I am assuming the chicks are not vaccinated (
TSC stock) So would it be a good idea to start them off on medicated feed? Or just go plain?
Yes, farm store chicks are almost never vaccinated.
Also, the vaccines don't *usually* have anything to do with the medication in the feed -- being for different diseases.
I *personally* like the insurance factor of feeding medicated feed for the first weeks. Just in case.
How do you guys introduce 'real food' to chicks? One at a time and wait a little? Or throw them out into the yard/run, hope they know what they are doing? It would help there if one had an older hen I guess.
Chicks can't have anything other than their starter crumble (or all-flock crumble), unless they also have grit.
I wait 2 weeks to start introducing the tiniest bit of green stuff -- broken up into pieces like a single lobe of a clover leaf and only one per chick. That's not universal practice. Just my comfort point.
However, I must note that since I brood outdoors I've had chicks just out of the shipping box -- in the stage where they're supposed to have water only -- snapping up dead bugs under the heat lamp or picking ants off the walls. So not everything is always under our control.
Is DuMore a decent brand feed? I would love not to buy more Purina. I can't wean my cats off it.....
I'm not familiar with that brand. My local feed store is a Southern States and I use their brand. The
TSC is much further away and I've never had occasion to buy feed their.
the selection is largely reduced, I am guessing chick days are over.
In one tub the chicks had something dark stuck on their bum, about the size of a small olive. I could not get close enough to see what it was (and I can't see worth a crap anyhow)
But I figured I should stir clear of those chicks seeing I have NO clue whatsoever.
WISE MOVE!
That stuff stuck on their bums was almost certainly Pasty Butt -- a condition that can kill them without treatment. You don't need that as a first-timer. (It's often related to shipping stress or to too warm a brooder and not necessarily
TSC's fault -- but not something you need for your first chickens).
May I suggest that you consider ordering chicks from Ideal? They don't have a numbers minimum, only a dollar amount, and your desire for 6 is well within reason for that. (If you think you're capable of it, order extras, pick the ones you like best, and sell the rest).
I've had great luck with my orders from Ideal and figure that since they're in Texas their lines are heat-adapted for our climate.
https://www.idealpoultry.com/shoponline
