Newbie to chicks and NERVOUS as heck!

[cmjust0]

Something else...a few of mine got pasty butt. After I figured out that you can't just pull it off (figured out by trying and watching birdy butts streeeeeeetch), I decided to soak it long enough that it could be pulled off.. And, when I say pulled off, I mean pulled off.. As in, it still took fuzz with it as it came. Their hind-ends were red and swollen, and it frankly wasn't pleasant to look at...

I didn't know what else to do except dry them off, say "sorry about that, little bird," and put'em back in the brooder.

Some folks here would have a fit watching somebody do chicks that way, but ya know what? They're fine.

Every..single..one..

You'll be fine..they'll be fine..this place -- as helpful as it is -- can also sometimes make you feel woefully unprepared for your brand new life with chickens, but everything will be fine.

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

Quote:
Well, that's why I asked what everybody thought. I have never had to buy or use a heat lamp before and this being a forum full of people who have done this many times, I figured that what has worked best for most of these folks would also work well for me. I have no idea what it takes to keep chicks warm, this is my first time doing this. I really don't want to play the trial and error game at the risk of losing my chicks. I feel like I can make a more educated decision based on the experience of others, rather than just winging it.

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

Quote:
LOL I just want to make sure I'm prepared and don't kill anybody due to lack of knowledge or inexperience. Their little lives are in my hands and I don't want to screw up! I'm sure that within a couple of days of caring for them I'll be more confident about this. It's just that it's completely foreign to me right now, you know? I appreciate everybody's advice, knowledge and input very much!

 

[SushiLove]

Chicks send out A LOT of dust!! Once those big feathers start really coming in...my goodness, the amount of dust in one day is amazing!!
So my suggestion would be to keep the babies in an area you are able to keep clean or...in an area you wouldn't care about keeping clean.
Other than that...HAVE FUN!!!