New chicks checklist....

[aart]

I ended up getting 20% flock raiser instead of starter/grower. I hope that’s okay for the chicks. The person st TSC advised against chick grit for now so I didn’t get any to start.

That's what I use, I do grind it up in the blender for the first week or so.
They don't really need chick grit until you give them something other than chick feed or egg yolk, but it is good to give them some within the first few weeks, helps develop their gizzard muscles. I just sifted out smaller pieces out of a bag of regular grit that I got at the feed mill.
Here's a guide to sizes http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf.

Do you have your MHP built?

Do you have your coop built?
If these are your first birds, you could skip the brooder phase

Have fun!!

 

[Medda]

Thanks @aart. I do have the MHP built and ready to go. The coop is being built. I had some local ‘farm boys’ that were going to help me build it myself but once I decided on a Woods coop they were not to comfortable with it. I’ve got an actual contractor/shed builder now. I’m doing the 10x16 KD coop from Woods book and should have it by the middle to end of April. So around the time the chicks are 6-8 weeks old.
Thanks, Medda

 

[Medda]

The Adventure Begins - Chicks Arrived a day early.

Hi all,
My 12 chicks arrived this morning, a day earlier than anticipated. I've picked them up from the Post Office and gotten them home. I prepared one quart of water with PND in it but all the chicks seem to be okay at this point. They were chirping like mad on the drive home but since I've put them in the indoor brooder with MHP, they have settled down quite a bit. I hear a few little chirps/peeps but very soft, not loud and screeching. I assume this is what I want to hear?.....

I'll try to get some pics later today once everyone has settled in a bit. I got 2 each of the following breeds:

• Red sex link
• Black sex link
• Gold sex link
• Buckeyes
• Ameraucana
• Welsummer

Thanks, Medda

 

[pittmanbirds]

Congrats, enjoy your babies!

 

[aart]

I prepared one quart of water with PND in it but all the chicks seem to be okay at this point.

Offer plain water too.
Dip all their beaks and check butts after they warm up.

Oh, you're gonna have fun today watching chickie baby TV!!

 

[Medda]

@aart, LOL yes. I have them in my home office in their dog kennel brooder for now. I'm supposed to be working remotely today and tomorrow but I can already tell not much work will get done...haha.

 

[Medda]

First pic. All 12 are out from under MHP and eating like little hogs.

 

[pittmanbirds]

Cute overload

 

[moniquem]

Whats that thing floating in the water?

 

[Medda]

LOL i think it's a reflection from behind the water. I taped a piece of duct tape to hold some cardboard so it wouldn't be a 90 degree corner. That water bottle is plain water. The other is the water with PND (and marbles in the bottom).