my chicks came this morning

[Sissy]

beautiful babys,
Waiting for mine to hatch.
Ihope Im lucky with a good hatch.

congrats..
Have a thermomator in their with all those fuzzy butts
they them selves throw heat..and could get to hot..
If you have them in a warm room..

 

[Hambone02]

Quote:
Mine came in this morning. I had the exact same thought!

I kept watching them to make sure they were breathing. The other ones that were running all over the place exploring came back to the lamp and did the same thing, so I figured they were just tired. They napped for a short time and got up and started playing again. Guess they just needed a power nap!

 

[tamlynn]

I think the chicks are too hot. Do you see in the pics how they are all crowded in the corners away from the lights? Maybe one light per box is fine.

 

[gapeachy]

now that makes me nervous...they do look like they are getting away from the lamps....I will go out and check on them and maybe remove a lamp

 

[gapeachy]

I have went out side a dozen times and I have raised the lamps up then down then up....I hope they are ok...I dont have a thermometer...I guess I need to get one...they seem to be moving around a good bit.....this is hard...like raising a baby

 

[birdsofparadise]

Congratulations on the instant flock, but I have a couple of concerns for you. First, water - That many birds will drain their waterers in nothing flat. Be sure to keep checking and filling. Dehydration happens much faster than starvation. Second, elbow room - The rule I always heard is that it takes 1/2 sq ft to brood a chick to six weeks. So, a 4ʻ x 4ʻ box is 16 sq ft or enough room for 32 chicks. My brooder is the same size and I usually only put in 25. Yours may fit now, but two weeks from now its going to be tight and youʻll be looking at additional boxes and brooder lights. And lastly, sanitation - 150 - 200 chicks make a LOT of poop and will wet their bedding really quickly. If you want to avoid respiratory diseases (and I know you do), change that litter OFTEN. Sounds like more work than your son initially described, doesnʻt it?

 

[JandJRanch]

I purchased four day old chicks last Sat. and I noticed one of the
Ameircanas has a crooked beak. The top sits very noticably off to one side. She eats and drinks fine. Is this going to impair her
eating and drinking as she gets older...is this common?
Anyone have any similar experiences with chicks?
Thank you in advance for any advice.
J

 

[RendonRoo]

Look under disease etc. catagory. I think i read some info about crooked beaks a day or two ago. Lots of good advise around here. Good Luck

 

[chickens4jojo]

Congratulations on your beautiful chicks!

 

[gapeachy]

Quote:
thank you for your help...this is my first chick order....I am going add another 4x4 box today and that will be 50 chicks per box...maybe for awhile that will work....I checked this morning and they still had some water but they had shavings all in it so I will have to clean that out....I have plenty of brooder lights because my dh raises baby boer goats and he has about 10....also in and couple of weeks I could move them to a stall in the barn.......whew t his is alot of work and not seen my sons help yet....