New to baby chicks

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

We're glad to have you. Good luck with your chicks; I hope the rest of them survive and grow up happy and healthy!

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[drumstick diva]

Two Crows gave you excellent advice, so I will just say

. Also there are several silkie threads on here. Silkies are a very popular breed. If you put 'Silkie thread' in the search box it should pop up.

 

[kheatherly]

Thanks to everyone's help on here I think my chicks are gonna be fine. I finally got the temp where it needs to be. I put the cardboard around the tote and after about a hour it finally got warm. Not sure why the 250 watt bulb isn't putting off much heat?? I had it lowered as far as it would go and it's a red bulb. However I didn't realize that I should have started heating it the day before. I've never had chickens or been around them but I was told a couple would be great for my 4 year old son that has autism. We have only had them 2 days now and so far my hubby, myself and all 3 kids are in love!!! I was told we need to check on the 4 or 5 times a day....well between the 5 of us they have probably been checked on over 200 times a day lol and my 14 year old daughter sleeps in the room with them all night lol. Thanks so much for everyone's help. Anything else that I may need to know please help me out. Thanks in advance.

 

[gander007]

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome!

 

[Skidchik]

I too got my 9 babies this morning!! They are hilarious! I did almost burst out into tears when I aw a couple of them laying flat but they kept getting up and playing so I figured that was normal . I checked this forum just to be sure and yep! It's normal! Whew!

The place I bought them (Jax in Loveland Colorado). Said not to feed them until tomorrow and that I should make sure they are drinking plenty before giving them the chick feed. So they don't get pasty butt.?! That will be an experience for me...

Does this sound right?

 

[Kelsie2290]

Congratulations on the new chicks! Glad everybody is doing well! That "sunning" themselves they do is funny isn't it, can be rather alarming when you look in and you have a brooder full of flat chicks. I usually have feed out for them right away when I take them out of the hatcher, though they really don't need to eat for the first couple of days after hatch while they are still absorbing the yolk sack (why you can ship day old chicks). Don't know that it would do anything for preventing pasty butt. X2 on the be sure everybody is drinking for sure.

 

[Skidchik]

Thank you Kelsie, they are probably 3 days old now and (shipped to store on 26th, I got them today) since I gave them the chick food, they have settled down and the one Barred Rock stopped nipping every one's feet!