Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

[NotAFarm]

Quote: They have bags of chick grit at most Tractor Supply stores, or you can use sand from your area if you have any where you are. It should be very small granules, not like the size for grown birds. Newly hatched chicks will not be off the nest with their mommas for a couple of days. They will then eat whatever their momma says is good for them, included grit from the ground.
If you want to give them a treat, try a scrambled egg instead of a dried meal worm....easier for them to digest.

 

[dyorto]

I rarely ever see the girls under the MHP anymore. Changing the paper towel must have worn them out. They are all napping up there now.

 

[bruceha2000]

I rarely ever see the girls under the MHP anymore. Changing the paper towel must have worn them out. They are all napping up there now.

And do they look happy or what! Obviously not cold, just doing their chicken thing.

 

[Redufresne]

Feathering nicely! Except for that runt who mght be a rooster. Sigh.

 

[Blooie]

I toss a clump of sod from the garden in there, dirt, roots, green and all, when they are just a few days old. They love to smash it, scratch in it, dust bathe in what they knock off, and nibble on whatever they find in there, including the small grit that's in it. They don't NEED grit, but I've never had an issue and I believe it helps their immune systems to be exposed to what they'll be living on. Do I buy a bag of chick grit and give it to them at first? Nope. I did that once and they gorged on it until their crops looked like they were going to burst, then they wouldn't eat their food. That was back in the olden days of heat lamp brooding, by the way.

 

[GardenNut]

Well everyone seems to be eating and drinking. A couple needed a little butt cleaning. One appears to have scab over the navel that I initially thought was pasty butt. But after cleaning, I see a little vent/sphincter action, and that scabby spot is in front of that. I dabbed a bit of antibiotic ointment on it and put them to bed. I'll see how she looks in the morning. I'll leave electrolyte water tonight and start probiotics tomorrow. The ones I have are added to the water, so I didn't want to add probiotics and electrolytes to the same water. I also turned on my iPod earlier to give them some background noise. They were quiet as could be after that! Now it's bedtime. If anyone has thoughts, I'm open! I've also realized how hard it is to see a chick's vent with these middle-aged eyes! I may have to use a magnifying glass! Thanks in advance!

 

[aart]

Well everyone seems to be eating and drinking. A couple needed a little butt cleaning. One appears to have scab over the navel that I initially thought was pasty butt. But after cleaning, I see a little vent/sphincter action, and that scabby spot is in front of that. I dabbed a bit of antibiotic ointment on it and put them to bed. I'll see how she looks in the morning. I'll leave electrolyte water tonight and start probiotics tomorrow. The ones I have are added to the water, so I didn't want to add probiotics and electrolytes to the same water. I also turned on my iPod earlier to give them some background noise. They were quiet as could be after that! Now it's bedtime. If anyone has thoughts, I'm open! I've also realized how hard it is to see a chick's vent with these middle-aged eyes! I may have to use a magnifying glass! Thanks in advance!

I've never needed to use vitamins, electrolytes or probiotics....tho I have some on hand, along with some corid just in case.

Get some cheater/reader glasses from the drugstore ;-)
then once you can't rad the street signs until you are right under them, you can go to the optometrist and get some real multifocals...and never have to search for your cheaters again!

 

[dyorto]

Feathering nicely! Except for that runt who mght be a rooster. Sigh.

How old are your chicks?

 

[GardenNut]

I've never needed to use vitamins, electrolytes or probiotics....tho I have some on hand, along with some corid just in case.

Get some cheater/reader glasses from the drugstore ;-)
 then once you can't rad the street signs until you are right under them, you can go to the optometrist and get some real multifocals...and never have to search for your cheaters again!

I already have tri-focal glasses! Lol! Scary!

 

[MesMama]

Went town to grab supper, came home and the sun has mostly gone down and the babies put themselves to bed Everyone is under mama with just little peeps every so often. The screecher/non eater chick ate a little of the mash, just a tiny bit so we'll see. Hopefully everyone will still be alive in the morning <3