Raising My First Batch of Bantam Chicks!

[pecky33]

Hello! I am so excited to be sharing info and pictures of my chicks with you all! This will be my second time ever raising chicks and my first time with them being bantams!

I ordered them from Stromburg’s Hatchery. I know some people have things against hatcheries (TBH, I don’t LOVE them, either), but this was the best option for my position right now. They hatched on May 19th and arrived to me today, May 20th! I ordered 12 chicks and got 2 extra, so I now have 14!

Here’s what I got (all new breeds to me!)
3 Black Silkies (+1 extra)
3 Millie Fleur D’Uccles (+1 extra)
3 Black tailed white Japanese
3 Birchen Cochin bantams

I will welcome any suggestions and tips for my babies with an open mind, but will choose whether or not to use your advice using my best judgment for my chick’s needs!

Right now, they are being brooded in a large rubber livestock water trough. Their bedding is hay on the very bottom, then medium flake wood chips, then paper towels on top (for the first few days). I built them this water stand to keep their water clean!

 

[pecky33]

Hello!

Also, I was so happy to see that they came with a heat packet, seeing as they came to Missouri all the way from Minnesota! And it was still warm and they were all alive!

 

[pecky33]

I removed the paper towels and they are on wood chips now! (P.S. I promise I filled up their feeder right after these pics!)

Also, I have had a couple poopy vent areas on my chicks, but a little session with them in my bathroom (and a blow dryer ) and they were all fixed up!

This is my brooder setup right now. The heavy fence panel on top it to keep the cats out. It is kinda a pain to lift every time I want to see the chicks (I prop it up for long bonding sessions), but I’d rather that than dead chicks. And the blanket on top is to keep drafts out (because this is in the barn).

And I made the little cardboard toys that are in there right now. I’m so happy that they love them! The sparkly stars that I hot-glued on are their favorite thing to peck at! I think it’s a great distraction for them so they don’t peck at each other. As seen in the pics, this one Silkie is obsessed with the stars. And they love running through and under the toys. The “binoculars” one is made put of TP rolls.