New chicken mommy w/ questions

[hockeygirl56]

I've never had chickens so I am very excited, but very nervous! Just picked up 2 Buff Orpingtons and 2 Aracauna chicks today from the local farm store. I have them in the typical farm feed trough like they are in at the store, on pine shavings, heat lamp, etc. They already know where their food is, although they will fight over a pine shaving like it's the greatest thing ever

Just have a few questions to make sure these are normal behaviors:

The Orpingtons will randomly get down in the shavings and burrow down - I thought they were doing the "dust bath" thing at first, but they work at it until they make a little burrow/nest spot and almost cover themselves up. What is that? I haven't seen the Aracaunas do it yet, but I just brought them home today, and the Orpingtons are a week older if that means anything. (Just realized I wasn't told an age on them specifically - I'm guessing the Aracaunas are prob pretty new, maybe a few days old.)

They all will be moving around fine, pecking at stuff, etc, then they just kinda seem to get weak and lie down and stretch out half on their side. If I bug them, they get up again like nothing is wrong, but I want to make sure this doesn't mean anything bad, like they're sick or I have the heat too warm or anything like that.

I think that's all I was curious about right now, but I'm sure I'll come up with more later...I want to make sure I'm doing everything right for them! I'll be adding 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes on Tues (they didn't have any today) so if anyone has any suggestions on making that addition go well, I'd love to hear them! Thanks!!!

 

[Erica]

What a good chick mother you're being! The settling into the litter sounds like dust bathing. Chicks also like to lie down and sleep a lot. They have a very high metabolism and need frequent rests. As long as they're highly active between rests, and aren't cheeping loudly or huddling, you should have little to worry about. They sound happy and healthy.

 

[Celtic Chick]

First off,

Ok, as for your chicks, all seems fine. The buffs are either dust bathing or just settling down for a nap.
When they lay on their side, they are directly under the heat lamp, correct? They are sunbathing. They are "catching some rays". Perfectly normal. They do it all their lives: lay on one side, stretch out a wing and seem to almost fall asleep.
I wouldn't just plop your new additions in with your current babies. They might start to brawl. I don't know exactly how old your chicks are, but chickens will fight with strange chickens, and it gets worse the older they are. If they are very young, you might not have any problems, but just be aware that you might have to invest some time in the project. And make sure your new ones all look really healthy before you add them too. You don't want to spread disease to healthy chicks.
Either divide the brooder in half, or put the new ones in sight but not in reach of your current ones & see how it goes.
Good luck and enjoy your babies!