Questions so.many.Questions.

[RvChick]

Our little peach chick Penelope was, I think, lonely- crying all of the time and trying to get to us humans constantly as if in desperation.

So, we contacted another backyarder and purchased two more chicks off of their lavender orpington rooster and buff hens. Her fully grown chickens were the most beautiful animals I've ever seen.
Anywho...
Pearl is the lavender/smoky color and Minnie is the black/brown.

-Should I be offering them grit? And how?
-The other backyarder sprays her chickens with diluted permithrin (spelling?!) to keep bugs down....when should I start that?

-I put them all in a small dog crate with a towel, food & water, in the bathtub with a space heater on the floor so they stay warm.
Is this what I should be doing? They squawk quite a bit but then all go to sleep.

-Are they too young to be playing in the grass? Each afternoon (when it's warmest and we sit with them) I put them in out in the grass to play in my daughters outside playpen.
-And lastly but sadly, Penelope is still loud, flapping wings, rearing back and flapping around in circles. She likes to be held but prefers to be in charge, climbing as high on you as she can. Is she ok? Is this normal?

Thank you all for your help we are loving raising our chicks!

 

[RvChick]

*Sorry meant to say that they are inside in our bathtub at night only. We live in an RV full time so during the days,they are outside in a large dog crate. 48"x36"x36"

 

[ChickenThunderdome]

People are going to ask. Where are you currently at/current day and night temps?
I'm not sure of the space heater thing.. Personally I'd look into getting a chicken heat plate, they have small ones on ebay they are not that expensive, they are pretty safe and your chicks will love them.(plus they cost almost nothing to run compared to that space heater).

What are they about 2-3 weeks old? They've gotten this far. Just make sure they are getting quality feed that has all the vitamins they need.

Where are you going to keep them when they are adults? Assuming you guys have the RV stationary and are not moving around constantly?

 

[RvChick]

Hello Chicken Thunderdome!



We are in Texas until fall in a private rv space on 25 acres with a pond. After that we will be in Nevada- also on a large private land acreage.



So, being Texas....it ranges from 55-95 during the day and 32-75 at night.



I have a heat lamp in their outdoor crate that keeps them at 80-90 degrees.



The space heater is away from them in the bathroom and only from 9pm to 6am. Being so far out in the country, we have raccoons, mountain lions, bob cats, foxes, hogs, skunks and an abundance of snakes. And any one of them (or several species) can be seen at night.



Not really worried about the cost of running a heater- it's a motorhome so we are self contained. Zero cost for electric,water,sewer.



We've had our peach chick for a week and a half, and the other 2 for 3 days. Feeding them organic. Fresh water. And that's it. I was just trying to get answers to some questions so I can keep them alive...



As far as adulthood, we have huge storage space in our cargo trailer, so they will travel with us wherever we go. Setting their coop up at the next spot. We travel every 6 months or so, so they will be sophisticated well traveled chickens :')



They free range during the day when it's nice and coop up when it's not or night time.



Thanks!

 

[Stacyoung13]

I put my baby silkies out in the grass at 1 week. I have a screen I made a fence out of.

I also have one set up in the run for introductions. I also use a MHP, (momma heating pad), I used a piece of hardware clothe/chicken wire, bent to make a cave, put the heating pad over that, cover with towel to protect pad from poo. I don’t do what a lot of others do, so I have never given any of my babies grit, I’ve had no ill effects, (knock on wood), and I’ve never sprayed my chickens, I’ve treated their coop and run, but not the chickens themselves. And Penelope sounds like a normal, happy baby who is testing her wing and exercising her lungs. I have a 2 month old Polish who does that, his name is Spaz. I think your doing good. Others will come along and give you more advice. You have beautiful babies, enjoy them!!!

 

[RvChick]

I put my baby silkies out in the grass at 1 week. I have a screen I made a fence out of.View attachment 1757028

View attachment 1757034
I also have one set up in the run for introductions. I also use a MHP, (momma heating pad), I used a piece of hardware clothe/chicken wire, bent to make a cave, put the heating pad over that, cover with towel to protect pad from poo. I don’t do what a lot of others do, so I have never given any of my babies grit, I’ve had no ill effects, (knock on wood), and I’ve never sprayed my chickens, I’ve treated their coop and run, but not the chickens themselves. And Penelope sounds like a normal, happy baby who is testing her wing and exercising her lungs. I have a 2 month old Polish who does that, his name is Spaz. I think your doing good. Others will come along and give you more advice. You have beautiful babies, enjoy them!!!

Your chicks are gorgeous! That mhp looks amazing, I'll have to give that a try. My babies would love it. I was worried I'd messed up when the experienced backyarder said she never puts her chicks on the grass before 2 months. Glad to hear others do it too.
Obviously, with our rv lifestyle, we're not traditional in much of anything much less chicken raising lol
Thank you for all the tips. I guess there's a broad variety of techniques but it sure is FUN!

 

[Stacyoung13]

Your chicks are gorgeous! That mhp looks amazing, I'll have to give that a try. My babies would love it. I was worried I'd messed up when the experienced backyarder said she never puts her chicks on the grass before 2 months. Glad to hear others do it too.
Obviously, with our rv lifestyle, we're not traditional in much of anything much less chicken raising lol
Thank you for all the tips. I guess there's a broad variety of techniques but it sure is FUN!

I live full time in a rv also, and traditional isn’t really in my vocabulary either. I learned everything I know about chickens from this forum and experience with trial and error. The babies in the playpen are about 5 weeks now, (1 week when the pic was taken), and my sizzles with the MHP are 1 week. RV stands for recreational vehicle, incubating eggs and raising babies is recreational, Right?