How old is this Chick??

[PreciousCrystal]

I was very specific with the farmer lady from caigslist that I need a three day old or younger chicks. But reading forums I read they don't get feathers until 2 or 3 weeks. Can someone age these babies for me?

 

[crazydog2009]

maybe a week old.

 

[aoxa]

I'd say between five - ten days old.

Why did they need to be under 3 days old?

I don't let mine leave until at least 3 days. I want them to be strong and eating/drinking on their own before moving them.

 

[PEONEAL]

I would say about 10 days old.

 

[fiddlebanshee]

Mine look like that and they are a week old exactly.



This is them at 5 days for comparison:

 

[PreciousCrystal]

My hen of a year, Millie, has been broody for several weeks off & on. Every time I thought I broke her, she was back on the nest. I decided to try chick adoption. I heard to introduce them day old to three days old in order for Millie to accept them.

It's not working so well.

I didn't understand I needed to sneak them in at night. I did it at 5pm. Everything seamed fine at first, they ran right under her and she didn't move. I kept our other hen out of the nesting coop for the night so she could have time to bond. At 10 am I peeked in and I hear two cheeps and a head peeking out. It seamed a little hot in there so I opened a door to let in some breeze and Millie ran out and hasn't returned to the coop all day =( in fact when she did return to eat, she pecked at both of them. I'm devastated! I thought she wanted babies.

 

[PreciousCrystal]

Mine look like that and they are a week old exactly.



This is them at 5 days for comparison:

Your right. they have to be a week old. As a week old they need to be kept at 90 degrees, right?

 

[fiddlebanshee]

Yes, although it depends on the circumstances and the breed. Mine are doing fine at about 80 degrees, but I have an ecoglow where they can go under if they need more warmth. I had not wanted to put the heatlamps on them but then yesterday the temps plummeted and it was barely above freezing at night. (they are in an outside brooder) They let me know for sure that they were cold this morning, even with the heatlamp, so I lowered it more and now they are content at 80 degrees. I'm not seeing them go under the ecoglow much.

WHen the temps will climb again in the 70s, hopefully later this week, I'm going to take away the heat lamp again, they should be fine with those temps and the ecoglow.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that you need to observe the chick and then decide if it is too cold. It will chirp loudly if it isn't happy. It will be lethargic if it is too hot.

Can you get some other chicks to keep it company? Where are you located? I'd be willing to sell you 2 of mine but I'm not going to ship them so you would need to be in driving distance. I'm in Frederick, MD. Mine are straight run though, so it's a crap shoot what you will get, male or female. I'm not able/willing to sex them.

 

[aoxa]

Yes, although it depends on the circumstances and the breed. Mine are doing fine at about 80 degrees, but I have an ecoglow where they can go under if they need more warmth. I had not wanted to put the heatlamps on them but then yesterday the temps plummeted and it was barely above freezing at night. (they are in an outside brooder) They let me know for sure that they were cold this morning, even with the heatlamp, so I lowered it more and now they are content at 80 degrees. I'm not seeing them go under the ecoglow much.

WHen the temps will climb again in the 70s, hopefully later this week, I'm going to take away the heat lamp again, they should be fine with those temps and the ecoglow.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that you need to observe the chick and then decide if it is too cold. It will chirp loudly if it isn't happy. It will be lethargic if it is too hot.

Can you get some other chicks to keep it company? Where are you located? I'd be willing to sell you 2 of mine but I'm not going to ship them so you would need to be in driving distance. I'm in Frederick, MD. Mine are straight run though, so it's a crap shoot what you will get, male or female. I'm not able/willing to sex them.

They should be fine at 50-60F with the ecoglow. My chicks are, and they are just 3 days old

I had a barn fire and lost 200 animals, so I refuse to ever use a heat lamp again. They are so dangerous.. make sure you are not using extension cords at all and have them properly mounted.

at one week old chicks should be at 85F under the heat lamp, with cool off room. That's if you use a heat lamp. The eco glow works differently. It heats the chicks and not the bedding, and does not pose a fire risk.

 

[PreciousCrystal]

They should be fine at 50-60F with the ecoglow. My chicks are, and they are just 3 days old

I had a barn fire and lost 200 animals, so I refuse to ever use a heat lamp again. They are so dangerous.. make sure you are not using extension cords at all and have them properly mounted.

at one week old chicks should be at 85F under the heat lamp, with cool off room. That's if you use a heat lamp. The eco glow works differently. It heats the chicks and not the bedding, and does not pose a fire risk.

Thank you. The broody hen is now back on the nest after being off of it all day. she must be having a hard time deciding if she wants a family life or to be single. I have the chicks in a brooder and am going to try to sneak them in her nest tonight. hopefully she'll take them.
Sorry about your loss. =( Our animals are our family aren't they?