New chick mom who needs help, please.

[AUChick9202]

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I had to laugh at that comment! I am new here too, but I have become a total addict!! My husband is like....are you on that chicken site again???

 

[Britney]

Watch out for hawks and other preditors, skunks, raccoons, eagles, coyotes, neighbors dogs. The list goes on. Good luck and enjoy your babies. I have to warn you about this group. They will turn you into a hatchaholic real fast. There should be a 12 step program for 99.9% of the members of this forum. It is so addicting.

 

[gryeyes]

I'll add my three "warnings" for new chickie moms (and dads):

When you look in the brooder and they are all dead, do not have a heart attack yet. Tap the side of the brooder first - the chicks will wake up. They just fall asleep like that. Sometimes on their backs, or with their heads across stuff in the brooder (like laying their heads on the chopping block). They DO look dead, but they're just asleep.

When you pick up a chick and feel a tumor on its neck, do not panic then, either. That's a full crop. The chicks are piggies and will stuff themselves. That crop will empty over night and be all normal again in the morning. Not tumors. Whew!

When you see one or another chick on its side, kicking and twitching, it is NOT having a seizure. It may even flap its wings and roll over onto its other side to do it some more. This is dust bathing behavior in the brooder bedding. Perfectly normal. And very silly looking once you know what it is, which is NOT a seizure. Trust me.

And a bonus, fourth warning: You will fall in love with them. This will not change even when they grow up into chickens and start to lay eggs. You will love them more. And I bet you will do a great big dance and run excitedly into the house, screaming with delight when the first one lays her first egg.

Welcome to the wonderful world of keeping chickens!

 

[MeowCluckBark]

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best tips ever lol. I particularly love the one about "it is NOT a seizure" lol

 

[txreddirtgirl]

Not my thread but loved reading it anyway! I'm a new 'chick mama' and can't get enough advice. Loved the 'chickbook' comment!

 

[naakte]

walmart has a thermometer for 97 cents that works ok. I used a wrapped rabbit hutch so they wouldnt get poo on their little feet, and a light on one corner. I put tree branches at varying heights below the light. they didnt use the branches until they were 2 weeks old. you have to keep that water clean they will poo in the water. I got tired of cleaning water and cut holes they could fit their head into in a gallon milk jug, then melted the edges so they wouldnt scrape their necks and instead of cleaning the water dish 5 times a day it is once a day with little to no poo in the water. i didnt give grit, just medicated chick starter which they are off of now. they are on chick grower now. if they huddle they are too cold, if they pant and expel water from their vents they are way to hot. if their chirping is louder than normal they want more chick starter. I am new to chickens myself but this is what i did when mine were baby chickies

Donna In Branson

 

[Anianna]

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I know this but it still freaks me out. They are so still when they are sleeping all splayed out like that. It just gives me the creeps and I'm not the only one; my husband is a basket case about it and won't let the poor things nap as long as he is home and awake!

Additions to your wonderful list:

They stretch a lot. Sometimes they even try to keep walking while stretching a leg and trip themselves. A chick with a leg or wing hanging out one way or another has not suddenly gone lame.

They preen a lot as their feathers come in. It's not fleas or mites. You try growing feathers and see if you don't get really itchy as they come in!

 

[MeowCluckBark]

Oh I got another one! If they stretch out their necks while their body seems to stretch back, they are about to shoot poop! Get out of line of fire!