New Chicks Today!

[KappyFlock]

Hooray! We bought our chicks today! We don't know how old they are because the guy at the store didn't know. Maybe 1-2 weeks? He says they are not all the same age. 2 Rhode Island Red, 2 Gold Laced Wyandotte, 2 Black Australorp.

They peeped all the way home and one of them is really loud. We think one of the RIRs will be the one in charge!

I showed them the brooder plate but they weren't interested right away.

They walked around the coop a little bit, peeping. I took each one to a water cup but only one seemed mildly interested. How long do they go without water before I start freaking out?

Eventually they made their way under the brooder plate and have stayed there ever since. They quit peeping, smushed themselves together, and some of them even closed their eyes. Does this mean they are content and taking a nap?

It's 70 degrees and overcast here today, not the hot weather I thought would be good for a first day in their new place. They do have the brooder plate, but if they don't come out from under it soon, do I worry and move them into the house?

I have read so much and thought I knew what to do but now that we have them I'm worrying about everything.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Congratulations! Nice, enjoyable breeds ♡♡♡

I don't think your outside temperature is anything to worry about, you have provided them a nice warm place to recharge. Though you may want to put a chair in their coop for you
You can move food and water a little closer if you like. I am curious about the feeder and waterer. Are they way different from the feed stores? If not, chicks will warm and make their way ♡♡♡
Have fun and welcome to chicken world!

 

[KappyFlock]

Congratulations! Nice, enjoyable breeds ♡♡♡

I don't think your outside temperature is anything to worry about, you have provided them a nice warm place to recharge. Though you may want to put a chair in their coop for you
You can move food and water a little closer if you like. I am curious about the feeder and waterer. Are they way different from the feed stores? If not, chicks will warm and make their way ♡♡♡
Have fun and welcome to chicken world!

Thank you! We are already enjoying them and you are right about the chair! There is no room in there for us though! Right away I realized that our coop does not allow for good enough chick viewing. We are managing, but if I had to start over, I would figure that in to the design.

I was thinking about moving the food and water closer to the heating plate so everything would be right there. They had one session where they chowed down on all four sides of the feeder. Does that mean they know where the food is now and will remember it every time they are hungry, even if I don't move it closer?

Every so often I randomly grab a chick and dip her beak into the water. I have seen only a couple of them drink from the cups, even though they have passed by the water several times. They do recognize water when they come across it, regardless of the container, right? I sure hope so. I have seem them peck at the silver (horizontal) nipple but I can't tell whether they are pecking hard enough to get a drop of water. It happens so fast. How often should they be drinking water?

Our feeder and waterer are different from what they had at the feed store.

It's supposed to get down to 50 tonight. Please tell me they will be ok out there, with their heating plate. Or should I figure out a way to bring them inside?

One chick is constantly peeping, unless she is eating or sleeping. She's louder than the others too. Is she in distress? She seems to be moving around as well as the others. In fact, she is the most active one. What should I look for?

This is more stressful than I expected. They are fun to watch, but since we have no experience with chicks, I'm worried about everything.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I hear from other bycers and see that it is true with mine that once 1 is introduced to the food and water the rest will follow. I know their moms make noises and call them to show food and water. I tend to tap my finger mimicking moms beak. Being yours have been on their own at the feed store I would not worry too much. Just make sure one has it figured out.

Beeping could be because it is cold or calling for something. When mine beep a lot I will put them under heat to see if that helps.
Do you have chick grit? Sometimes mine will beep when they are ready for grit. If you do not have grit and live in a sandy area put a bowl of clean sand near their food.
50 would make me stay awake a little myself but I have no cold weather experience with chicks or chickens. You can cut a large mouse hole (or 2) on a medium sized box and place it over the warming plate. That way you will trap more warm air for them, like a mini brooder. Just be sure there is loosely 4+ inches on all sides and a good size mouse hole so they will be able to self regulate.
You sound like an awesome chick momma. You are doing well but I know the first batch of babies is a little nerve racking ♡

 

[Missyschix13]

Thank you! We are already enjoying them and you are right about the chair! There is no room in there for us though! Right away I realized that our coop does not allow for good enough chick viewing. We are managing, but if I had to start over, I would figure that in to the design.

I was thinking about moving the food and water closer to the heating plate so everything would be right there. They had one session where they chowed down on all four sides of the feeder. Does that mean they know where the food is now and will remember it every time they are hungry, even if I don't move it closer?

Every so often I randomly grab a chick and dip her beak into the water. I have seen only a couple of them drink from the cups, even though they have passed by the water several times. They do recognize water when they come across it, regardless of the container, right? I sure hope so. I have seem them peck at the silver (horizontal) nipple but I can't tell whether they are pecking hard enough to get a drop of water. It happens so fast. How often should they be drinking water?

Our feeder and waterer are different from what they had at the feed store.

It's supposed to get down to 50 tonight. Please tell me they will be ok out there, with their heating plate. Or should I figure out a way to bring them inside?

One chick is constantly peeping, unless she is eating or sleeping. She's louder than the others too. Is she in distress? She seems to be moving around as well as the others. In fact, she is the most active one. What should I look for?

This is more stressful than I expected. They are fun to watch, but since we have no experience with chicks, I'm worried about everything.

I can't totally relate! It was way more stressful than I expected too! Keep dipping beaks. I did that with mine. Once they took their first sips while I was dipping then I knew they would work it out. And I agree once one figures it out.... they're like sheep... everyone else will follow. Just keep in mind they are super little and don't require a ton.

As for your noisy baby, I'm sure she's just chatty. Sounds like she has everything she needs. As long as she's moving around and eating/drinking she's fine. I had one that was noisy too. I would run down to check her (turned out to be a cockerel lol not saying thats the case with yours!) and completely fine. Just being chatty.

Cardboard box to trap the heat like someone said will work. If you're really nervous, just put the box in the house somewhere and then inside the box overnight. Bring the heat plate in is another idea too. I used a dog playpen in my basement until my coop was ready.

I kept the playpen for a emergencies.

Congratulations by the way and they are super cute. We are all here to help calm your gitters! We've all been there. Ask away. Tons of wonderful people here to help!

 

[TropicalBabies]

I just did a hatch yesterday... as in I removed them from the incubator to the brooder... and then up the mountain where I am staying with half of my flock. I just checked the Temps here and we are 69°! I have a 3' x 4' open brooder up here (as in welded wire sides and a lid) and did put in a heat lamp last eve with a light blanket to cover and trap heat. Today I put in my heating pad as I am sure they won't want a lamp more than a week or two max.
Again, I would do an UPSIDE DOWN box with a mouse hole, toss a towel over to insulate and I bet you and they will be perfect. The one I can see looks to be 7-10 days old? Very cute ♡

 

[KappyFlock]

Thank you TropicalBabies and Missyschix13! You are helping me through this!

I just went out to check on them. I noticed the noisy one has a flake of pine shavings stuck to her side. I picked her up and dipped my finger in the water thinking I could coax it off if I moistened it. She wasn't happy, so I put her back down. I was unsuccessful at removing the pine shaving, but apparently my sticking my finger in the water triggered something. One went to the water and got a few long drinks, and then the rest followed. They had a flock party at the water cup! I enjoyed it more than they did.

Now the noisy one has stopped her constant peeping. Was she thirsty all this time? I had dipped her beak several times this afternoon but she didn't get it until now. Who knows why and she won't tell me. haha

They seem to do everything as a flock! I see now how if one figures something out, the others follow. Amazing and I'm so glad I witnessed this before lying awake all night worrying about it.

A picture of the water party.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Thank you TropicalBabies and Missyschix13! You are helping me through this!

I just went out to check on them. I noticed the noisy one has a flake of pine shavings stuck to her side. I picked her up and dipped my finger in the water thinking I could coax it off if I moistened it. She wasn't happy, so I put her back down. I was unsuccessful at removing the pine shaving, but apparently my sticking my finger in the water triggered something. One went to the water and got a few long drinks, and then the rest followed. They had a flock party at the water cup! I enjoyed it more than they did.

Now the noisy one has stopped her constant peeping. Was she thirsty all this time? I had dipped her beak several times this afternoon but she didn't get it until now. Who knows why and she won't tell me. haha

They seem to do everything as a flock! I see now how if one figures something out, the others follow. Amazing and I'm so glad I witnessed this before lying awake all night worrying about it.

A picture of the water party.

Oh my, I stand corrected. They look 1 week, no more. Such smart little cuties.

 

[KappyFlock]

I hear from other bycers and see that it is true with mine that once 1 is introduced to the food and water the rest will follow. I know their moms make noises and call them to show food and water. I tend to tap my finger mimicking moms beak. Being yours have been on their own at the feed store I would not worry too much. Just make sure one has it figured out.

Beeping could be because it is cold or calling for something. When mine beep a lot I will put them under heat to see if that helps.
Do you have chick grit? Sometimes mine will beep when they are ready for grit. If you do not have grit and live in a sandy area put a bowl of clean sand near their food.
50 would make me stay awake a little myself but I have no cold weather experience with chicks or chickens. You can cut a large mouse hole (or 2) on a medium sized box and place it over the warming plate. That way you will trap more warm air for them, like a mini brooder. Just be sure there is loosely 4+ inches on all sides and a good size mouse hole so they will be able to self regulate.
You sound like an awesome chick momma. You are doing well but I know the first batch of babies is a little nerve wracking ♡

I was going to ask about grit. I bought some, but the bag says to give to chicks after they are two weeks old. These are probably younger than that, so should they not have grit yet? I saw one go after a gnat, so I suspect they will eat things other than the crumbles. Does this mean they need grit even if they are not two weeks old yet?

 

[KappyFlock]

Oh my, I stand corrected. They look 1 week, no more. Such smart little cuties.

The guy at the store said they arrived this week (Monday?). I think you're right. Probably not a week old yet. They are soooo cute!