Newbie!!!

[Leah and peeps]

Hi, I am a newbie with chicks and i might be getting a couple next week!!!

Sooo.... i have been wondering, are there any extra tips or lessons you have about taking care, etc. with day olds and as they grow? Any help would be appriciated!!

I'll ask anymore quesions if i think of any along the way.....
Thanks in advance!!

So some Questions are:

1. How often should the chicks be handeled?
2. It's pine use use for shavings NOT cedar, right?? or is that the othjer way around??

Tips are AWESOME!!

 

[Leah and peeps]

Anyone???

 

[Shannon's Chix]

Hi Leah. I handle mine as much as possible, but not for too long and not if they're shaking. Pine, NOT cedar. Have fun!

 

[Tiramisu]

Yes, pine. Cedar has toxic fumes that could kill the chicks or give them respitory issues. With handling I would say just a few times a day at most.

 

[evhammond1200]

My seven year old daughter and I held ours as much as we could they are now 4 and 1/2 weeks old and will come to us in our coop! What ever you do for a brooder make sure it has rounded corners so no chick gets trapped and suffacates or overheats. We just used card stock bent around the corner and taped it. And def. use pine thats all we used some people use paper towels for the first few days but we just used pine from day one.

 

[noodleroo]

You want to use pine and I put a layer of white paper towels on top of it for the first several days (3 or 4) so that the chicks don't confuse it with their chick starter. Its easier for them to find on top of the paper towels. If they eat a little of the pine, it doesn't seem to hurt them.

I like for my chickens to sit on my lap and be really tame. Some do and some don't. If you do, go to my page to see how I tame my chicks. It really works, especially with less than week old chicks. Lets see pics when you get 'um!

 

[Leah and peeps]

Thanks so much everyone, Great info!!!

Any more tips are appreciated!! ...another question... when do the pullets/hens (or whoever) first molt?? How often will it occur?? any special care needed when they molt??

Thanks,

 

[blefky]

Welcome Leah!

You'll love BYC, lots of people with lots of experience and willingness to help. Make sure to peruse the learning center, there's tons of information there. Good luck!

 

[Leah and peeps]

Thanks so much!! and so about the molting?

 

[Leah and peeps]

I just ordered 5 sex-links (day olds) !!!!! My first chicks!!!!

So i need all the help i can get!! Can the chicks eat live crickets?? Any suggestions on rasing them ?? tips??