So I Brought These Babies Home

[pondviewfarm]

It took longer than expected, but I finally finished the area brooder project and was ready to bring some baby chicks into my life. I was going to place an order through Murray McMurray but I made a somewhat impulsive decision to purchase 20 chicks at the local feed store today instead.

These are my girls. There are 2 Brahmas, 3 Chanteclairs, 4 Americanas, 3 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Cuckoo Marans, 2 Brown Leghorns, 2 Wellsummers, and 2 Anconas:



All the chicks seem happy and healthy so far. From what I can tell they are settling into the area brooder just fine - everyone is eating and drinking (and pooping). I have them on an unmedicated starter ration but I've just read on here about coccidiosis so I need to make some decisions about what to do about that. I'd like to provide preventatives rather than putting the chicks on a medicated food but I need to figure out what exactly those preventative measures would be. I am providing a vitamin and electrolyte mix in their water - I don't know if it is really necessary but I figured that I would err on the side of caution.

Oh, the floor of my brooder is currently cardboard covered with paper towels (1/8 inch hardware cloth under all of that), but I'm not really digging the paper towels. The chicks were eating the shavings that were in the box that I brought them home in so I'm not sure I want to use that. Any other suggestions?

Thanks for allowing me to be a part of this community.

 

[Kelsie2290]

What cute chicks! That is a really really nice selection to find at a feed store, can see why you gave in chick fever! I usually give them a vit in the water for the first few days at least also, figure better safe than sorry, makes me feel better at least. I use papertowels the first few days, then switch over to shavings when they are eating well... some people are really fond of sand, others like to use things like the drawer liners or 1/8 or 1/4 hardware cloth also (elevated to let the poo fall through).
Here is a nice member page on coccidia. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/coccidiosis-and-medicated-feed I personally usually don't feed a medicated feed anymore but do the clump of dirt in the brooder thing, keep a close eye on them and treat with Corid etc if they have an outbreak. I do have them vaccinated if I get chicks from a hatchery that will.

 

[iwiw60]

It took longer than expected, but I finally finished the area brooder project and was ready to bring some baby chicks into my life. I was going to place an order through Murray McMurray but I made a somewhat impulsive decision to purchase 20 chicks at the local feed store today instead.

These are my girls. There are 2 Brahmas, 3 Chanteclairs, 4 Americanas, 3 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Cuckoo Marans, 2 Brown Leghorns, 2 Wellsummers, and 2 Anconas:



All the chicks seem happy and healthy so far. From what I can tell they are settling into the area brooder just fine - everyone is eating and drinking (and pooping). I have them on an unmedicated starter ration but I've just read on here about coccidiosis so I need to make some decisions about what to do about that. I'd like to provide preventatives rather than putting the chicks on a medicated food but I need to figure out what exactly those preventative measures would be. I am providing a vitamin and electrolyte mix in their water - I don't know if it is really necessary but I figured that I would err on the side of caution.

Oh, the floor of my brooder is currently cardboard covered with paper towels (1/8 inch hardware cloth under all of that), but I'm not really digging the paper towels. The chicks were eating the shavings that were in the box that I brought them home in so I'm not sure I want to use that. Any other suggestions?

Thanks for allowing me to be a part of this community.

They are all adorable! I'm using wood shavings (fine) and don't notice a real problem with it. A few will peck at it but then move onto other more interesting things!

 

[Soltaria]

Baby fuzz balls! Love 'em!
I use hay in my brooder. It's really easy to clean since it tends to clump together once it's covered in the inevitable poop. Then you can put it in the compost too if you do composting.