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Preparing for Hatchery Chicks to arrive

Discussion in 'Raising Baby Chicks' started by donnap1967, Jul 14, 2008.

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  1. Jul 14, 2008 #1
    donnap1967

    donnap1967 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Mar 15, 2008
    Northern NJ
    I have very limited experience with chickens. Right now I have four silkies that are 4 weeks old that I hatched at home. I am getting an order of six day old chicks (standard breeds) from My Pet Chicken this week sometime.
    I am planning to keep them separate for a week to quarantine before I attempt to put them together. Is that long enough?
    I know that when the new chicks come in the mail they will be stressed and I have purchased pedialyte for them. Is that better than sugar water? Should I give sugar water instead? Anything else I should be doing to prepare for hatchery chicks?
     
  3. Jul 14, 2008 #2
    eggzettera

    eggzettera Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Mar 9, 2007
    Eggzile and / or Utah
    I believe the recommended quarantine time is a month, & that they should not be too close, then you have to assimilate them – let them see each other but not able to “get” to each other for a week.....

    Pedialyte is better then plain ole sugar water but you may want purchase some Avian Charge (my local feedlot did not carry so I bought online @ McMurray), it comes in powdered form so you just mix as needed. It’s basically a multivitamin for chickens & good to have on hand for stressed or sick birds..sounds like you have the basics covered - good luck
     

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