NEW TO CHICKENS

[birdsrfun]

Thank you. Do you cook the rice or do they eat it raw? Also, has anyone tried Apple Cider Vinegar in water for baby chicks to prevent pasty butt? And....in your experience....when is the best time to take the baby chicks from under the heat lamp?

Cook the rice and your chicks will love it. Chickens eat wild rice all over the world, but I always use cooked rice. Start the chicks at 95 degrees, and decrease it 5 degrees each week until they can come off the heat.

Don't use vinegar in metal containers, only in plastic. Use raw ACV only, and about 2 Tbsp per gallon of water.

 

[NiftyChickie]

Cook the rice and your chicks will love it. Chickens eat wild rice all over the world, but I always use cooked rice. Start the chicks at 95 degrees, and decrease it 5 degrees each week until they can come off the heat.

Don't use vinegar in metal containers, only in plastic. Use raw ACV only, and about 2 Tbsp per gallon of water.

Thank you! How many weeks do the chicks have to be before they come from under the heat lamp?

 

[Veer67]

Thank you! How many weeks do the chicks have to be before they come from under the heat lamp?

I depends on the weather, I moved my chicks when they were 5 weeks old in the summer.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/04/when-to-move-chicks-from-brooder-to.html

 

[Veer67]

I would recommend feeding them cooked rice, I know someone who fed their chickens rice with the shell still on. All their chickens died.

 

[NiftyChickie]

I would recommend feeding them cooked rice, I know someone who fed their chickens rice with the shell still on. All their chickens died.

Great Thank you!!

 

[birdsrfun]

Thank you! How many weeks do the chicks have to be before they come from under the heat lamp?

At about 4 to 5 weeks when the chicks are feathered out, and when you have reduced the heat down to about room temperature, you can leave the lamp off for good if they are still in the brooder box inside.

It's October now and just getting cooler. I don't know where you are located, but even in temperate regions, you may need to add a heat lamp in your coop at night when you transfer them outside for good at about 6 weeks old. There's a lot of differing opinions on when to put chicks out into the coop full time. Hopefully others will add their views and you can get a feel for when you are comfortable putting them outside for good.

 

[NiftyChickie]

At about 4 to 5 weeks when the chicks are feathered out, and when you have reduced the heat down to about room temperature, you can leave the lamp off for good if they are still in the brooder box inside.

It's October now and just getting cooler. I don't know where you are located, but even in temperate regions, you may need to add a heat lamp in your coop at night when you transfer them outside for good at about 6 weeks old. There's a lot of differing opinions on when to put chicks out into the coop full time. Hopefully others will add their views and you can get a feel for when you are comfortable putting them outside for good.

Great! Thank you for all the wonderful info. I'm so glad I joined BYC!