I am a brand new-bie to BYC and chickens all together. I have read many books and articles but never done this and don't have any one to call. This may sound like a stupid couple of questions, but here goes:
I understand my chicks are only 4 days old. I have had them less than 24 hours, in fact. I believe that the brooder is set up well. The chicks spend most of the time sleeping, eating and drinking when I watch them. All my reading tells me that their food and waterer need to be cleaned out anywhere from once to 3 or 4 times a day in order to maintain optimum hygiene for these babies. That said, nothing I have read tells me exactly how to do this. Am I to completely toss out the vitamen enriched water each time I wash out the waterer? (In which case, I should obviously not fill it to capacity) Same for the food. Do I chuck all the food that is in the reserve above the feeder (I am using the circular type with round cutouts. My feeder is gavanized and my waterer is plastic. Both have the plastic screw on reservoir that sits upside down inside each center. Also, when I change these out do I simply rinse them out or should I use mild dish-washing detergent?
To be clear: my chicks have not started pooping in the food or water supply -- I'm sure it's coming around the corner, but has not yet. I will do whatever it takes to keep these babies safe: Please help me oh experienced keepers!
from the Broody Newbie
By the way: I have 7 chicks that I believe to be Silkies.
I understand my chicks are only 4 days old. I have had them less than 24 hours, in fact. I believe that the brooder is set up well. The chicks spend most of the time sleeping, eating and drinking when I watch them. All my reading tells me that their food and waterer need to be cleaned out anywhere from once to 3 or 4 times a day in order to maintain optimum hygiene for these babies. That said, nothing I have read tells me exactly how to do this. Am I to completely toss out the vitamen enriched water each time I wash out the waterer? (In which case, I should obviously not fill it to capacity) Same for the food. Do I chuck all the food that is in the reserve above the feeder (I am using the circular type with round cutouts. My feeder is gavanized and my waterer is plastic. Both have the plastic screw on reservoir that sits upside down inside each center. Also, when I change these out do I simply rinse them out or should I use mild dish-washing detergent?
To be clear: my chicks have not started pooping in the food or water supply -- I'm sure it's coming around the corner, but has not yet. I will do whatever it takes to keep these babies safe: Please help me oh experienced keepers!
from the Broody Newbie
By the way: I have 7 chicks that I believe to be Silkies.
