My husband and I live on 3 acres here in TN with 2 dogs and have recently expanded our family to include 15 adorable baby chicks. 3 Rhode Island Reds, 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 3 Barred Rocks, 3 Buff Orpingtons, and also 3 from the Rare Breed Assortment. From what we can tell so far one is a Polish, one is an Easter Egger, and one is a Cochin. The chicks are 2 weeks old today and all are active, healthy, and thriving. My husband made a double roost for them out of some branches from our woods and at 2 weeks they are already using it! I can't believe how fast they grow! A couple of questions:
1) When I do their nightly food/water changing, I was planning on starting to sprinkle a bit of Chick Grit on top of their food so that I can begin giving them occasional treats. Any tips on what some of their favorite things are for treats? This is how I plan on winning them over
Our chickens are intended as pets and for eggs and we would like be able to pick them up, pet them, etc. So far I am not winning them over with my personality lol they are terrified of me. I have gotten them to eat feed out of my hand though. The little BO's seem to be the bravest.
2) Is it safe to put things like grass clippings or sprouts in the brooder occasionally for them to scratch and eat at?
3) Occasionally I see a dropping that is more liquid, like melted milk chocolate (and after saying that I realize chicks may be a great diet plan, no chocolate craving here). Is this normal or a sign of a problem? About half of them have had pasty butt, and a couple of them more than once, so I am super diligent about inspecting little fluffy chick butts and their poop and cleaning them when needed. They have probiotic powder and electrolyte powder in their water every day. I think I am doing everything I can to keep them healthy but as a first timer I am super nervous about missing something.
4) I have one Barred Rock who seems slow on the development. She is smaller than all 14 of her sisters. The rest of the chicks are getting some really significant wing feathers that are as long if not slightly longer than their bodies, and she has about half that. Also most of them are getting some pronounced about half inch long tail feathers and she has none. Still has mostly that fluffy new chick look. I watch her constantly. She eats, drinks, poops, and sleeps normally from what I can tell. Just as active as the rest, doesn't appear to be bullied or anything. Are some chicks just smaller/slower than others? She is making me super nervous.
Thanks for taking the time to read/respond. Any suggestions are appreciated. So excited about these precious babies! Thanks in advance for easing my first time chicken mom jitters!
1) When I do their nightly food/water changing, I was planning on starting to sprinkle a bit of Chick Grit on top of their food so that I can begin giving them occasional treats. Any tips on what some of their favorite things are for treats? This is how I plan on winning them over
Our chickens are intended as pets and for eggs and we would like be able to pick them up, pet them, etc. So far I am not winning them over with my personality lol they are terrified of me. I have gotten them to eat feed out of my hand though. The little BO's seem to be the bravest.2) Is it safe to put things like grass clippings or sprouts in the brooder occasionally for them to scratch and eat at?
3) Occasionally I see a dropping that is more liquid, like melted milk chocolate (and after saying that I realize chicks may be a great diet plan, no chocolate craving here). Is this normal or a sign of a problem? About half of them have had pasty butt, and a couple of them more than once, so I am super diligent about inspecting little fluffy chick butts and their poop and cleaning them when needed. They have probiotic powder and electrolyte powder in their water every day. I think I am doing everything I can to keep them healthy but as a first timer I am super nervous about missing something.
4) I have one Barred Rock who seems slow on the development. She is smaller than all 14 of her sisters. The rest of the chicks are getting some really significant wing feathers that are as long if not slightly longer than their bodies, and she has about half that. Also most of them are getting some pronounced about half inch long tail feathers and she has none. Still has mostly that fluffy new chick look. I watch her constantly. She eats, drinks, poops, and sleeps normally from what I can tell. Just as active as the rest, doesn't appear to be bullied or anything. Are some chicks just smaller/slower than others? She is making me super nervous.
Thanks for taking the time to read/respond. Any suggestions are appreciated. So excited about these precious babies! Thanks in advance for easing my first time chicken mom jitters!
and Welcome To BYC! Sounds like you have a nice little flock. TwoCrows gave you some great suggestions. There are a couple of nice articles in the Learning Center on taming or training your chicks in the Raising Chicks section you might want to check out. 
