I'm new here and new to raising chicks too

[Chickadooo]

I've got 6 chicks that are approximately 2.5 weeks old and I've got 4 chicks that are approximately 1 week old. I've attached a picture of their setup at the moment. I try to keep one side of it around 80 for the older ones and under the lamp gets up to 100. I started mixing in chick grit to their Dumor chick starter feed and I provide probiotic/electrolyte water 1/2 the day along with fresh water 24/7. For their bedding, I use cedar chips on top of newspaper.. quite a bit of chips so they can dig and what not. Being that some are older, when can I start introducing insects.. And can I just get these insects from my yard or is there a chance of parasites from these? I've read about mealworms, might try those soon. Also, I live in Michigan and it's going to start getting colder here... What are my housing options for when they are too big for that box, but not big enough to go out doors to the coop? I do have a very large adjustable metal pen that I could possibly set up in the garage where they already are at. Please just let me know how you think I'm going thus far and I welcome and appreciate any tips. Thank you for taking the time to read this!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC, and good luck with your chicks. The metal pen with a heat lamp sounds feasible.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC.

This link may be interesting
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/hatching-eggs-raising-chickens.22/

Good luck

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Welcome. I hope you enjoy yourself here and take the advice in the spirit it is offered.
They need nothing but chick starter while they are growing up. Insects and other invertebrates from the yard can be secondary hosts of parasitic worms in chickens.
Earthworms, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, earwigs, slugs, snails and cockroaches are among the intermediate hosts of a variety of cecal, capillary, gape, stomach, gizzard, crop and eye worms.
Good on you providing grit.
I would also raise the heat lamp significantly. 100F is too hot for day old chicks (90-95 tops) and definitely too warm for week old chicks.
I currently have 10 and 14 day old chicks that are out in their coop with no heat source. It is 90+ for a high and 60s to 70s at night. Chicks aren't as fragile as people seem to believe.
I caution against cedar shavings if they are eastern redcedar. They may be too aromatic for tiny respiratory systems.
Pine shavings are more appropriate.

 

[PrettyChickens15]

I find it helpful to put marbles in my chick waters so they don't walk in the water or accidentally fall in it.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Chickadooo]

Welcome. I hope you enjoy yourself here and take the advice in the spirit it is offered.
They need nothing but chick starter while they are growing up. Insects and other invertebrates from the yard can be secondary hosts of parasitic worms in chickens.
Earthworms, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, earwigs, slugs, snails and cockroaches are among the intermediate hosts of a variety of cecal, capillary, gape, stomach, gizzard, crop and eye worms.
Good on you providing grit.
I would also raise the heat lamp significantly. 100F is too hot for day old chicks (90-95 tops) and definitely too warm for week old chicks.
I currently have 10 and 14 day old chicks that are out in their coop with no heat source. It is 90+ for a high and 60s to 70s at night. Chicks aren't as fragile as people seem to believe.
I caution against cedar shavings if they are eastern redcedar. They may be too aromatic for tiny respiratory systems.
Pine shavings are more appropriate.

Thanks for the info!
Meant to type pine, not cedar.
I've decided to just turn the lamp off until temp lowers later, it's 85 here. They were always on the far end when it was on so I assume they were hot.

Thanks again for the info, much appreciated.