New chick questions!!

[Chickencrazy22]

Yesterday I was surprised with 4 ameraucana chicks. My dad told me that TSC told him they were one day old. I don't know if they are that young but i know they aren't more than a couple days. So when we first set them up i wasn't planning a whole lot because I had to run and get chick supplies! The cage they are in is a cardboard box maybe 1' by 1' and about 2.6' tall. The heat lamp is about 6" above the box. It isn't pointing straight in the box we couldn't stable it that way. The chicks are sleep a lot and it has me worried. I know young chicks normally sleep a lot and they arent panting and when they sleep they sleep almost anywhere! in their food, on top of each other, completely spread out. I just dont want them to get to hot! Also i feed chick start medicated feed to them right now along with normal water. They have pine shavings in their box. I plan on adding into the box as they grow older so they will have more room!

so my questions are
- how do I make sure my chicks don't get to hot or cold?
-How can i tell if they are to hot or cold?
- should I add to the box now and create a place where the heat lamp doesn't touch?

also I added the medicated feed part in because I have heard that you should add dirt in with your chicks so they can become immune to the bacteria in your area. Is this true? If so when should I put the soil and grass in?

Thank you guys so much! I have raised a couple chicks before but now that I have older hens and younger chicks I guess I am more nervous. My older hens are rode island reds, buffingtons, and an ameraucana. Be on the lookout for another thread once my pullets get older and I have to put them together!!!

 

[chickens really]

Definitely need to set up a better Brooder for them.
Heat part of it where they sleep and the other end for food and water. A large tote works..

 

[PNW_Chicks]

For my first booster I used big cardboard box Lined the bottom with tin foil, then cut another piece of cardboard and put it in the bottom to keep it dry. The current one is big(4ftx2ft) plastic tub. Use bigger than you think you need, they grow fast and get very active. And be prepared to cover it when the start learning to fly. I'm using 2 big cookie cooling racks.

For bedding I used pine shavings.

Had problems too with getting the heat lamp at good heights. Found attaching to one of those "lamps on a stick" worked well. Gave lots of room for adjustment. You can tie it if needed to make it more secure

If the are all huddled up they are cold.
I used a kitchen thermometer to check temp before getting a feel for it.

Up to 1 week 95 degrees Fahrenheit
Then 5 degrees cooler every week
At 4-5 weeks that should be about 75.

My first batch went outside at 5 weeks with nights in the high 50's.

I feed chick feed only and occasionally a bit of lettuce after they were a few weeks old.

I'm new to this, but
My first batch is 10 weeks old and in the coop/yard and new girls are 5 weeks and moving outside this weekend. All are happy and healthy, so I think what I did worked well

The book chick days was my guide.

Good luck, have fun with them.

 

[HuntingChick14]

I think your chicks will be fine with just the medicated feed. If they were being raised outside on the ground with a mother hen, then you wouldn't have to worry about getting medicated feed because they would gain natural immunity. But since they're being raised in a brooder, just the medicated feed should suffice.

 

[Luke Phillips]

If the chicks are cold they will all be huddled together under the heat lamp. If they are to hot they will be scattered, and as far away as they can get from it.

 

[Chickencrazy22]

Thank you so much for your replies! And I will be getting a bigger brooder this weekend thankfully. I just needed something to get them by until then! And I will keep the lamp there and provide a cooler side just incase! thanks again

 

[Chickencrazy22]

I have updated their brooder to a 4ft by 2 ft brooder. They seem much more active! guess they were too hot! thank you all