Picking up my chicks tomorrow!! Need advice...

[Crimson Clover]

Hello all,
I am very excited to be picking my chicks up tomorrow! However with the weather being crazy this year the different types of chicks I ordered were ready at different times, and 3 of them still need 3 weeks to even hatch. So I am picking up six tomorrow and then going back in about 3 weeks to pick up the rest. I am new to this and its throwing me off a little bit because I am set up and ready for day olds!( And just found this out the day BEFORE pickup) The coop is all ready but I think its still to cold here in DE and wanted to wait for them to be 8 weeks anyway to introduce them to it. I just found out today that they range from one week to almost 3 weeks old and I am picking them up, like I said, tomorrow! Since I am set up for day olds and not a few week olds what should I know? I am posting this and then doing research the rest of the afternoon. Any help from all you pros is greatly appreciated! I feel just a little thrown by this because this is my first flock and I am very type A about these things...I am probably overreacting... But I am excited and now a little nervous!

 

[austinbndr28]

Hello all,
I am very excited to be picking my chicks up tomorrow! However with the weather being crazy this year the different types of chicks I ordered were ready at different times, and 3 of them still need 3 weeks to even hatch. So I am picking up six tomorrow and then going back in about 3 weeks to pick up the rest. I am new to this and its throwing me off a little bit because I am set up and ready for day olds!( And just found this out the day BEFORE pickup) The coop is all ready but I think its still to cold here in DE and wanted to wait for them to be 8 weeks anyway to introduce them to it. I just found out today that they range from one week to almost 3 weeks old and I am picking them up, like I said, tomorrow! Since I am set up for day olds and not a few week olds what should I know? I am posting this and then doing research the rest of the afternoon. Any help from all you pros is greatly appreciated! I feel just a little thrown by this because this is my first flock and I am very type A about these things...I am probably overreacting... But I am excited and now a little nervous!

I would have a heat lamp set up in the coop and have water ready and some feed. The only difference from day old chicks to couple weeks old is they have more feathers, a little bigger, eat a little more food. If they are day old chicks be sure to dip their beaks in water so they learn how to drink most people put shiny rocks or marbles in the water so they will peck and learn where the water is.

 

[3riverschick]

How many birds are you getting?

I would not put birds more than 2 weeks apart in age together. So put the 1 and 2 week olds together or the 2 and 3 week olds together . But not the 1 and 3 week olds. Since you will be reducing the number of chicks per brooder, just make another smaller brooder for the 1/3 who will be by themselves. In 3 weeks when the new babies hatch, you can put the older birds together and put the new day olds in one of the brooders. Once they get to 3 weeks old, they can be put in together with the older chicks.
Best Success,
Karen

 

[Crimson Clover]

Thank you both! I am getting 6 chicks tomorrow and then the last 3 in 3 weeks time. It's a lot of info but I think I got it!!