Scared!

[vanilla.exe]

Well, I am hopefully getting 2 silkie chicks this weekend. Last time I had chicks (button quail) it did not turn out so well. One of them got fried and the other got too cold. Those chicks I had hatched from eggs. These one will be 2-4 weeks old. Will it be any easier? I was thinking I would take a rubbermaid tub and borrow my tortoises heat emitter, but I see from reading the brooder thread that would cook them (the heat emitter is 250w). So, what can I use to keep them warm, but not too warm? What should I use for the floor? I have shelf liner and a pillow case I could use, I'm afraid to give them bedding in case they eat it. When they grow up I'll either be using sand or aspen (haven't decided.) Can I take them in their brooder outside with me during the day? I'm usually outside all day but I guess if I can't I could stay in here with them...What is the best brand of food? Can I give them any veggies or bugs as treats?

So many questions!!!!

 

[friedkitty]

Are silkies any different from other chicks? I use a 250 watt light with my 4 week olds, but I have it elevated a good 2 feet above the brooder, plus I have the half of the brooder away from the light with an overhang for them to get under for shade if they get too hot. Bedding seems to be a matter of preference, but I'm not sure about the pillowcase. You'll be washing that sucker daily!!

 

[vanilla.exe]

I guess I could mount the heat emitter from something other than the side of the tub, I hadn't thought of that, but I also have to keep them up high so my cat doesn't get them. She doesn't have a high prey drive and she probably wouldn't bother them (she sleeps with my tortoise, used to love my guinea pigs when we had them and is indifferent to the fish) but I'm not taking any chances. I'm going to look into alternative brooder options tomorrow when I can look and see what we have around the yard. I have some other pieces of fabric as well that can be used as bedding, so we'll say I'll be washing every 3-4 days.

 

[Judy]

They should be old enough to know the difference between food and aspen or pine shavings or sand, whatever you want to use. Lots of people give treats even younger. If you use sand it can also be their grit, which they will need if you give veggies and bugs. And I agree, be sure they have a way to get out from under the heat, to a cooler area. If they are 4 weeks old and indoors they may not need heat at all, or only an incandescent bulb, maybe 75w or 100w. You might want to put a thermometer in your brooder before you get them so you will know how warm the light bulb makes it. Remember they will add to the warmth some with their bodies. You don't have to watch them all the time. Plenty of people leave them for work. But yes, you can probably take them outdoors for a while; they will let you know if they are too cold.

 

[vanilla.exe]

Quote:
I have nothing to do but watch them all the time until I find a job But if it bothers them I won't watch them too much. Okay, seems like this won't be as hard as it seems, thank you guys for the tips and encouragement.

 

[Rooster61]

If their going to be 2-4 weeks old, you won't need a 250w heat light, I've had my 4 Reds and 2 Bantams under a 60w flood light from day one and no problems.
You may want to think of something bigger for 2-4 week old chicks, the more space they have the happier they will be, and be sure and put something over the top of the brooder(chicken wire, fabric netting), because they will be hopping out of anything lower then 36".
They will be fine going outside and long as it's not below 40*f (not sure what the temps are where your at)and not for extended periods of time(30-40 min) at around 40-50*
As for the bedding, at that age they know the difference between shaved pine, aspen bedding from food, so you won't have a problem with them eating that.
For the food make sure you use chick starter feed that has a min of 20% protein...that is very important to them getting everything they need to grow up.

 

[sweeterdeeter42]

I also have my chicks under a 60W floodlight. It is 90 in their Rubbermaid container, so all is well. I also have them on pine shavings. They are way to big for them to eat. They do run around with them in their mouths and chase each other, but I have never seen them eat them. I also have a window screen over the Rubbermaid container, which is the metal kind, and I set the brooder light on that on one side of the Rubbermaid container, with the water on the other side so it doesn't get hot. I have quite a few chicks of all different ages, and have not lost any to the heat lamp........

 

[allpeepedout]

I used 125W lamp and found my less than $2 thermometer invaluable. After the first week or so on paper towels, changing completely daily, I went to flat newspaper. Free, easy to roll up as a unit and fold over to completely change the bedding daily, plus easy to lay down fresh top sheets in between changes to keep them very fresh and clean. I don't hear many other people do this and perhaps having good access to the floor space in the brooder is one reason. I'm using a big dog kennel. I have fed Rural King store brand medicated chick starter and they have grown amazingly and are quite robust. Treats have been mashed hard boiled eggs and plain yogurt. Have introduced some grit, also.

 

[GAchick]

The reason you don't hear most people using newspaper is because it isn't recommended. Can cause leg problems because of the slippery-ness.

 

[vanilla.exe]

This is great advice everyone. I'm glad they'll be a little bit older. Thank you!