Help!

[srhmchlk]

Sounds like you are doing fine. I haven't done medicated feed or shots for my birds, and they are very healthy and happy.

Some things like heat lamp recommendations are flexible too. My babies are 4 weeks, mostly feathered, and outside not using a heat lamp. Your chickies will help guide you. And I've gotten lots of help with the rest from info on this site...very helpful.

I guess the biggest thing I've learned is there is no one way to do chickens "the right way," take the guidance and do what fits your needs and abilities.

 

[snow5164]

Can't nicolie just switch them to medicated feed now???

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Snacks are not bad but get a small handful of pebbles/coarse sand from outside so they have grit in crop to bread down the non chick feed treats. It doesn't take much stone at all and they keep it in crop to grind down food. Crumble feed doesn't require grit.

Yeah, that lady is paranoid and ignorant of poultry. The chicks will be much happier somewhere else to live. If they are on dirt that is high in cocci they can contract too much cocci and die not spread to children. Medicated feed aids in high cocci areas. All chickens deal with cocci in some level but chicks are not used to it yet so many people use medicated feed. I'm in a low cocci area so don't worry about it. Shots? For what? Rabies? Feline Lukemia? I've no idea. All chickens have some amount of salmonella, you should wash hands after handling before eating. It's all basic stuff and that lady is obviously not ready to have pets of any kind.

 

[nicolie]

Ugh thank you guys so much. You have no idea how at ease this puts my mind. Also I have taken them off the heat lamp is it too early. This is a pic of them[QUOTE="nicolie, post: 15663393, member: 371836"]Unfortunately that is non medicated feed and since the chicks are 4-5 weeks old they cannot now be started on the shots or switched to medicated feed. I have children and I cannot take the high risk of the diseases. I'm so sorry I would have loved to have the chicks otherwise but without shots or the medicated feed the risk is too high :("...... This is a message I recieved from a lady who was going to take the baby chicks?
so I was confused on the food I was giving them. Or if it needed to be medicated. I'm giving them the non gmo non medicated with also lettuce and bok Choy leaves for snacks. Is this bad???[/QUOTE]

 

[nicolie]

 

[nicolie]

Is it too early for them to be off the heat lamp ?

 

[srhmchlk]

Oh, they should be fine! If they behave cold (squishing together) then put it on a bit. But they are so cute and well feathered.

 

[snow5164]

Can you get a second hand dog crate? That's a good way to give then room .

 

[nicolie]

Thank you everyone. This is all really helpful!!

 

[sophiaw00]

They are adorable. They look like buff orpington chicks if you were curious about the breed. The lady who was going to take them sounds ignorant and doesn't know much about chickens. You are doing everything right!