Hi there! I have been reading on this site for weeks and finally today pulled the trigger and bought some chicks. Although now i am worried i trusted the advice of the people i bought them from too much since it differs from what i am reading here. So i kinda was hoping to get some help with my new ladies.
First, i have five girls that i think are about two weeks old. They have feathers on their wings and booties. Two are Barred Rocks, two are EEs and one is a leghorn/rhode island red hybrid. they are all quiet cute.
Their set up, for when they are ready to go outside, includes an old coop that had been being used as a shed but is now going back to coop-dom and a run with a covered porch. They will also be allowed to run the whole back yard when we are home to watch them.
So the guy at the feed store (which i now realize may have been the worst place to buy them!) said they dont need a heat lamp any more (we live in Tucson AZ, in the day its getting to the high 80s and at night its in the 60s) and that they will be ok to go outside in two or three weeks. So i took his word for it, took them home and they are inside my house right now because i feel like its too cold at night, but they'd probably be ok outside during the day. however now i am feeling like they should go outside all the time but with a heat lamp on at night. Or are they too young to be without a heat lamp anyway? They seem ok right now, eating, pooping, drinking sleeping etc.
Second, One of my barred rocks has no fuzz on her lower butt, under her vent. Her bootie feathers look pecked off. she had some crust on her vent too. I washed her off, shes pooping normally and i didnt see any mites on her so i am wondering, did she just need to have the crust wiped off her vent? how soon should i see those feathers come back if that was the problem?
third, I'm horrified at the idea of mites. The only thing i saw at the store for them (dust wise) was called ProZap with an active ingredient called Permethrin. my research on it indicates its pretty effective, but i should wear long sleeves, gloves, glasses and a mask when applying it. Is it reasonable to dust my coop with this stuff first before my chickens go in there just so that i know its mite free? or is it more reasonable to wait till there is an actual infestation? should i periodically dust the birds to prevent them from ever getting mites or is that crazy? Do mites happen often in Arizona? Its not at all humid here...
Also, how much should i be touching them and for how long? i have two young kids and i want them to be docile with them and be loving little girls but i dont want to upset them on their first day here. what do you think?
and finally my plan for the hot summer is this: shallow pool of water to wade in, and frozen water bottles in the hen house. we can also spray them off a little when they are free ranging. Im thinking of a box fan in the coop too... is this enough?
Ok sorry for my million questions. i thought i was prepared when i went to buy them but now I'm worried i wont do right by them.
First, i have five girls that i think are about two weeks old. They have feathers on their wings and booties. Two are Barred Rocks, two are EEs and one is a leghorn/rhode island red hybrid. they are all quiet cute.
Their set up, for when they are ready to go outside, includes an old coop that had been being used as a shed but is now going back to coop-dom and a run with a covered porch. They will also be allowed to run the whole back yard when we are home to watch them.
So the guy at the feed store (which i now realize may have been the worst place to buy them!) said they dont need a heat lamp any more (we live in Tucson AZ, in the day its getting to the high 80s and at night its in the 60s) and that they will be ok to go outside in two or three weeks. So i took his word for it, took them home and they are inside my house right now because i feel like its too cold at night, but they'd probably be ok outside during the day. however now i am feeling like they should go outside all the time but with a heat lamp on at night. Or are they too young to be without a heat lamp anyway? They seem ok right now, eating, pooping, drinking sleeping etc.
Second, One of my barred rocks has no fuzz on her lower butt, under her vent. Her bootie feathers look pecked off. she had some crust on her vent too. I washed her off, shes pooping normally and i didnt see any mites on her so i am wondering, did she just need to have the crust wiped off her vent? how soon should i see those feathers come back if that was the problem?
third, I'm horrified at the idea of mites. The only thing i saw at the store for them (dust wise) was called ProZap with an active ingredient called Permethrin. my research on it indicates its pretty effective, but i should wear long sleeves, gloves, glasses and a mask when applying it. Is it reasonable to dust my coop with this stuff first before my chickens go in there just so that i know its mite free? or is it more reasonable to wait till there is an actual infestation? should i periodically dust the birds to prevent them from ever getting mites or is that crazy? Do mites happen often in Arizona? Its not at all humid here...
Also, how much should i be touching them and for how long? i have two young kids and i want them to be docile with them and be loving little girls but i dont want to upset them on their first day here. what do you think?
and finally my plan for the hot summer is this: shallow pool of water to wade in, and frozen water bottles in the hen house. we can also spray them off a little when they are free ranging. Im thinking of a box fan in the coop too... is this enough?
Ok sorry for my million questions. i thought i was prepared when i went to buy them but now I'm worried i wont do right by them.
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