Questions about bedding, wasps and others

[horror_trashcan]

I am wondering if pine needles are safe for chicks as I've read that they can be used in coops with grown chickens. I would like them to be able to scratch and dig however I think they are too young for dirt (4 days) and I read that grass clippings can get stuck in their crops. If grass is unsafe due to the size would uncut pine needles be better or would they still try and skull it?
Q1. Has anyone done pine needles in the brooder before with success? Or would it hurt for me to try?

I bought poultry cell in the thoughts that they would need the extra boost upon arrival although they all took to the food and water just fine and survived the night despite my constant paranoia. I read it can help with pasty butt so I did end up putting a small amount into some water and feed to make a mash if they wanted it. I'm wondering if it went bad or is expired as I have no idea what it should smell or look like. Its dark brown with some small bits floating inside and the smell is reminiscent of bouillon but very iron-y. The chicks don't seem to be interested and the ones that ate a small amount went right to the fresh water for a drink, making me think its gone bad. I had kept it in my basement but with the chaos of new chicks I had left it outside for a day or two (probably in the sun). Will this make them sick? Should I immediately remove it?

Q2. Chicks are uninterested in Poultry Cell and it was left outside for a day or two, is it bad?

Their brooder is at good temps and never above 50% humidity, (its very wet and humid here so that's a win for me) and I thought I wouldn't have brooder issues but apparently the wasps and yellow jackets are very interested in whatever is going on in there. I like to sit in there with the chicks and fighting off evil bugs distresses me and the chicks. What can I do to repel them from around/inside the brooder?

Q3. Yellow Jackets and Wasps are flying into the brooder and around it, what can I do to repel them safely?

I have one chick that seems to have bubbly poops. Not fully foamy but visible bubbles that die off in about 5 minutes. It had a little bit of pasty butt but I cleaned it off and it had another bubbly poop. No change in color or amount it looks fine other than the bubbles.

Q4. Chick has normal but slightly bubbly poop after pasty butt, should I do anything else for it?

One of the chicks is quite small I believe it to be a Ayam however as I watch them I see each chick go up to it and give it a few pecks on the beak. I assume this to be the pecking order being established and he seems to be on the bottom. Should I be prepared to separate this one? It doesn't seem to have any damage but obviously they're picking on him and that can't be fun.

Q5. Smaller chick seems to be on the bottom of the pecking order, do I need to remove it? It has not been injured.

Another, my suspected rooster likes to peck at their toes, even drug one of the feather footed ones around the brooder a little before I caught him. I assume this is because they're not very smart and he just thinks its food so I don't think this will become an issue in the future but is there anything I can do to prevent it?

Q6. Chick enjoys toe pecking, do I need to prevent this/what can I do to prevent it.

Lastly, I'm sure its normal but one chick seems to be more antisocial, spending more time outside of the little chick piles and preferring to peck around the brooder by itself. Is it okay? It eats and drinks fine and I'll see it standing near other ones, it just doesn't seem to like the big groups.

Q7. Are antisocial chicks a 'thing' or should I monitor this one closely?

Thank you for reading, any advice is welcome!

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Pine needles: I would not use them because even though the chicks aren't big enough to swallow them (depends on the size of the pine needles, though), they could potentially get stuck in the chick's nostrils (happened to my chick once.)
Bubbly poop: I'm not sure if its anything to be worried about, because my chicks have had bubbly poop a lot and they turned out to be fine

 

[horror_trashcan]

Pine needles: I would not use them because even though the chicks aren't big enough to swallow them (depends on the size of the pine needles, though), they could potentially get stuck in the chick's nostrils (happened to my chick once.)
Bubbly poop: I'm not sure if its anything to be worried about, because my chicks have had bubbly poop a lot and they turned out to be fine

Thank you for the insight!
I will avoid pine needles until the teenage phase and see how it goes from there.
It's only one chick as far as I can tell with no odd coloring so I do believe it'll be okay.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Q1. I have not tried pine needles before. Dirt is absolutely fine, if these chicks were being raised by a hen they'd already have been on the dirt by this point.

Q2. I don't use Poultry Cell but it's probably similar to Nutri-Drench which is also dark brown and iron-y smelling. Perfectly normal. If I add it to the water I make it the sole source of water, they don't get to choose to drink it.

Q3. Have you tried disposable traps? Won't get rid of them all but might help a little, and it's safe around other animals.

Q4. Sounds like possible cecal poop.

Q5. Minor pecking I wouldn't consider an issue, but keep an eye on the situation in case it worsens.

Q6. Make sure there's "stuff" for them to do in the brooder. Chicks get bored easily. Some folks draw dots on the brooder wall to give them something to peck at.

Q7. Sounds normal. Some birds like to wander off and do their own thing more than others.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Oh yes! Forgot to add that I use Poultry Cell as well. You should probably shake it up a bit. Are you refrigerating it? Is the stuff that you left out in the sun the entire bottle or water with poultry cell in it?

 

[horror_trashcan]

Oh yes! Forgot to add that I use Poultry Cell as well. You should probably shake it up a bit. Are you refrigerating it? Is the stuff that you left out in the sun the entire bottle or water with poultry cell in it?

I do shake it up, it is not refrigerated as it just says to keep it cool and dry, our fridge does not seal properly and causes lots of condensation so it did not seem like a proper place for it. Its the whole bottle not a diluted amount.

 

[PimsGarden]

Yellow jackets and wasps will very rarely pose a threat to you or your birds unless you disturb them. They also leave their nests in winter, all of the ones I know of do at least. So just give them space and in time they will disappear. I had wasps in and around my chicken coop this year and it was never an issue, they just left for winter too.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Q3. Yellow Jackets and Wasps are flying into the brooder and around it, what can I do to repel them safely?

Even at that age my chicks would eat them if they could catch them. I remember one time my wife stunned a wasp and dropped it into the brooder so she could watch them play keepaway with it.

Or are you worried about them stinging you? Are you allergic to their sting? They will usually leave you alone as long as you are not bothering their nest but if you are allergic I could certainly see your concern.

I would be very reluctant to use any pesticides around the chicks. Chickens have delicate respiratory systems, sprays could be bad.

Are you doing anything to attract them? Are you putting things in the water that might attract them? I know you read about adding all kinds of things to the water on this forum but I use clear clean water, no additives, and my chicks do great.

What are you feeding them? Sweet juicy fruit that might attract them? What chick feed, is there something in it to attract wasps and yellowjackets? Instead of trying to repel them I'd try to figure out why they are there to start with.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

I do shake it up, it is not refrigerated as it just says to keep it cool and dry, our fridge does not seal properly and causes lots of condensation so it did not seem like a proper place for it. Its the whole bottle not a diluted amount.

How long was it out in the sun for? A few hours? Days? If hours, how many?

 

[horror_trashcan]

Even at that age my chicks would eat them if they could catch them. I remember one time my wife stunned a wasp and dropped it into the brooder so she could watch them play keepaway with it.

Or are you worried about them stinging you? Are you allergic to their sting? They will usually leave you alone as long as you are not bothering their nest but if you are allergic I could certainly see your concern.

I would be very reluctant to use any pesticides around the chicks. Chickens have delicate respiratory systems, sprays could be bad.

Are you doing anything to attract them? Are you putting things in the water that might attract them? I know you read about adding all kinds of things to the water on this forum but I use clear clean water, no additives, and my chicks do great.

What are you feeding them? Sweet juicy fruit that might attract them? What chick feed, is there something in it to attract wasps and yellowjackets? Instead of trying to repel them I'd try to figure out why they are there to start with.

There is nothing in the brooder they should be attracted to. I add nothing to their water and they get only chick starter. I do not want to use any chemicals as I would have a worse reaction to that then the chicks.
I like to spend time inside of the brooder and wasps flying inside do not make me happy. It got quite chilly here and I have not seen one in a while. It is fine if I cannot do anything about this it is just a nuisance, I wear too many layers to be stung.

How long was it out in the sun for? A few hours? Days? If hours, how many?

It was out for two days maximum. It was very chaotic and I had left it out near the brooder.