Ok, NEWBIE question.... my girls will be arriving at the end of this week (1st chickens I will ever own as an adult & the primary care taker) ...... What is the best feed you all use and know it gives them all the nourishments[COLOR=660099] [/COLOR]they need to help them grow into healthy hens? I need help on this matter!!
Best yet, anyone got a "Shopping List" of items I need to make sure I have before they come? Let me know this to see if I forgot anything...
Heat lamp (check)
Indoor cage & spot for their safety (check)
Lining for the cage - Not yet....
Food tray (check)
water tray (check)
Ok... HELP A NEWBIE PLEASE
Give me dogs, cats and ferrets, I got this... chicken's I feel so lost now! LOL
I feed all of my birds the same thing, which is an all flock feed. Brand doesn't really matter. It's basically the same formula as chick feed, has higher protein than layer feed, and there's no transition from starter to layer. All you have to do is offer them oyster shell on the side when they are getting close to laying. Also, if you are planning on mixing ages or having a rooster, it is better for non-laying birds because they don't get that excess calcium in their diets. Non-medicated starter works just the same and can be fed all their lives with oyster shell on the side as well.
For chicks, I personally recommend non-medicated feed anyway. The medicated part of medicated feed is usually just a low dose of amprolium, which is only to prevent coccidiosis in chicks. Amprolium is a thiamine blocker, and it's been reported that not only can chicks develop thiamine deficiency from eating medicated feed for too long, but also that the local cocci can become immune to the effects of amprolium from this sort of low-dose treatment. To prevent coccidiosis, since cocci are inactive in dry soil, I usually just introduce my chicks to a bit of very dry sod, which allows them to build up a natural immunity to it. But that's looking a bit further in the future for you.
Since you are using a heat lamp, I will just say this--
don't bother with the huge 250 watt bulbs. Those are WAY too hot for the brooder and shouldn't even be sold for that purpose! Instead, find a lower wattage bulb. When I used heat lamps, I believe I used a 70 or 80 watt bulb, something in that area, and it was fine. Also be on the lookout for shatterproof coated, Teflon coated, or PTFE coated bulbs, as those are toxic to birds!
Chicks don't really require much else. As long as they have a safe brooder, a heat source, food and water, and nice, comfy bedding, they're all set. Just make sure you don't put your chicks on a slick surface like newspaper, as they can get straddle leg, and make sure the walls of the brooder are solid at least at chick level to avoid drafts. Sounds like you have it mostly covered!
Fingers crossed for healthy, happy babies!
