New chicken mom!

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brood mother said:
Ok, here's another question, lol! I've got some cracked corn seed mix that I was thinking about mixing some dry oatmeal with to make a type of scratch for my hens. Is that an ok mix, and if so, how often is it ok to give them without it effecting their egg laying? Or will it???
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Maybe just wait until their egg shells harden up then when you know all is ok you can start giving them a handful once in a while.
And I didn't mention that a few of mine had rubbery eggs for their first few eggs and it went away. It seems pretty typical of new layers. Just try to get it out of the nest quickly. They naturally peck at the egg after laying it and if they break it open they'll eat it you could end up with the dreaded egg eating chickens.

brood mother said:
Y'all are gonna get so tired of me!! But 2 of my hens aren't getting on there roosting sticks tonight. 2 are and 2 are nestled on floor if coop in the fluffy new pine shavings. Is that ok, and/or normal?? Just wondering.
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This is a chicken forum so ask away!!! If you go out and put them on the roosts at night they should get the hang of it. Just make sure the roosts not to high for them to get to easily. What breeds are sleeping on the floor? You really don't want them sleeping in the nests because they'll poo in it and then you'll have poo covered eggs.

brood mother said:
Ok, more questions!! I have added to my brood of chicks. The ones I have already are about a week old. These are a few days. Is it ok to put them together???? I have a larger container I got to put them in. Jut don't want the older ones to pick on these. And, I have two Rhode Island Red rooster chicks coming in next week. Can someone please advise me!!!!!!
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I would put them together if they were mine. I haven't had to do it yet but a week or 2 apart I've read it's fine to do. I think it would be harder to put them together when they're older rather than only a week apart. Just keep your eye on them.
 
Ok I will try them together and watch them good today. I'm gonna put all of them in a big black cattle type trough and line with pine having and put a 250 watt red heat lamp over them.
 
Also, my new layers are isa brown hens. Last night 2 were on the roost and two weren't. So apparently it's not too high. If they do it tonight I will try to put them on the roost if they will let me. Will see how it goes!
 
I have a chick that's a few days old that has some poop dried onto her fluff. I tried to see if I could gently get it off but it won't budge! How can I clean up my cutie?? She is so little don't want to stress or scare her.
 
Ok once again one of my hens wasn't on the roost with the rest when I checked on them about 7pm. She was snuggled down in the pine shavings on the floor of coop. Couldn't get her to let me pick her up and all the other girls got ruffled. Just curious why she is doing that when there is plenty of roost room left.
 
hold her bum under warm water and gently try to pick it off when it loosens up a bit. Gloves may be a good idea here :)
After that dry it completely and you can put some vaseline on it to keep it from happening again. It may keep hardening on there but just keep at it. She may be scared but you have to get it off.
Some people say it's from a brooder thats to warm but I used an Ecoglow and that can't get to warm yet it still happened to one of mine. But just make sure you don't have the light right in the middle of the brooder. It should be in a corner so they can move closer or farther as needed.
Others say to put ACV (apple cider vinegar Braggs brand is the most popular, should say 'with the mother' on the label) in the water and it won't happen but I did that and it still happened. So I really don't know what causes it.
It may happen a few more days and then they grow out of it.
good luck
 
Thanks and I will give it a try! And I have the light mainly hitting one end of the large container they are in. I have the lamp clamped to the glass that sits next to it and it shines right down into it. It's a heat lamp with a red 250 watt bulb.
 
brood mother said:
Ok, more questions!! I have added to my brood of chicks. The ones I have already are about a week old. These are a few days. Is it ok to put them together???? I have a larger container I got to put them in. Jut don't want the older ones to pick on these. And, I have two Rhode Island Red rooster chicks coming in next week. Can someone please advise me!!!!!!
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I try not to do more then about 2 weeks apart when they are that young but you will need to keep an eye on them ........
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Thanks! The ones in there now are about a week apart and they are just fine. I've watched them very closely and they have done great! Although Thursday I get my rooster chicks. They will be 2 weeks younger than three I have and a week younger than the rest. Do you think they will be ok in with the rest? ALSO, I not sure what to do about the heat? Don't the older ones need less heat than the smaller ones? They have 250 watt red bulb at one corner right now, but should I change that out?? I am not sure what to do?
 

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