New chicks and working full time

[LittleFeat]

I've done a search and can't find anything about this but wanted to ask....It seems so many of you are around with your chickens all day and I've got 5 baby chicks ordered from MPC and wondered if I'll have any problems being at work all day and not be able to be there with them? I will be with them the day I pick them up but then should go back to work the next day.

 

[keljonma]

Just check on them before you leave for the day and when you get home. Make sure they have fresh water and feed. At the end of the day, check that no one has pasty butt. Try to spend some time with them in the evening to observe their behavior. You will get to know what "normal" is for them and it will help you recognize when something is wrong. Also, spending time with them will help them be more calm around you. They should be fine.

 

[Kotiya]

You'll all be fine. I work PT and the peeps don't mind a bit. They'll adjust to whatever you need. My first few days (my first time) I over-fussed. They are amazingly self-sufficient - as long as you keep the food and water coming!

 

[twentynine]

Only way I have ever done it. Been working full time forever and will continue to work full time for an additional 7 years (Good Lord willing). Hasn't stopped me from having my chickens.

Fill the waterers and feeders before you leave.

Fill the waterers when you get home.

Make sure you have TWO lights on them in case one burns out. I prefer to use two lower wattage lights rather than one high wattage light. In the summer they can survive with out supplemental heat.

 

[onedozenphyllises]

Yes, as long as they have plenty of food and water and are protected (i.e., from the family dog or whatever) they should be fine while you're at work. I've now raised several batches of babies and they're a lot hardier than I expected! I raise them in hot hot Texas, and use almost no supplemental heat, but I always give them a heat lamp at night for the first week. I have:

Forgotten to turn the lamp on at night = chicks were fine.

Forgotten to turn it off in the heat of the day = chicks were fine.

Left older babies in an outdoor brooder during a surprise thunderstorm (at night) = chicks were fine.

Left them alone for 14 hours at a stretch when I had to work extra long days = chicks were fine.

I'm not really as bad a mama as I sound, but you know, things happen, and so far, they've been extremely resilient. More than I expected. It's worth noting, though, that we have a really forgiving climate. YMMV.

 

[bstarr20]

I worked and daughter was in school. checked them in the morning and agiain when we got home. they are now almost a yr old and doing fine. will still run up to us when we got out

 

[StacyK]

I just raised my first chicks & I work 4 days a week. They did fine. We bought six thinking we would end up with 3-4 due to losses raising them. But we still have 6 healthy 16 week old pullets, so we did something all right!

I did make sure that I spent time with them each evening talking to them & picking them up. They don't like being held at all now, but I can catch them if needed & they are doing well

 

[LittleFeat]

Thanks everyone for your answers! I definitely plan to have them in a very protected tub inside a dog kennel as I have cats and dogs that would just LOVE to "play" with them. lol I think I'm going to have them in the garage as it's very warm out there without being too hot. Their coop/run should be finished in plenty of time for them to go into it when they are old enough. They don't ship until the week of Aug. 17. Think I need to stay off the "injuries/diseases etc." forum for a while...that stuff is scarry.

 

[onthespot]

When they are babies usually no problem other than pasty butt. When they get older they can knock over the smaller waterers and go thirsty. When you see them trying to fly, get a bigger waterer that they can't drink down and knock over while you are gone. How big that is depends on how many chicks you have in the brooder, how hot it is, and how long you are gone. Don't worry about your chicks. I work a LOT of hours sometimes and they do fine. They are not like puppies and are pretty much self sufficient the day they hatch if you make sure they are the right temp, right food, and clean water they can reach but not fall into... Anthing that self destructs in eight hours wasn't very good to start with in my opinion. Enjoy work, enjoy your chicks when you are home. Good luck, and POST PICS!!!

 

[shilo356]

hi read my recent post..try it..really will help with the bonding