Nervous first time Chick Momma

[Acornewell]

I just got our first ever baby chicks. They are 6 days old today...Isa Browns. They are in their brooder in our garage. I keep going out every 5 minutes to check on them...because they are so little and fragile I am such a nervous wreck. I just love them to pieces. Here is a picture...I am trying to keep the brooder at 95-100 degrees. I did just put them in a larger tote. They seem to be doing well.

They are running and jumping from one end of the brooder to the other, they look so funny. And they poop a lot!

Should I have the red light? This white one is a heat lamp and is working fine. I just didn't know if I should use red?

 

[AndreaS]

Congratulations on the new chicks! I got my first batch 3 years ago and I was literally a sick mess...worried to death about them. I hardly slept.

I just got 7 chicks on Wednesday, and while I'm a bit calmer this time around...I'm still paranoid It comes with the territory...they are just so darn sweet, it's hard not to worry yourself sick over them.


I always use a red light because it is supposed to help with pecking and not disturb their sleep as much (I personally think they would sleep just fine anyway- they just collapse in adorable fluffy heaps at any given moment). I wouldn't worry about changing it unless you see pecking or they seem distressed.

Make sure to check them regularly for pasty butt, and don't obsess over the temperature- just make sure you pay attention to their behavior- if they are huddled together under the light, they are too cold. If they are panting and pressed around the edges, they are too hot. Make sure they can get out of the heat if they want to. Sometimes you will have a weaker little one who needs the heat more while the bigger ones will appreciate being able to get away from the heat source.

And remember to ENJOY them! They grow so unbelievably fast- take lots of pictures and spend time with them. Chickens are just the best, you are going to love it.

Andrea

 

[Judy]

If they're doing fine with white, I wouldn't worry about it. It's hard to find red under 250W anyway, and that is often more than they need. You will probably find they prefer it cooler than 95 the first week and decrease 5 degrees a week, anyway.

 

[tdhenson86]

Well said, Andrea! The only reason you'd "have" to use a red lamp is if they start to peck each other. I've raised many, many chicks with white bulbs with no problem. It is also very good to leave an area where they can get away from the heat. They know when they're too hot or too cold and if you give them enough space, they can regulate their temperature pretty well by how close they sleep to the light.

Congratulations on the chicks and I wish you the best!!!

 

[Acornewell]

Thank you all so much for the kind words of encouragement. I could just sit here and watch them all day long.

Also what is pasty butt? How do I check for this?

 

[tdhenson86]

You'll know pasty butt when you see it. Lol. It is exactly what it sounds like. Their feces begin to accumulate on the butt when it sticks to their rear down. Just use warm soap and water mix to wash it off if it happens.

 

[Edwards24]

Thank you all so much for the kind words of encouragement. I could just sit here and watch them all day long.
Also what is pasty butt? How do I check for this

If they were to get pasty butt a good thing to do is clean the dried feces from their vent and fur and put a little vasoeline on their bottom right below the vent this helps allow the feces to run off instead of get stuck to their fur. You may not have this issue as i had 12 chicks and only one got it but i ended actually having to CAREFULLY cut away the stuck feces. I also took cotton balls and soaked them in Hydrogen Peroxide and help it on the dried feces and it came out very easy and seem very painless.

 

[Acornewell]

They are seeming to be good so far. It sort of just falls out...LOL plop and they keep on doing what they are doing. So hopefully it stays this way.

 

[Melabella]

I think the red makes more sense, think about trying to sleep with the light on,,I hate it! I tell you, I am in love with my Brinsea brooder heater. No light, when the sun goes down, you have to see them tuck themselves under it, and all of a sudden, it's quiet, and they are put to sleep. I did buy the EcoGlow20,,and have 10 chicks. Now that they are 3 weeks, I do not know how they are fitting under there, but they do. I love that they have learned about sleep cycles from night #1. I have loved the suggestion from TerryG about putting a big clod of earth dug out with a big dandelion weed every day. They love it, occupies them, and minimizes the pecking and picking at each other.

Good Luck with your chicks, they look wonderful!

MB

 

[chickenteacher2]

Yaay! You are doing great. I've done both kinds of light. I personally thought the red was a little better - I had more babies that time and they were calmer. They LOVE to eat hard boiled egg yolk....I started putting some in my hand and letting them figure out my hand brought them treats. Now that the youngest are 12 weeks old, they come flying from wherever they are in my yard when I come outside. Super cool. Chicks are so fun to watch.