Polytonine A in meat chicks' water?

[BYCforlife]

I am getting half of the fast-growers, and half of the normal growers. I'm getting 16. I will look into a heating pad. Thanks!

 

[BYCforlife]

I am getting 8 (I believe they are called) Cornish Giants, and 8 normal growers. Not sure which ones those are.

 

[BYCforlife]

I am getting 8 (I believe they are called) Cornish Giants, and 8 normal growers. Not sure which ones those are.

Sorry, I just realized that I have to quote my message to make it pop up right after your message.

 

[lazy gardener]

For that many chicks, you will need an extra large pad. Most of us use the Sunbeam X Press pad with the 2 hour shut off override.

 

[BYCforlife]

For that many chicks, you will need an extra large pad. Most of us use the Sunbeam X Press pad with the 2 hour shut off override.

Okay. So I would just make sure to not have it cover the whole floor, so they can, as you said, self-regulate their temperature?

 

[lazy gardener]

For the first week, you should have at least 1 s.f./chick, and by the time they are 2 - 3 weeks old, I recommend a minimum of 2 s.f./chick. Yes, the heat source, whether a heating pad or a heat lamp should take up a very small area of the brooder. It's very important that they have room to move around and play, as well as get away from the heat. It's amazing how much room the heat source, and the water and the feed take up in a brooder.

 

[BYCforlife]

For the first week, you should have at least 1 s.f./chick, and by the time they are 2 - 3 weeks old, I recommend a minimum of 2 s.f./chick. Yes, the heat source, whether a heating pad or a heat lamp should take up a very small area of the brooder. It's very important that they have room to move around and play, as well as get away from the heat. It's amazing how much room the heat source, and the water and the feed take up in a brooder.

Sounds good! I tested my heat lamp on the bin today. I got it to 33 degrees exactly. I heard that's the temperature to keep it for the first 5 days? I got a jar feeder and waterer, and they seem to be space-efficient. I'll just have to wing it when I get the chicks.

 

[lazy gardener]

Quote: That's a good starting place, but you may be able to drop the temp after a day or two. Be sure they can get away from that heat, to an area that is room temperature or cooler. Many folks who use heat lamps, especially newbies adhere closely to the 5*/week formula, without taking chick behavior into consideration, or working on weaning the chicks from heat. Mama broody does not keep her chicks at a constant temperature, or even drop her temp 5*/week. As a matter of fact, when a 3 week old chick seeks heat, he gets pretty much the same heat from Mama as he got when he was a day old... Ways to work on weaning: turn the heat off for a few minutes every day, and increase that time till they are going all day without heat. Step down the wattage of your heat lamp by switching to a lower watt bulb, or using a dimmer switch. Give the chicks a wool hen.

 

[BYCforlife]

Thanks, that sounds great. I'll need the advice!