Nervously waiting - - - Information overload and 2nd guessing myself!!

[yesfantina]

Nervously waiting - - - Ordered our first ever chicks from mypetchicken - they're due this week. (sitting by the phone.. where ARE they.. ok.. it's only tuesday.. they may not even COME today.. *sigh* We've ordered 2 red stars and 3 assorted bantams..

The brooder is set up. We're starting by using an old guinia pig cage - the bottom is a plastic tub. Have the light hanging over it. Right now (yes it's on, i keep checking EVERYTHING!) it says it's about 100 under the light - at the other side, the thermometer reads about 85.. I've got paper towels covering the pine shavings. I read somewhere that you should sprinkle food on surfaces for the first day, so we HAD paper plates in for that,.. but then I read to just put scatter some on the paper towels.. so the plates are out. for now.

The brooder is on a window sill in the kitchen. I expect it to stay there only shortly. Then when they seem to be outgrowing it, we'll move them to either a old swimming pool (with chicken wire around it) or a plastic crate.. In the basement I guess.. but it's cool down there.. Because someone said the garage would be too drafty.

I got Dumor 20% feed. Not medicated. Got it because the Dummies book said 20% is the right place to start. And that's the one we saw with 20%. But now I've read that Dumor makes poop smell bad. And I'm worried that we didnt' get medicated. Havent' openned the feed yet.

Water.. don't put it under the heat lamp because the chicks don't like it warm.. OR.. for the first couple days you want the water at 98 degrees so it doestn' chill the chicks... What's the right answer?

The guy at tractor supply (who by the way seemed very knowledgable and spent about 45 min talking us through some of this) said they put electrolytes in the water... So we bought some of that. But have no idea how much to put in (we didnt' buy the day the guy talked to us). The package says '1/2 package for 55 gallons..' what's that mean for a quart? Someone also said to put antibiotics in the water because we didnt' get medicated feed.. So we have some of them. Then the Cackle Hatchery site says to put sugar in the water.

I wish they'd get here already so I can STOP fretting and just get ON with it!

Any advice?

Thanks
-tina

 

[Kitt]

First...calm down..

you are going to do great!!

Here is what I did but I'm sure I didn't do it perfectly and some one here will let me know which is awesome for me...I love learning

I got my brooder ready in a draft free place
Heat lamp on
Checked temp
Got medicated feed (tho medicated or not is a personal choice)
set up water and feed
read as much on here as I could...and i'm still reading...even about things I'm not having problems with because i know one day i will.
I didn't get my chicks shipped but i have seen where people said to put sugar into the water...someone will come along that has gotten chicks shipped and will be better at telling you what to do on that part..
I put them in the brooder and peeked in on them for the first few days to let them get settled
then off and on i spend time with them thru out the day to get them used to me and to make big babies out of them.

I wish you much luck and happiness with your new fuzzies.

 

[GiddyMoon]

We have been waiting for a month..ours get shipped today..know how you feel

 

[Momaha]

Likewise, we are getting our firsts and should be here tomorrow- 15 white leghorn pullets. I have read great reviews on Grow Gel Plus B that you add water to and it has electrolytes in addition to warm (98 degree water) as soon as I get them from the post office for the first two days then the third day forward use room temperature water. I am using a massive plastic storage tub from wal-mart with a cloth wire lid (to keep my cat out) for my brooder. I have a great little chicken tractor I will move them to next and line it with cardboard and straw until their fully feathered. I am using an infrared 100 watt bulb I found in the reptile section and it's registering a perfect temp directly under the light and they will have room to move away. I bought Purina Mills Start & Grow Sunfresh which is 18% and under another thread here was told that would be fine by itself for this breed. I took off this week from work so I can get them off to the best start.

Advice? You sound like you have done your research, so you're going to do great, and we always have BYC as a life line, eh? ;-)

Mom+Yamaha= Momaha

 

[chicmom]

Hello--

You're going to be surprised at how easy chicks are to raise.....

Glad you didn't use paper plates--they're slippery. Paper towels will work very well. I just use them for the first 3 days or so because it helps the chicks get used to pecking around....

Don't worry about the feed being non medicated. I've never used medicated feed, and I've had LOTS of chicks....All will be well. And as far as Dumor making chicken poo stinky? All chicken poo is stinky........

With the drinking water, I do try to keep mine away from the light, because warm water is icky. At least I think it is!

And it seems like every time I put fresh water in the brooder, the chicks just all have to get a drink! So I know the cool water is fine.

Now, since you have ordered bantams, put some glass marbles in the chick waterer, where the water collects so they can't get in there and drown, but they can still drink.

Good luck and you sound all prepared!

 

[N&MSchroeder]

For the electrolytes, I put in a scant 1/4 tsp in my quart waterer. Don't put in too much thinking it is better for them. I have ordered from My Pet Chicken twice and have been very happy both times. Mine were shipped express since I live so far away, but they arrived in late afternoon on Tuesday. Good luck and be sure to post pictures when they arrive!

 

[MyShunshyn]

We got our first babies from Cackle last Friday, all are doing well. I was very nervous too... they are so tiny and seem so fragile, but then I thought.....
Heck these are chickens! they have been living in the wilds for hundreds of years... surely they can survive ME! LOL
and here are a few of my babies today...... they live in a brooder in our garage... my dog and I visit often and they are already eating out of my hand! YEA!

 

[sparkly_diamond]

Hi,

Sounds like you have lots of information and that you guys will be great.

I have chicks at the moment (2 lots) and the one thing I will say is that baby chooks are much hardier than you may think, so calm down and don't stress so much.

We do not use medicated feed or add electrolites to the water, but straight after stressful situations (travel, moving hutch/cages, new chicks introduced, etc) we add cider vinegar to the water as this help to medicate or relieve stress (the effects of)

Make sure they have some grip in the bottom as this will prevent splayed legs (an old tea towel will do) and I just leave the wood chips down without the paper (they will only tear this all up)

Chicks are mischeivious little things and get into food and water feeders so ensure that the water is shallow or they could drown. (put pepples in a shallow dish if you do not have a chick waterer)

And most important of all........................enjoy, they change so quickly and have personalities from day one!

Good luck

 

[MydearWatson]

You sound just like me!! I have been researching for the better part of a year and I just want to do things right and by the book, you can definitely overload on too much info! I know I did! I got my two Silkies a few days ago and my set up worked well. I realized I had to tweak it a little and some ideas worked better than others. It has been a work in progress and a learning experience and I worry about them a lot more than I thought I would. But it has been SO fun for me and my kids (hubby is still coming around to the idea

)! I know JUST what you mean about second guessing yourself, I especially did when I realized how fragile newborn Silkies are! But I have had tremendous help from the breeder (Beth G.

) and from this awesome forum. You will be just fine! I cant wait to see some pics and hear an update of how it's going!!

 

[Lynette]

I got my chicks from My pet chicken today that were hathed yesterday and they are all alive and healthy. Your babies will be okay too.