Likely hood of losing a chick?

[lazy gardener]

Poultry Nutri Drench: I have it available when ever starting chicks. I make my own electrolyte, and use it if chicks are stressed (shipping), and also use it if birds of any age are heat stressed.


Fermented feed, as well as providing plenty of room in coop and run will go a long ways toward ensuring that your birds are healthy, so very little will be required in your "first aid" kit.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Been researching for about 3 years. Books, internet and local farmers...Just bout 5 acres and am excited too start our homestead. I am getting them from a True Value store in upstate New York. How can you tell if they are NPIP registered? I know they don't personally hatch them but would they buy from hatcheris not certified?

I would imagine all hatcheries that ship are NPIP.
You've gotten some good advice and I commend you for doing a lot of research.
It drives me a bit nuts when someone brings home chicks with no research or background in caring for animals, let alone livestock. They say, "I have my chicks, now what?"
Those are the people that lose half or all of their birds.

Other than nutri drench what else should I have in a hen first aid kit?

Live in Depauville,NY. They will be chicks, sorry for referring to them as hens. They will be four days old or younger depending on how long it takes to ship to the store. I still have not found out where the people at True Value are getting them. I have a brooder I built here at home and they will be in my spare bedroom until old enough to go out to the coop and free range( well they have my fenced in 1 acre backyard). Also, do y'all have any suggestions as to what I should put in a Hen/Chic first aid kit?

Also, should I add Apple Cider Vinegar to the chicks water as well as when they are older?

The only benefit I see from ACV is that it helps keep the water fount from getting slimy. All you really need to do is thoroughly clean the water fount weekly or as it gets dirty.
Elevating the water so the rim is around back height helps.

Also, will petroleum jelly work for wounds

I wouldn't use it. Hopefully yours won't have any wounds.
Imperative for wounds is betadine.
If they've been bitten by a predator, I thoroughly flush the wound with saline solution, then betadine, then an eye type triple antibiotic ointment. (the eye type melts at body temperature so seeps deeply into the wound)

 

[Familyman0803]

I live in a predominantly Amish area, so most people around me own hundreds of acres. Well the one behind my property has a coyote den on it. The Amish family have children that the coyotes do not cower or run from, so I know they, along with the foxes I see on a daily basis are going to constantly try to get after my chicks. That is why I am curious about the first aid kit. I have some basic knowledge on treating battlefield wounds, which might help if one was hurt, but I just want to be prepared for worst case scenario.

 

[Familyman0803]

I meant hens, not chicks because they will be in my house. I have taken a lot of care in prepping my coop and run for possible predators. Though I know how persistent foxes are.

 

[PirateGirl]

We have coyotes in my neighborhood too, I have a love hate relationship with them. I love that they help keep the rabbit and prairie dog population under control, but I hate that they are fearless. Fearless of people, and fearless of neighborhood dogs. They walk right up to houses and right in front of cars in the street. The first night my pullets were in their coop the coyotes came. I watched 5 of them walk past under the street lamp and watched one walk up within 10 feet of the coop. It's hard. You just have to predator proof as best you can, and try to be mentally prepared for the fact that there may be a day that your fence or door latch or something just isn't good enough. They are smart and I've watched them hunt and problem solve to get over fences etc. and I know that if they want my chickens bad enough they might just get them one day. If they have an ample food supply, hopefully they are not a problem. You can check with animal control about what your legal rights are on your own land if there are predators. In some places you can trap them or shoot them or get a permit to do so, or in some places where you can't, other hazing techniques are encouraged (animal control wants these predators to fear people), so air horns, air rifles, paintball guns, may all be fair game. Hopefully you never have a security breach, but everything you do now before your chickens are outdoors full time is going to help.

 

[Familyman0803]

I have talked to the Amish family who owns the land, though he said the coyotes on our combined land walk away with the traps and will trip them intentionally so they can get to the bait. He told us his neighbor once saw one cross my property with a trap still on it's leg. I will have no qualms with doing all that is necessary with protection my flock. Though I know I will not always be around, so do you all have good pointers on how to just keep them away...Certain smells, plants,anything?

 

[PirateGirl]

I don't know... this is my first year with chickens and the coyotes have just returned. They were gone all winter, but now I hear or see them once every few days. We buried our fence and will not let them free range (that might change when they get older if I am in the garden). I have extra latches on all my coop doors etc. in case one fails there is always a backup. The coop will be locked each night with all hens in it, all the fencing on the run is welded wire not chicken wire. I am adding welded wire fencing on top of my enclosure so that nothing can jump in from above. I also very carefully considered the placement of my coop on my property, I can see it from a window, anytime we go in our out of the driveway we drive past it, there is a light that reaches it from the house. I don't know how much any of this really helps deter them, but it helps me sleep better at night knowing I've done what I can.