***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[mjgigax]

Took the chicks, Checkers and Brave, outside for the first time today. Brave picked up on grazing right away, but Checkers wasn't getting it. It occurred to me that Puff had been recouping next to the chicks, so might not feel murderous toward them. Surely enough, she took right to them and had Checkers straightened out in no time.

A pic of Puff and the kids, and a pic of Checkers because it was too cute not to post.

So glad Puff is doing well!

 

[TRUE5]

Just got home about an hour ago and my chickens have been decimated!!

It was my dog Sasha. We left them at the house for 24 hours Gary was camping and I was working. She breeched the fence somehow, I walked the whole thing and can't see where or how she did it. She had never shown any interest at all in either the chickens or breeching the fence before now. I took Tucker to my FIL so I know he had nothing to do w/ it. She even brought the dead ones in the house, (we have a dog door) walked in the house to dead chickens everywhere! The only survivors were Jackie O, and the 3 broody moms w/ their 8 chicks. (mostly boys) and to make it worse, Gary took all the eggs to the camping trip!!!!!! I have a handful mostly of pullet eggs I am going to put in the bator today to see if I can salvage some of the genetics I was working towards. Just very sad.

Oh how heart breaking! I'm so terribly sorry!

 

[Ksane]

So my daughter wanted a lavender orpington so bad that I couldn't say no to adding one of these beautiful breeds to my little flock. Instead of one I am adding five. My compulsiveness bought five 2 week old chicks. They are so adorable but I will only keep one pullet and MAYBE just maybe one cockerel. Depends on when I decide on what breed I want a roo out of. So before leaving we talk to the sweet lady about what other breeds she breeds and she mentioned silkies. I have been REALLY been good at not seeking any silkies out online and so I wasn't going to buy any! I promise! So she asks my fave colors. She asked my two kids that had came with me what their fave color of silkies were. My son said black, my daughter white and I said I liked them all. BLESS HER HEART!!! She gave each a 6 week old Silkie chick! My kids got their fave colors and I got a blue! I really don't know what to say except bless that woman's heart! She made my children SO happy! I ended up giving mine to my youngest (but really I know it is mine

). I am just hoping that I can keep these babies happy and healthy!!

I have to say that chicken owners are some of the nicest people I have ever met!
Now for the question... I have read that I need to decrease the temp by 5 degrees every week... So if these chicks are 2 weeks then I figure about 90? Is that correct? I asked the lady if it was ok if I put all the chicks together and she said it should be just fine. Is that too hot for the silkies? Right now I checked and it was around 83. They wernt piled on each other but they were all together and seemed fine. I just really want to get this right so I don't lose any! Also I got the non medicated feed... should I have gotten the medicated? If I should get the medicated then could I just feed my chickens the rest of the non medicated? Its just crumble.

Very very kind of that lady! Just give the chicks a big enough area that they can get away from the heat source and they'll be fine. If they get too hot they'll move away and move back when they're cold. I don't even check the temperature anymore (I used to). You can tell by the way the chicks act if they're comfortable.
If the chicks will have no access to your other older chickens then you can use non-medicated. The medicated feed contains just a small amount of Corid (Coccidia medicine). Not enough to cure it if they get it but enough to help them up build an immunity to it without getting real sick from it. I use medicated because none of the places close to me carry non-medicated. But like I said-if the chicks have no contact with the older chickens then it's not needed.

 

[mjgigax]

So my daughter wanted a lavender orpington so bad that I couldn't say no to adding one of these beautiful breeds to my little flock. Instead of one I am adding five. My compulsiveness bought five 2 week old chicks. They are so adorable but I will only keep one pullet and MAYBE just maybe one cockerel. Depends on when I decide on what breed I want a roo out of. So before leaving we talk to the sweet lady about what other breeds she breeds and she mentioned silkies. I have been REALLY been good at not seeking any silkies out online and so I wasn't going to buy any! I promise! So she asks my fave colors. She asked my two kids that had came with me what their fave color of silkies were. My son said black, my daughter white and I said I liked them all. BLESS HER HEART!!! She gave each a 6 week old Silkie chick! My kids got their fave colors and I got a blue! I really don't know what to say except bless that woman's heart! She made my children SO happy! I ended up giving mine to my youngest (but really I know it is mine

). I am just hoping that I can keep these babies happy and healthy!!

I have to say that chicken owners are some of the nicest people I have ever met!
Now for the question... I have read that I need to decrease the temp by 5 degrees every week... So if these chicks are 2 weeks then I figure about 90? Is that correct? I asked the lady if it was ok if I put all the chicks together and she said it should be just fine. Is that too hot for the silkies? Right now I checked and it was around 83. They wernt piled on each other but they were all together and seemed fine. I just really want to get this right so I don't lose any! Also I got the non medicated feed... should I have gotten the medicated? If I should get the medicated then could I just feed my chickens the rest of the non medicated? Its just crumble.

Yes, I too have noticed how nice chicken people are.
I would get medicated crumble unless you want to raise all organic. It is ok for now for them to eat the non-medicated for a day or two. When I brood chicks I have the heat at one end of the enclosure so they can more closer or farther away, kind of regulating to their own comfort. If they are two weeks old they aren't as vulnerable as brand new chicks but I might try to get the temp. up into the upper 80's. If they are too cold they will chirp their heads off to let you know.
? What do you other folks think about the temps. for 2 week old chicks?

 

[shelbydog]

@TRUE5
I have 2 lav orp pullets. They are nosy bodies. I enjoy them.

 

[shelbydog]

Aren't they so much fun? I could watch "chicken TV" all day.

Yes. I got my mom, dad, and uncle to come over for some chicken tv this afternoon.

 

[TRUE5]

Very very kind of that lady! Just give the chicks a big enough area that they can get away from the heat source and they'll be fine. If they get too hot they'll move away and move back when they're cold. I don't even check the temperature anymore (I used to). You can tell by the way the chicks act if they're comfortable.
If the chicks will have no access to your other older chickens then you can use non-medicated. The medicated feed contains just a small amount of Corid (Coccidia medicine). Not enough to cure it if they get it but enough to help them up build an immunity to it without getting real sick from it. I use medicated because none of the places close to me carry non-medicated. But like I said-if the chicks have no contact with the older chickens then it's not needed.

Thank you! I was wondering if I really needed to feed them that. I am going to be slightly overly compulsive with cleaning their own poop out of their little home. They won't be with the older chickens until they are much bigger. I'm probably going to keep them out of the coop until they are ready to be away from the heat lamp. I have really been debating if I want to place a heat lamp in the coop just for my adults. Do you do anything in particular during the colder days?

Yes, I too have noticed how nice chicken people are.
I would get medicated crumble unless you want to raise all organic. It is ok for now for them to eat the non-medicated for a day or two. When I brood chicks I have the heat at one end of the enclosure so they can more closer or farther away, kind of regulating to their own comfort. If they are two weeks old they aren't as vulnerable as brand new chicks but I might try to get the temp. up into the upper 80's. If they are too cold they will chirp their heads off to let you know.
? What do you other folks think about the temps. for 2 week old chicks?

Thank you! I have placed it so they can get to a cooler area. They just seem to like it under the light right now. I plan to check on them before I get ready to head for bed since the temp feels like it has dropped a little more in the last while. Ugh! It's getting COLD!

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Puff is doing surprisingly well. I guess I should learn to not count a chicken out until it's over. I think she realized she needs a new flock until the old one accepts her back. Whatever her reasoning was, I'm sure the companionship was as good for her as it was the chicks. I'm just worried about what I'm going to do with her this winter. I think I may actually have to make her a chicken sweater, because she can't have all that recovering skin exposed and I can't keep her inside all winter.

Kass, maybe I should make her a chicken version of a Tom Baker Who-scarf.

Hey, Kass, are you going to take any steps for your dog to break her of chicken chasing? There's an old farmer trick that's supposed to work, but the neighbors never would let me tie a chicken to their dog's neck. Maybe they realized I might have knotted it a little too tight. It's actually kind of horrible, but if it would prevent this from happening again, it might be worth considering.

I've heard people swear by this method. I had a chicken killer and was desperate to stop her. She only killed chickens when we had thunderstorms- they terrified her and she would dig or rip through wire to get to the chickens. Tried everything but this and finally tried it. Didn't do a thing- my dog couldn't resist the chicken hanging around her neck and she just ate it after I got out of her sight. Tried to rehome her for months and finally had to take her to the pound.

Yes. I got my mom, dad, and uncle to come over for some chicken tv this afternoon.

 

[miohippus]

Just got home about an hour ago and my chickens have been decimated!!

It was my dog Sasha. We left them at the house for 24 hours Gary was camping and I was working. She breeched the fence somehow, I walked the whole thing and can't see where or how she did it. She had never shown any interest at all in either the chickens or breeching the fence before now. I took Tucker to my FIL so I know he had nothing to do w/ it. She even brought the dead ones in the house, (we have a dog door) walked in the house to dead chickens everywhere! The only survivors were Jackie O, and the 3 broody moms w/ their 8 chicks. (mostly boys) and to make it worse, Gary took all the eggs to the camping trip!!!!!! I have a handful mostly of pullet eggs I am going to put in the bator today to see if I can salvage some of the genetics I was working towards. Just very sad.

oh, so sorry Kass. that must have been awful to come home to. hopefully you will get some good chicks from your pullet eggs.

 

[Tony O]

Now for the question... I have read that I need to decrease the temp by 5 degrees every week... So if these chicks are 2 weeks then I figure about 90? Is that correct? I asked the lady if it was ok if I put all the chicks together and she said it should be just fine. Is that too hot for the silkies? Right now I checked and it was around 83. They wernt piled on each other but they were all together and seemed fine. I just really want to get this right so I don't lose any! Also I got the non medicated feed... should I have gotten the medicated? If I should get the medicated then could I just feed my chickens the rest of the non medicated? Its just crumble.

As long as there is enough room to get away from the heat if they get to hot, 83 degrees should be fine, especially with the older chicks in with them.

Some here may disagree, but personally, I'd continue with the non medicated feed. I never use medicated feed now, and the chicks seem to do better. If they need meds for anything, then that's what, and when they get it.