So far, not the best experience...

[nightshade]

When it comes to getting worms if you live in town. Look at your local walmart in the sporting goods section. Or now that trout season is coming they are in nearly every gas station around here. I used to buy mine over winter at walmart though when I had turtles. Hope this helps alittle.

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
Yep, that's exactally it. At first they peck at the ball or try to eat the tip, but eventually they get it down so well that they just put in their top or bottom beak against the ball and drink. I usually try to keep the ratio of birds to bottles to be 8-10. They will do fine and will easily convert back to regular waterer's when they are outside. It makes raising chicks in doors sooo much more pleasant, no wet bedding and shavings in the water to clean out. Make sure they each get a taste of whats in the bottle and keep an eye on them for the first day or so to make sure they actually do drink. I check by feeling to make sure their crops are not hard but the normal softish consistency.

I'm all for easy care, even got my hamsters potty trained to cat litter in a cheese carton! No stinky urine chips!

 

[jmofaustin]

If you think your chicks stink, get ducklings! Oh boy, I had to move them outside after they turned 2 weeks old because they did not just smell up a room, they managed to stink up the whole house in 1 day, yuk! Hope that makes you feel a little better.

 

[shandea]

You're right, everyone has been so nice. I expected some nasty comments, but this is a great group. Last night, I held each of them for about 10 mins. One actually fell asleep. They won't eat anything out of my hand if I'm holding them though... only will if they're in their bin and I stick something in there.

I put the shavings back in, sprinkled some DE in, and raised the food and water up a bit. That has made a big improvement.

I also moved my son's playhouse to the new grass and put them in their for the warm (83 degrees) evening yesterday. (This is the one I was planning to use for the coop before we decided to have a chicken tractor built.) They had about a 4' x 5' area in the grass that was safe and secure, but they didn't seem to enjoy it. They just stayed huddled in their little pile and wouldn't explore.

Everytime I'd reach in to pick one up, they scattered and freaked out like I was trying to kill them or something. They actually seemed glad to get back in their bin.

I don't really feel like I'm making much progress with getting them used to me, but it sure smells better with the shavings.

 

[CranberryBirds]

Hang in there and keep at it!

If they were huddled up, could they have been cold? Was it windy at all? When they are little fluff-balls, drafts and wind are troublesome.

Keep at it, just keep thinking of all the lovely omelettes that your chickens will give you. It will get better.

Just a few short weeks ago the chicks' world was the inside of an egg--it's no wonder that sights and sounds and grass and EVERYTHING freaks them out!

Just like with a timid dog or a timid person, consistency and gentleness (um, and treats!) are the key!

 

[shandea]

No way they were cold... it was 83 when I had them out there. And believe me, I was wishing for some wind!

But yeah, I'm hanging in there and we'll get through it. Thanks!

 

[bigzio]

shandea, once the chicks are a little older and braver to investigate a little, as soon as one chick makes a move the rest will follow.

Good luck and keep the faith.

bigzio

 

[keljonma]

shandea,

I agree with bigzio. Chickens are leary of new things.

If you watch your chicks, you'll soon discover who the explorer is in the group. Pick up your explorer chick and put it just a little bit farther away (8-10" or so) from the rest. Put a little feed down next to it. Soon the others should join it.

In our flock we have 2 or 3 explorer chicks. Our White Wyandotte, White Faced Black Spanish, Buttercup and Silver Spangled Hamburg can't wait to conquer that unexplored territory.

It just takes patience. You'll get there!

regards,
keljonma

 

[suburbanhomesteader]

Can't remember who wrote:

even got my hamsters potty trained to cat litter in a cheese carton

BUT--->Wow! You are one organized woman! LOL!

Shandea-I am SOOOO glad you asked this question! At day two, with only one Barred Rock chick, I was asking myself the same thing.

I was using shredded newspaper on top of a puppy training pad, and the stench was...well, stenchy!

In desperation, I visited Walmart and picked up pine shavings and also the little ferret bedding pellets previously mentioned. Haven't tried the pellets yet. Using only 1/2" of the pine didn't work any better than the newspaper. The next day, I accidentally overdid the pine shavings and that evening, couldn't smell "Bo" (peep) when I walked in the door. As I think about it now, all the articles I read about compost toilets mention the need to put drop the waste on shavings, and then cover with shavings immediately. Thus, I think the 2" of shavings being mentioned here is right on!

Also, I've been having a problem with shavings ending up in the chick waterer, leaving me with a pile of wet shavings. Elevating the waterer didn't seem to help. I actually searched "bottle waterer" and hit this thread. Thanks for answering that question, too!

Last, but not least, Bo (I PROMISED myself I wouldn't get attached) was pretty scared of me the first couple of days. Now, I talk to her all the time, and when I go to clean her crate or give her water, I make a point of having a little food in my hand to give her. Haven't given her any treats until today, when I found a worm as I was planting my impatiens. She was a hoot with the worm! Was having trouble eating it, so I thought I would take it from her and break it in half. HA! She peeped loudly through the worm clutched firmly in her little beak, and ran under her roost to "get away" from me. MY WORM!! She turned it around several times, shook it a few times, and then must have gotten it just right, because the next thing I knew, a 3" worm was a 2" worm was a 1" worm and then was gone! Good thing I had been giving her a little grit, huh? Anyway, like puppies, I normally feed her and then hold her for a few minutes. At first, she struggled, but now she calms down and has even fallen asleep in my hands.

I also have 3 full-grown, non-laying hens (I got them from the folks on the next street over, who have a lot of fighting cocks. I had heard that they sell the non-spurred hens to dog-fighters, to teach the dogs to kill. Yuck to both operations!) just as a practise-run for my chicken tractor. I'm having the same water problem there, and a wasted food problem. I'm going to build a small trough feeder to attach to the side of the tractor, and will try a couple of water bottles for them, as well.

Thanks so much for all your help and encouragement. This is one of the friendliest, most helpful forums I've ever seen. Many forums have members screaming, "SEARCH FOR OLD THREADS" when newbies ask silly questions; not you! You patiently talk to us. No wonder you have calm hens; like Momma, like daughter!​

 

[jamiebartlett]

I've been searching for the water bottle info, I can't seem to find it, can someone direct me that way? Thanks