Starting new kinds of pets

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jaxlabo

In the Brooder
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Hi, my name is Miles. I asked my mom if we could do some science while we're on lock down for covid-19. She suggested that we get some fertile chicken eggs and incubate them. Eventually we will have new pets who can give us eggs to eat. My old kindergarten teacher is lending us her incubator, but I need to learn all the things that I need to know to be ready when the chicks arrive!
1. What do I feed them?
2. When do I feed them?
3. Do they like to be held?
4. Do I have to change their water every day?
I am open to any other advice you have for me.
Thank you!
-MILES
 
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Hello, Miles, and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
Feed them chick starter with fresh water available at all times.
I made this and it helps tremendously in keeping the water clean and the brooder dry. You can use any plastic sports bottle, drill a hole in the bottom and thread in the vertical poultry nipple. Hang it on a chain and adjust the height as the chicks grow.
Ancona.jpg

You can offer food 24 hours after they hatch and are dry and warm.
I also recommend a momma heating pad (MHP) or a brooder plate over a heat lamp. Heating with a MHP or brooder plate will allow the rest of the brooder to stay cool and greatly helps to reduce the incidents of pasty butt.

Babies are more agreeable to being held. They start to get more standoffish as they grow though. They are prey animals and should be cautious.

I offer plugs of sod from the ground they will eventually live on. It offers them the opportunity to scratch around in the soil and get some grit as well as start to build their immunity.

A few other things I would purchase before they hatch are chick electrolytes, Poultry Nutri-drench and Corid 9.6% liquid. These items can save a chicks life if you come to find out you need them.

You also need to know now what you are going to do with the cockerels that you hatch out. You will either need to move them into their own grow out pen to be raised for meat or try to find homes for them or allow someone else to put them in their freezer. This is just the reality of the life of a male chicken. You could try to keep one but I don't recommend it for beginners.

And if you are going to start raising the pullets to keep for eggs, you and your parents really need to hit the coop articles right now to find out what you are going to build for a coop and run. This cannot wait until after they hatch. Chicks grow very fast and you need to be prepared to be a responsible chicken keeper.
 
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Hello Miles! Welcome to BYC. We're happy to have you and your family join us. I'm super excited for you to begin this awesome journey. You've got a wonderful mom! Please always remember that. Not all mothers would agree to taking on even more responsibility when our lives are changing so much so quickly. Even with the added responsibilities, this is going to be lots of fun and learning for both of you. As far as what to feed them, I like Purina Flock Raiser Unmedicated Crumbles and I like to grind them up a little more for the tiny chicks. Be sure that you have your brooder set up before they hatch. This is a wonderful site to find some of the best accurate information
 
1. What do I feed them?
Chick Starter feed (your choice if you want it medicated or not)

2. When do I feed them?
I provide food for mine all day long

3. Do they like to be held?
This depends on the breed, some if you handle them while they are little they will enjoy your company when they are older. Others not so much. It also has to do with personality.

4. Do I have to change their water every day?
If it gets dirty yes, you don't want your chickens drinking dirty water. once laying eggs the eggs can taste gross if they do. It can also make them sick.


Have you incubated eggs before (your parents) if not do some research first. There are things you have to do there also.
 
Hi Miles,
Congratulations on your future chickens!! That is so fun!! Here are some answers to your questions.
1. Baby chicks need to be fed a starter feed. You can find it easily at a feed store and online if you look up chick starter. They will eat this for about the first eight weeks before transitioning onto grower feed and then layer feed when they start to lay eggs. Chickens also need to eat what is called grit. It helps them break down their food. You will also find this at the feed store or online. It comes in chick size and adult size.
2. With baby chicks you can leave food with them all day. It is a time of a lot of growth and they should be allowed to eat when they are hungry. So just fill their feeder in the morning and check on it in the evening.
3. Some breeds of chickens are very friendly and seem to like pets and cuddles. Please remember to always wash your hands well after you handle them because they carry bacteria that is fine for them, but it can make you sick if you don't take care to wash your hands. And as tempting as it is going to be, try not to kiss your little chicks!! I know you will love them so much.
4. Baby chicks can be a little messy and they definitely will need you to keep their water fresh.

Best wishes Miles!!!
 

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