Hi!! I am new here and I have a couple of questions about new chicks. They are about 3 weeks old, and I got them at a Co-op when they were 2 weeks. So here are my questions: Is it okay if they eat/peck at the pellets or floor they are on? Is it okay if they are losing their bottom feathers as well as the feathers on the bones next to their wings? Should the nesting boxes be up off the floor in the coop? Can chickens swim in creeks? Thank you soooo much!
What kind of pellets are on the floor? Wether or not they can safely eat them depends on what they are. As far as 'loosing' feathers, they really should be GETTING feathers in at 3 weeks, not loosing them, but without seeing a picture to show what you are describing, its hard to say. It may be normal for their breed, or the 'feathers' you are thinking they are loosing may just be their baby down. Hard to say. Nest boxes should be off the floor yes. However, you have a good 17 weeks or more before they'll be ready to use them, so where you put them now really makes no difference to them. Swim? Uh, I dont think chickens can swim. I've heard they dislike water, although some will play in little kiddie pools, but I really dont think they can swim. I'd be interested in someone else's opinion though! Hope this helps!
With new babies you should put them on paper for a day or two so they won't try to eat their bedding, but if yours are 3 weeks old and still healthy you should have no worres about what they are walking on. Are you talking about feathers or their baby fuzz? If they are losing feathers that can't be a good sign. Never saw a chicken swim...
Okay, thanks! I tried to download pictures onto my computer but it did not work. So now I will try to describe the feather problem. All of the chicks have no or little feathers on their bellies and i can see skin and veins. On their wings, it is the little bone around the wing and sometimes under the wing. This is only happening to one of my breeds, the Golden Cross Pullets. Oh, I really hope their ok... Thanks a lot though!
If i'm not mistaken, a Golden Cross is a sex-link and goes by various names. I couldn't find a single photo of a sex-link chick at three weeks old (or any age) that shows bare skin. Did you buy them that way, or have they started losing their fluff since you've had them? What are you feeding them? What kind of brooder set-up do you have? And- chickens don't swim. They may enjoy wading in a few inches of water, but in a creek??? Doubtful at best.
I got my chicks fully feathered. I have put black pellets as the bedding. They have started losing their feathers in the past 2 days. Oh, I have brought them to a classroom to show people. Could this be caused by stress? I am feeding them NatureWise Chick Starter Complete Crumbs 20. I was going to start the medicated next for a while. I could not find the medicated when I first got them. Brooder? Is that the place they live? Well, they were in a black plastic tub w/ a heat lamp. Which is when they started losing the feathers. I noticed when I picked one up and it felt like it was coated with poop. Then I looked and saw the loss of feathers. We transfered them to a bigger metal tub with newspaper so they would not eat the bedding. THeir feathers have not changed. They have just gotten bigger.
Layer pineshavings over the newspaper, then cover with papertowels if the chicks are eating the shavings. Give the chicks enough room to move away from the heat source so they don't cook in there. Make sure they constantly have fresh, clean water. You do not have to use medicated starter, regular is going to be fine. What are the "black pellets" you originally had them on? How many chicks do you have and what size 'tub' do you have them in?
I was thinking the same thing, Terrie.. Cornish cross chicks grow very fast and are not designed to live a long life. Click on my email and send me the pics....I'll post them for you.
Chickens cannot swim. In fact, if they fall into water over their heads, they will become waterlogged and drown. I don't know about the feather loss, sorry.