New chicks checklist....

[Medda]

1st day - things I've learned:
1) definitely raise the water container up - chicks are messy, like really messy. They soaked the puppy pad around the water
2) separate the food and water containers - they had feed all in the water because I had them close to one another
3) chicks are louder than I thought they would be - they chirped/peeped a LOT yesterday. But they did settle down at dusk and became quiet.
4) have more space than you think you need in the brooder. This dog kennel/crate brooder would be fine I think if I had made the MHP smaller. It takes up a lot of space in this setup. Thankfully I only plan on keeping them in this brooder for another couple of days then they will move out to the garage and 24 sq. ft.

So I've made it through the first day/night with my sanity in place (for the most part - ). The chicks all made it through the night fine and came charging out from MHP when I turned the light on this morning. The office where I have the brooder has 2 large windows so they get natural light and I waited until the sun was coming up to turn on the room light. They immediately went for food/water. I've changed out the puppy pads, put the water container on a small cardboard box lid to raise it a bit, and moved the food to the other side of the brooder.

Today I'm introducing a vertical nipple water bottle (just a 20 oz. bottle with nipple cap). I've also removed the water with PND. They are all very active and only cheeping softly this morning. I checked for pasty butt 3 times yesterday and again this morning and not seeing any issues so far - but they are definitely pooping - all over the place . I am also hanging a hand mirror on the side of the crate today. Should be interesting to watch them with that.

What am I doing wrong or what else should I be doing at this point?
Thanks, Medda

 

[aart]

Congrats!
Good summary.

Watch the VN ...they can leak/drip pretty bad.
They also might not 'get it'....although the drips can help attract them to it,
so make sure they are drinking.

 

[Medda]

I've seen a few already trying out the VN. I have seen a few 'drips' after they move away but I plan to transition them to Horizontal nipples once they are a couple of weeks old. Mainly just trying to give them some things to keep them occupied/entertained.

 

[aart]

I've seen a few already trying out the VN. I have seen a few 'drips' after they move away but I plan to transition them to Horizontal nipples once they are a couple of weeks old. Mainly just trying to give them some things to keep them occupied/entertained.

Might try sticking an HN in there now<shrugs> who know sometimes they 'get it' early.
Are you building or buying the HN waterer?
Couple of examples for smaller ones on my article page.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...nipple-waterer-for-wire-crates-by-aart.72704/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/2-nipple-quart-water-bottle-holder.67773/

 

[Blooie]

Awesome!! You've got this!

May I suggest that you put something directly under the nipple to catch drips? @aart is right. Although the nipple system is wonderful for keeping water clean and doesn't require you filling it every it every other hour <sigh> it WILL drip. It drips when they finish drinking and it drips when they bump into it. Sure, it's still keeping the water clean, and you can scoop out the soggy bedding from under it, but it's still yuckky!

I put a glass candle lid with those little colored glass rocks used in fairy gardens or in flower arrangements under it. The drips went into that instead of on the floor, and the lazier, weaker chicks or chicks that didn't want to fight the occasional crowd at the waterer could sip the water that accumulated between the stones. Yep, I had to take it out and clean it up once in awhile. but it took like 2 minutes compared to changing a big circle of soggy bedding.

In this photo I just have a Silkie chick who was getting a dose of Nutri-drench followed by a drink of clean water, so he's on the counter. Can't really see how the lid works because I hadn't put it back under the nipple yet while I snapped some photos of the chick, but you can see what it is and how well it would work.

I only use the vertical nipples for a short time. After I know they have figured out how to trip the mechanism and are drinking well, I switch them to horizontal nipples and clean the vertical one out for next time. Horizontals don't drip as badly, and the little catch cup lets them drink those little drops out too. Horizontals is what they'll be using out in the outdoor brooder and coop, so I figure the earlier I get them switched the better.

Perfect!!

Scout was injured and I had to take him away from his broody hen and bring him in. Since the injury was to his feet, he couldn't drink from the horizontal nipple if it was hung higher because he couldn't stand, so in this shot it's sitting on the floor. But you can see that little "cup" that holds a drop or two of water. I try to switch them from vertical to horizontal as soon as they master the trigger mechanism on the verticals.

 

[aart]

Drip catcher...with the glass stones/marbles for weight and 'dry' footing is a great idea!

 

[Medda]

Might try sticking an HN in there now<shrugs> who know sometimes they 'get it' early.
Are you building or buying the HN waterer?

I will be building the waterer. I've got some 3 and 5 gallon food grade plastic tubs I will be using (1 dollar at WalMart bakery). My projects for tomorrow are:
1) put down the cheap vinyl squares in the big brooder over the OSB
2) finish the access panels for the front of the brooder
3) build the waterer with HN

Once those are done, I'll fill the brooder with pine shavings, set up the water and feed stations and get ready to move the chicks to the "big house" probably on Sunday or Monday.
Thanks, Medda

 

[Blooie]

Thank you, dear lady!

 

[PachecoPeeps]

Congrats on your new fluffy butts they are so cute and it sounds like you are doing a wonderful job.

 

[Medda]

Well, the best laid plans, yada yada....

I didn’t get to finish off the outdoor/garage brooder yesteday. I did get all the remaining supplies but that was all. Since that didn’t happen and they are suddenly calling for snow in the forecast, I decided to move the chicks into a larger dog kennel and keep them in the office a little longer. The original was going to be too small with the large MHP with how fast they grow. Their brooder space increased almost double and they are taking advantage of it .

I’ve also been checking 2 to 3 times a day for pasty butt. I have a couple of chicks that have “dirty” bums but they are not pasted over. I did use a Q-tip and some coconut oil to gently wipe the bum area and clean it. All 12 of the chicks are very active and eating/drinking like little pigs. I also introduced a horizontal nipple waterer yesterday and a few of them seem to have figured it out already. So here are some pics:
1). Old dog kennel vs. new kennel brooder
2). New setup with a hand mirror, and a piece of wood for entertainment
3). All 12 active, playing and eating (HN on the side and changed out to a tray feeder)
Thanks Medda