone for your guidance. We had fourteen adult BLRW's we bought at auction last year. Due to mother and baby raccoon invasion they took out all but 2 hens and 2 roosters (the 2 roosters get along very well and the hens love them so we didnt separate or get rid of one of the roosters.) We since have made our coop a much safer version and love the 4 we had left. We decided to start with babies and see if we like it. Although I am nervous because of it all being new to me I am loving it. I can see how everyone gets addicted. I have found myself at the feed store saying what's one more...... I so far have been able to walk away slowly..... Thanks.