New Baby Chick Owner

[Wyoyell]

Hi...today I became a new chick owner. They arrived from Meyer Hatchery and I did as I read, I dipped each of their beaks into the water and goodness they learned that one fast. If any experienced owners have any suggestions for my brooder please let me know. They have their food and a small perch to begin. Am I forgetting anything...?

 

[Amira_Bird]

Baby chicks like these will love to be tucked in at night and it will help you develop a bond with them. But be prepared for a little bit of a mess as they poop in the blanket/cover.

Your chicks will learn they have wings in about a week and figure out how to escape that container. As mine has discovered they can jump out of their box.

Chicks love when their crumble food has been wetted down a little bit. It makes their food a bit softer. Microwaving crumble for 20 secs it is great for evening and giving them full warm tummies. ( This can be a little messy and the chicks can pack their food down, be ready to dig it up again.)

Get some dirt from outside, crush it into a semi-powder, stick it in the oven at 300 for about 30 mins to sterilize it. Your chicks might learn how to dirt bathe. It will also help with boredom as they go scratching through it. (Can be dusty and messy)

 

[Wyoyell]

Thank you so much. I do have a question...when and how do I introduce grit...?

 

[Amira_Bird]

You can introduce chick grit now in small amounts.

 

[Amira_Bird]

Oh and about 2 weeks of age your chicks can eat small mealworms and Dubai roaches as treats. These are excellent protein!

 

[bluemtnwmn]

It looks like you have a metal grate of some sort in the bottom of your container. I would just make sure it isn't more than barely warm to the touch, the plastic also. Your thermometers are great but they won't pick up the temp of the surfaces in the brooder which can be hotter because of the heat lamp. If it feels too warm you could use large pine flakes (not the fine flakes and no cedar!). I read that sand is an option for coops but I'm not sure if it is safe for chicks. I cut a piece of window screen (from Lowes) from a roll we had for other projects and clipped it to my brooder with binder clips (from Staples) to keep my chickies from flying out once they started hopping about, gives a whole new meaning to 'popcorn chicken'! lol! Enjoy your chicks! Mine are 4 weeks old now, I'm a first time chicken momma, and it's been quite a ride so far!

 

[Wyoyell]

The bottom has Rubbermaid shelf liner on it. It was suggested to keep the little ones from possibly developing “splay legs”...I made two of them so that I could just trade them out on a daily basis to keep the brooder clean. I have the pine shavings ready to go but it was suggested to wait a few days. Please let me know if I’m screwing this up....the girls are so tiny, I haven’t been this nervous in a long time...

 

[Wyoyell]

Baby chicks like these will love to be tucked in at night and it will help you develop a bond with them. But be prepared for a little bit of a mess as they poop in the blanket/cover.

Your chicks will learn they have wings in about a week and figure out how to escape that container. As mine has discovered they can jump out of their box.

Chicks love when their crumble food has been wetted down a little bit. It makes their food a bit softer. Microwaving crumble for 20 secs it is great for evening and giving them full warm tummies. ( This can be a little messy and the chicks can pack their food down, be ready to dig it up again.)

Get some dirt from outside, crush it into a semi-powder, stick it in the oven at 300 for about 30 mins to sterilize it. Your chicks might learn how to dirt bathe. It will also help with boredom as they go scratching through it. (Can be dusty and messy)

What type of “blanket” do I need to provide. Heck I tuck every other fur baby in the house “in”...I might as well help the little girls to feel safer and secure. Again, thank you so much for your help.

 

[Wyoyell]

They are really pecking at the dirt...it won’t hurt if they eat a lot of it..will it?

 

[NewBoots]

I'd wait a few days before exposing them to outside dirt. But if their food is medicated chick starter, a little dirt shouldn't hurt them. The first couple of days they need to be on chick starter and water, they're so new they don't know food from poop yet and might overeat things like grit if there is too much available.