I need chick and chicken care tips

[stellacorina]

If any ones listening I need chick and chicken care tips thanx

 

[johncv]

lol hi,
we are new poultry raisers, but the best advice i can give since im a "new egg" is handle them often, even if they dont like it at first, they will get used to it. next, they love greens, veggies, and meal worms! mine go nuts for cherry tomatos. i feed mine demor crumbles, i mix the chick crumbles with the adult crumbles so everyone can eat from the same feeder. and give them a perch if they will be staying in a coop.
angel

 

[Fierlin1182]

Ah, where to begin! The world of chicken raising is just so complex.

Hmm, well let's begin with the basics. Chicks, pretty much just make you sure you've got the heat set right for them. If they're kicking their bedding into their water, raise the waterer so they can't do that, otherwise things can get pretty nasty in there. Handle LOTS, get them used to being around people! I also recommend a bit of free range time every day/week depending if it's warm enough where you are. They enjoy the exercise and can pick up their own grubs.

Big chickens, if they're laying they need layers' feed, and if the eggs are soft oyster shell helps. Sometimes chickens can get a little violent, both towards each other and you! This is nothing to worry about, there's always a pecking order in the flock. As long as no blood is being drawn, leave them to it.
Give them treats, they'll love you for it. Kitchen scraps are a hit, chickens actually love meat and egg, oddly enough. Yoghurt, grapes, biscuit, you can feed it all! Just be wary about some things that you shouldn't feed too much of - I'd grab you the link, but my internet is being hideously slow right now. You should be able to find anything you need if youdo a search at the top of the forum, good luck!

 

[gambit2178]

In the short experience with chickens I have learned alot but if I could advice someone on raising chicks I would say first and foremost get to know your chicks, their behavior, their eating habits and most importantly remember they are babies and if no hen is around, then you basically become their momma.
Take the time to talk to them, the more time you invest in them, the more use to you they'll be. Keep an eye for unusual behavior and check their droppings often and it will save you headaches. From my experience you can learn the status of a chicks health by their droppings.

 

[tlagnhoj]

Get a good resource book that covers all aspects of chicken care. Read it, then read it again. And then possibly a third time, at least the parts on care and maintenance. Then spend some time perusing this forum. Feeding, coop/run, care, etc. are all general information topics that are covered ad nauseum in a multitude of places. And for the most part, the information doesn't change. All chicks and layers need the same things regardless of who owns them or where they live.


From the BTDT practical experience standpoint, from my limited time owning chickens: observe your chickens daily, preferably multiple times a day. Most of time you won't have a problem. But if you do, part of being able to tell you have a problem is knowing what is normal behavior and what isn't.

Example: last weekend my husband--who pays very little attention to them--came inside and said I needed to go out and check on of the girls. She was hunkered down under the coop, almost like she was sleeping. So I go to the run. Upon seeing me, she hops out and comes over expecting a treat. You see, my husband didn't know that under the coop is their favorite afternoon napping spot. They've even scratched out some divots for themselves. It was completely normal behavior for them.

But. Here's why it caught his eye. About six weeks ago when the weather was still cold enough at night for me to shut them in the coop, I went out to do it, following the normal routine of a head count before latching the coop door. Only this time I kept coming up with 4 instead of 5. It's a small coop, and the roost bar is high up making it difficult for me to see all of them when they are on it. I counted 4 or 5 times, even tried counting feet, but still kept coming up one short. Fearing the worst, I checked under the coop. There was my fifth girl, sprawled out on her side dead. I do not know why she died, but my best guess is egg bound.

To drive the point home about knowing your chickens' behaviors: this was the first day in a long time I hadn't checked on them all day. I saw them in the morning when I fed and watered them, and once in the afternoon, but that was a cursory look just to make sure there were 5 chickens. Not really a good look at how they were behaving. And a good 6 hours between that look and when i did the head count.

Had I stopped to take a look, or looked more often that day like I normally do, I might have noticed behavior from her that indicated a problem. I was hampered additionally by the fact that they were still in winter laying mode; I was getting only about 2 eggs a day from the 5 of them. And I have never been able to tell who is laying when, or what eggs. So I didn't have the benefit of realizing that "hey, laying is off a little here" that I would get in the summer when laying is going full steam ahead. She was never exhibiting any other symptoms though. That's part of the reason I assume egg bound. Though it could have been just about anything (except predation).

I don't know that I would have been able to save her had I been keeping a closer eye on her. But I definitely couldn't fix what I didn't see/notice.

Those are just two anecdotes that illustrate why it's important to know your chickens by their behavior. Mine aren't pets and they only come around because they think they might get treats. But I still know who the low chicken on the pecking pole is. I know who the curious one is. I know who the laid back napper is. I know who is the most aggressive at feeding/treat times.

It should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway, part of observing their behavior means observing their physical appearance as well, taking note of any changes that might indicate something is amiss.

 

[OldGuy43]

I know that I'll hear it for this advice, but just let your chickens be chickens. Feed and water them twice a day, collect eggs once a day. You may not know a lot about raising chickens, but the chickens have been doing it for years. If one gets sick, do not spend money on vet bills. You can replace the bird for a lot less than one visit to the vet.

You can give them greens. I use the weeds I trim from the yard. They love them and they cost nothing.

Keep saying to yourself, "They are NOT pets. They are livestock."

 

[bobbi-j]

I know that I'll hear it for this advice, but just let your chickens be chickens. Feed and water them twice a day, collect eggs once a day. You may not know a lot about raising chickens, but the chickens have been doing it for years. If one gets sick, do not spend money on vet bills. You can replace the bird for a lot less than one visit to the vet.

You can give them greens. I use the weeds I trim from the yard. They love them and they cost nothing.

Keep saying to yourself, "They are NOT pets. They are livestock."

This is my preferred method, too.

 

[jeepguy982001]

Lots of good post here. So far i've learned is that chicks can tolerate alot more then we think they can.

 

[tlagnhoj]

I know that I'll hear it for this advice, but just let your chickens be chickens. Feed and water them twice a day, collect eggs once a day. You may not know a lot about raising chickens, but the chickens have been doing it for years. If one gets sick, do not spend money on vet bills. You can replace the bird for a lot less than one visit to the vet.

You can give them greens. I use the weeds I trim from the yard. They love them and they cost nothing.

Keep saying to yourself, "They are NOT pets. They are livestock."

Ah, but for some they ARE pets. It's not up to anybody but the chicken owner to determine what level of care to extend to the chicken in times of sickness or injury. (It's also a bit snarky to start telling others what their chickens mean to them.)

 

[OldGuy43]

Quote:
See? Told ya I'd hear about it.

(I love to be proven right.)

By-the-by, snarky is British slang meaning "sarcastic". There was nothing sarcastic in my advice. The OP asked for "chick and chicken care tips ", not pet tips. I gave him the concepts that have worked for me within that framework, since my definition of working is being profitable. Advice is like wine. It affects one only if taken.