We went to a poultry swap this afternoon, where we were not going to buy chicks, and now have five chicks in a brooder in our living room.
Three are two weeks old and the other two are older but she said they are a slow-growing breed and fine to be in the brooder with the littler ones under the lights. The two week old ones are two EE's (I assume? she called them Ameraucana crosses) and a Dorking cross, and the older ones are lavender Orpingtons. I have a couple of questions:
1. We have a 100-watt bulb over them, but the temperature according to the thermometer that's in there says it is only 75 degrees. However, they aren't huddled under the light at all, in fact they're on the opposite side of the brooder (where I put their food), and they're mostly all asleep right now. I put a hot water bottle in there as well for them.
2. We have a waterer made out of a vinegar bottle and a poultry nipple, but they've been raised so far with a dish. Should I put a dish in as well for now or will they figure out the nipple? I've shown a few of them the nipple but they pretty much have been ignoring it and, like I said above, they're all asleep. They sure chowed down on the food we put in for them though!
3. Can we start putting food scraps in with them already? What about things like crickets from the pet store or even bugs from outside?
Thanks so much!
1. We have a 100-watt bulb over them, but the temperature according to the thermometer that's in there says it is only 75 degrees. However, they aren't huddled under the light at all, in fact they're on the opposite side of the brooder (where I put their food), and they're mostly all asleep right now. I put a hot water bottle in there as well for them.
2. We have a waterer made out of a vinegar bottle and a poultry nipple, but they've been raised so far with a dish. Should I put a dish in as well for now or will they figure out the nipple? I've shown a few of them the nipple but they pretty much have been ignoring it and, like I said above, they're all asleep. They sure chowed down on the food we put in for them though!
3. Can we start putting food scraps in with them already? What about things like crickets from the pet store or even bugs from outside?
Thanks so much!