New chicken owner - looking for all the advice I can get

[barbjess]

Hi - I have 27 little chicks in a cardboard box in my bathroom and am needing to learn things extra quick. I picked them up a week ago as day-old hatchlings. So far all is well but I need to know a lot of things quickly.

I am looking forward to learning on this site.

 

[CedarAcres]

Welcome to BYC!

You should check out the learning center! There is so much great information on this website, you can learn alot here!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Go here
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-and-raising-chicks
and read all you can.

27 chicks over a week old is too many in a cardboard box.
Get them out into the coop with a heat lamp and lots of fresh air and cool space. They will choose their comfort zone and be much healthier.
What are you feeding them?

 

[drumstick diva]

I hope they aren't trampling each other in the box - that's a whole lot of chicks

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, barbjess, and

! Great to have you with us! Best of luck with your chicks!

 

[barbjess]

Hi - I am feeding them starter feed from Scratch and Peck and old fashion dry, uncooked oatmeal and 1 cooked and smashed egg per day. Honestly I am overwhelmed and under prepared. They are in a box that is 21" by 41". The heat source is now a 60 watt bulb. Most stay away from it but there are 3 that still sleep directly under it. I have the 1 gallon water container from Tractor supply up on a 2" rock. I want to free range and not feed them any prepared feed with soy or corn. I would like to make my own feed if possible and have found sources for oats, wheat berries, diatomaceous earth, and dried peas. Finding a grinder in my price range is another story but I do have a coffee bean grinder and a bullet processor. I want to give them some grass / dandelion clumps with dirt just to give them some greens but I don't have any chicken grit and am not sure if they can get the grit from the dirt included with the grass/dandelions. I don't have a coop or barn prepared (we just moved into this place and somehow I thought the chicks would stay small longer). I planned on moving them into a detached garage at 2-3 weeks. It is dry and has electric. I am not sure how to enclose them into the right size area and have about zero carpenter skills. I hate to put this all down in public view but I need help. They are all healthy looking and I have been checking for pasty butt twice a day. One had an issue for a few days when she first arrived but now is fine. Any advice is welcome..

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! The Learning Center will help you out, https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center