Looking for somebody who's been there....

[max13077]

I feel like a mother hen....

Sorry that was bad.

My chicks are due next Monday. Would somebody take me through that first day?

I'll get us started...

Ring Ring!

"Hello"

"Hi This is Dave from the Homer Post office, we have your chicks. Would you come pick them up?"

"Hi Dave, I'll be right down. Thank you"

I drive down get the chicks and break every traffic law on the books to get home.

Now what? Wanna walk me through what to expect?

 

[justusnak]

Oh, I think most of us have been there. First...unfortunately...expect casualties. There are not always casualties....and if you are prepared for them, and there are none, even better!!
Have the brooder warmed up and ready. 95 Degrees....and have the paper towels down. Remember, no newspaper..or slick surfaces as this causes spraddle leg.
Have the water ready...with marbles....pebbles in it.
As you take them out of the packing box, dip each ones beak in the water, and set it down by the water dish. This teaches them where it is. After you get them all settled in....take LOTS of PICS!! We will want to see them all!

Then, sit back...and enjoy! What breeds are you getting????

 

[KingsCalls]

1st ....check your chicks before you leave the post office, if you have any that did not make
it then you will have a witness, in case
2nd...take them home and put them in whatever you are using for a brooder so they can
warm up (you should have the brooder set up the day before you are to get chicks)
3rd....Take each chick and dip it's beak in water, this shows them how to drink and where
it's at
4th.....next take each chick again and dip their beak in feed or if you want, you can just
put feed on the bottom of the brooder and the chicks will find it (use news paper
instead of shavings for about a week for the bottom of the brooder, later use pine
shavings for bedding, never use cedar shavings!)

5th....keep the heat to one side of the brooder so that if the chicks get hot they can move
away from the heat a little
6th.....keep fresh water and feed for the chicks and don't let the papers get too dirty
before changing
7th.....decrease the heat by 5 degrees after the first week (1st week keep around 95 f)
and continue to decrease by 5 degrees every week( for around 5 to 6 weeks) after
this they should be ok without extra heat
8th......HAVE FUN AND ENJOY

 

[skeeter]

who dips the chicks beak in the water when the hen is raising them out in the barnyard?

 

[kstaven]

In the hen house they have the example of older birds that is missing in the brooder environment.

 

[K&H Chicken Farm]

Quote:
The hen shows them how to drink.

 

[jimnjay]

After you have done all the things mentioned in the other posts you sit next to the brooder and watch. They are just so cute. They sleep alot and their little heads just fall over. Don't panic if you see one all sprawled out with its head beak down in the paper. The seem to just fall asleep whenever and whereever they are. Snuggling them helps too.

 

[bantymum]

K&H Chicken Farm :

Quote:
The hen shows them how to drink.

Yes the mumma hen will squark at them whilst showing them how to drink and eat when they are 2 days old.​

 

[max13077]

Cool! Thank you for putting my mind at ease.