New Chicks! Help, anyone?

[Sunny-Side Up]

Hi everyone! I'm starting to get super excited for new spring chicks! Although I've raised chickens once before, but I want to make this time even better: no problems! If you have any tips or simple facts about raising chickens, especially chicks, please let me know. Thanks ahead!

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Hi there! Let's start off with what you do know? Could you share what you already know about raising chicks? And what are your problem areas? Best wishes! I look forward to helping you!

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

Well, as for chicks, I know feed, temperature, important ages, and all of the big things. I'm just wanting little tips or trucks that really don't matter life or death, but make life easier for the chicks. I'm going to get about seven, many different breeds. I didn't have many problems last flock, just broodiness and some pasty bum. The biggest problem was egg eating later on. Although experience is the best way to learn, so I probably (hopefully) won't have many problems. Just any trick that you have learned will be fun and helpful. Even stories of things that you did. Thanks, and sorry if this is vague!

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Well, as for chicks, I know feed, temperature, important ages, and all of the big things. I'm just wanting little tips or trucks that really don't matter life or death, but make life easier for the chicks. I'm going to get about seven, many different breeds. I didn't have many problems last flock, just broodiness and some pasty bum. The biggest problem was egg eating later on. Although experience is the best way to learn, so I probably (hopefully) won't have many problems. Just any trick that you have learned will be fun and helpful. Even stories of things that you did. Thanks, and sorry if this is vague!

Well, as for breeds, I would make sure each chick has a 'buddy' of their own breed. Each breed tends to have an internal radar that reaches out to hang out with their own breed. They do interact with the other breeds, but not as much.

As for some fun ideas, I had my brooder in a dog crate, which worked very well. When my chicks got a bit bigger, we put a long paper towel roll through the holes in the crate. Eventually, the snapped the roll in two, but it was fun for a few weeks! LOL!

 

[lazy gardener]

1. read all there is to read in the learning center.
2. Mama Heating pad brooder. Outdoors, preferably in the coop with a section partitioned off for them.
3. Lots of space in the brooder. By the time they are 2 - 3 weeks old they should have 2 s.f./chick
4. Avoid use of a heat lamp, especially in combination with a plastic tote.
5. Start them off right: within the first 2 weeks of hatch, give them a plug of sod from an untreated lawn to boost their immunity. That sod will also give them lots of goodies: first grit, first greens, first bugs, worms, and seeds, first scratching for goodies experience, first dust bath, as well as lots of play experience, king of the hill and bug scrimmage being their favorite 2 games.

 

[azygous]

If I could offer one single piece of advice with baby chicks it would be to fashion your brooder setup so you can handle the chicks from the side instead of reaching down for them from above.

Top access brooders are much more likely to produce chicks that are scared and flighty. Side access promotes trust and calm.

 

[millicent111]

I got about 70 chicks, 35 brown pullets and 35 broilers, not so sure the breed. Put them in their breeder and the seemed to be doing fine. At day 3 I lost one of the pullets and now at day 5 I just lost another of the pullets. None of them showed any symptoms of being sick. I'm really worried or should I just count them as the weak ones though they all behaved fine till they dropped.

 

[lazy gardener]

How big is your brooder, where is it, what are you using for a heat source and what is the temp under the heat and away from the heat? What are you feeding? What are you using for bedding? Are they getting any vitamins, electrolytes? All my chicks, regardless of their condition at hatch get Poultry Nutri-Drench for the first 2 weeks. First daily, then gradually decreasing to every few days.

 

[millicent111]

I got about 70 chicks, 35 brown pullets and 35 broilers, not so sure the breed. Put them in their breeder and the seemed to be doing fine. At day 3 I lost one of the pullets and now at day 5 I just lost another of the pullets. None of them showed any symptoms of being sick. I'm really worried or should I just count them as the weak ones though they all behaved fine till they dropped.

 

[millicent111]

Just lost another pullet, less than 15 hours from the last one.... So sad. I have no idea where things are going wrong, they just end up on their sides all stretched.