How old are my chicks?

[Silkiehen]

It means I agree with the quote,,, what was said x2 or 'ditto.' (at least that's my interpretation

of what it means.

Oh, ok! Thanks I'm kinda new to the 'talk' on here! Thanks for clearing it up for me!

 

[Ren2014]

Oh, ok! Thanks I'm kinda new to the 'talk' on here! Thanks for clearing it up for me!

X2, lol... being that I'm new also. I sure hope my interpretation is correct. I'm still trying to learn the smiley meanings

 

[Silkiehen]

X2, lol... being that I'm new also. I sure hope my interpretation is correct. I'm still trying to learn the smiley meanings

Lol!

 

[darkside1]

Definitely too cold!! They should form a loose circle around the center of where the light hits their bedding. Needs to be at least 85 degrees. They also need a place to escape the heat lamp if they get too warm. Let them tell you what they need. If they are all bunched up they are cold. If they are avoiding the heat lamp they are too warm. A good place to start is with the bulb about 20-24 inches off of the bedding.

 

[wvucyclist]

I turned on the baseboard heating in the room and found a 100w bulb, so they're not sitting in the upper 80s. On the advice of people on the forum, I've replaced the pine shavings with sand and took out the medicated chick food (since they're sharing with ducks).
They've been going from playful to hanging out under the light, but panting, then back to playing, so I'll just keep an eye on them and the thermometer. They have figured out the water and food rather quickly, so that part is taken care of.

 

[wvucyclist]

I've also discovered if I sneak up on them I can see them running around and playing. If I watch over them then they group together. If the "giant hand" enters their world they lay down and group together, and it takes 5 minutes of sitting back in silence to get them to venture out again. I'll try to sneak a picture when they're active. Current temp=high 80s.
Thanks for all the input!

 

[AlGirl]

I turned on the baseboard heating in the room and found a 100w bulb, so they're not sitting in the upper 80s. On the advice of people on the forum, I've replaced the pine shavings with sand and took out the medicated chick food (since they're sharing with ducks).
They've been going from playful to hanging out under the light, but panting, then back to playing, so I'll just keep an eye on them and the thermometer. They have figured out the water and food rather quickly, so that part is taken care of.

I am new to the board and new to chicks so i haven't read much on here yet. Why should you not use pine shavings and use sand instead and why not use medicated chick food?

 

[GalloSiSupieras]

AlGirl, it's at least partly because waterfowl aren't supposed to have medicated feed: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/62320/ducks-and-medicated-chick-starter But also, chicks who've been vaccinated should be on unmedicated feed, otherwise it can effectively cancel out the vaccine and they'll be unprotected.

 

[wvucyclist]

Also, the ducks like to splash already, so wet sand is more tolerable to the chicks and ducks than wet pine shavings, less likely to mold also. I've raised up the water, but they still manage to splash around some!

 

[subhanalah]

Butter tubs or tupperwares with a hole cut in the lid will give the Ducks access to the water to dunk their bills and heads, but prevent them from getting inside it and splashing too much.
You can also put the waterer over wire and the wire over a casserole dish to trap the extra water.