Is this story going to have a sad ending?

[RedMoxie]

Yeah--I'll definitely do a quiet check before the big reveal to the kiddos. If there any that didnt make it, I would hate for that to be their intro.

On my way to grab some nutridrench now. Thanks all. I will post an update, for better or worse, tomorrow.

 

[RedMoxie]

Something I do for new chicks is to mix a handful of sand and chick grit together with a little feed and a few meal worms and spread it on a piece of paper between the heat source and feed. After they clean off the paper I give them chick grit in a bowl free choice and I'll give them meal worms a few once or twice a day, just to give them something to chase.

I don't know if you can get it in time or not, but I also use Gro-Gel Plus on their feed for the first day. If you're able to get the nutri-drench then gro-gel probably won't have any real impact.

Hoping for the best for your little ones.

Can I do this for them as soon as I get them? I wasn't sure how early to get them some meal worms?

 

[rjohns39]

Can I do this for them as soon as I get them? I wasn't sure how early to get them some meal worms?

Day 1 whether I hatch them or have them shipped they get sand, grit and meal worms.

ETA: It might take them a day or two to decide they're food and not monsters, but they eventually get there. When the first one get's adventurous, then the best of chicken TV begins.

 

[lazy gardener]

Ditto what Blooie said about the PND. If you can't find that, get Goat ND. All my chicks get PND, even if they explode out of the shell and continue to play kick ball with the rest of the eggs in the bator. As for the electrolytes, you can save your money by making your own home made solution. Every kitchen has the necessary ingredients. Water, sugar, salt, baking soda, and optional kool-aid or Jello. If you don't give them electrolytes, give them sugar water for the first day.

My spring shipment of chicks missed every single connecting flight, and I am at the end of the world as far as USPS is concerned. I had to track my chicks down at the nearest sorting facility. Otherwise, they would have sat for yet an other 24 hours and I would have picked up a box of dead chicks. See if it's a possibility for you to bypass your PO and pick them up at your regional sorting facility. Be persistent. Polite, but persistent!

 

[RedMoxie]

Incredibly, we got a call from the regional postal distribution center at 6pm--they asked if we wanted to pick them up tonight or wait for delivery. I have to say, that was a huge surprise--I was assuming best case scenario would be a tomorrow delivery. So, big credit to our post office!

Anyway, more questions! Here they are in their temporary home. Big covered brooder is on the way for tomorrow. In the interim, they have a heating plate which registers 95 underneath, and the rest of the box is about 87. They are all out from under the the plate bouncing around and eating and drinking like college freshmen.

So:
Can I assume they are warm enough if they are spending time under the plate then leaving to eat, not many actually staying under the plate at all (but a couple are)?

I set out a dish of chick grit and they are eating a TON of it. More than they are eating the crumbles. Is this normal?

I keep reading that we will be able to tell if they stressed or uncomfortable because they are peeping? Is this true? THey are all pretty peepy right now, so is this a bad sign, or something that should die down after they've had a couple of hours?

Thanks so much in advance.

 

[sourland]

Good update. Lookin' good.

 

[Chickassan]

Everyone is ok that's so good! The peeping is going to happen, stressed or not get used to that sound. I'm so relieved for you,the chicks and the kiddos.

 

[Blooie]

I. Just. Can't. Stop. Grinning!

 

[RedMoxie]

I. Just. Can't. Stop. Grinning!

Me too! I had really started bracing myself for the worst. Our PM called us as soon as the truck was off-loaded. These little guys are all so sprightly--we are thrilled.

 

[sfgwife]

Did you mix the nutri drench right? It just looks really really dark to me. Babies look great!