Im new to chickens, obviously. I've scoured this website reading everything for information. I've spent hours upon hours, upon hours. My house hasn't had a thorough cleaning in over a month
I ordered chicks from Meyers which are due to hatch 3/13. This is my plan, please let me know if you see any flaws to the plan as Im sure other newbies must have the same insecurities and questions that I do.
1. Finish building the coop...Im close. Im building an 8x14 wichita style for my maybe 8 chicks.
2. Set up brooder--My Plan is to use a huge dog crate, with a MHP, one of those hanging water bottles with a nipple, a small saucer or lid with food, pine shavings covered with paper towels for the first several day. Then removing paper towels. Ill put up some extra hardware cloth I have on the lower portion so the chickie babies cant escape or get stuck. Been going back and forth on the medicated vs non-medicated chick starter. I cannot find medicated chick starter anywhere and now that I better understand what the heck medicated is for I may just go the natural route. So I'll give it a couple few days with the non-medicated chick starter then Ill go dig up a clump of lawn and let the chicks play and hopefully build up an immunity while they are still protected by yolk immunity.Please chicken gurus, correct me if Im wrong but the medicated chick starter has an ingredient that just blocks thyamine from being absorbed or something and thats how cocci gets out of hand or something or other.Now I understand this has nothing to do with vaccinating against Marek's which Meyers did for my chicks. Marek's is a form of virus, got it, and has nothing to do with medicated chick starter.
3. I bought nutri-drench, save-a-chick probiotics and save-a-chick electrolytes. I was at the store, wasnt sure what I was doing so I just bought all three.....how do I use these...do I even need these...if yes, which ones and how much?
4. I now understand keep everything dry, dry, dry so cocchi can't overgrow.
5. I've learned how to watch out for pasty butt and what to do if it happens. i know the difference between vent and umbilicus.
6. I know to take each chick and dip their beaks in the water when they first arrive. I know to make sure everything is as clean as possible.
7. Im going to add a small roost early so chicks get the hang of roosting.
8. Starting chicks inside for a couple of reasons...first, I want to watch them alot....I spent about an hour just watching all the chicks at TSC today. I better clean my house before the chicks arrive
Second, my dogs...I want them to maybe catch on that these little chickie babies are part of our pack and not dinner. Probably wont work but I'll give it a go. Maybe after about 2 weeks or whenever they get disgusting I'll move them out to the coop with a MHP.
Did I miss anything? Any serious flaws in this plan? I know everyone does things differently and I can adjust as needed. But Im a worry wart and a planner, mix the two and this is what you have...over thinking it all for sure.
1. Finish building the coop...Im close. Im building an 8x14 wichita style for my maybe 8 chicks.
2. Set up brooder--My Plan is to use a huge dog crate, with a MHP, one of those hanging water bottles with a nipple, a small saucer or lid with food, pine shavings covered with paper towels for the first several day. Then removing paper towels. Ill put up some extra hardware cloth I have on the lower portion so the chickie babies cant escape or get stuck. Been going back and forth on the medicated vs non-medicated chick starter. I cannot find medicated chick starter anywhere and now that I better understand what the heck medicated is for I may just go the natural route. So I'll give it a couple few days with the non-medicated chick starter then Ill go dig up a clump of lawn and let the chicks play and hopefully build up an immunity while they are still protected by yolk immunity.Please chicken gurus, correct me if Im wrong but the medicated chick starter has an ingredient that just blocks thyamine from being absorbed or something and thats how cocci gets out of hand or something or other.Now I understand this has nothing to do with vaccinating against Marek's which Meyers did for my chicks. Marek's is a form of virus, got it, and has nothing to do with medicated chick starter.
3. I bought nutri-drench, save-a-chick probiotics and save-a-chick electrolytes. I was at the store, wasnt sure what I was doing so I just bought all three.....how do I use these...do I even need these...if yes, which ones and how much?
4. I now understand keep everything dry, dry, dry so cocchi can't overgrow.
5. I've learned how to watch out for pasty butt and what to do if it happens. i know the difference between vent and umbilicus.
6. I know to take each chick and dip their beaks in the water when they first arrive. I know to make sure everything is as clean as possible.
7. Im going to add a small roost early so chicks get the hang of roosting.
8. Starting chicks inside for a couple of reasons...first, I want to watch them alot....I spent about an hour just watching all the chicks at TSC today. I better clean my house before the chicks arrive
Did I miss anything? Any serious flaws in this plan? I know everyone does things differently and I can adjust as needed. But Im a worry wart and a planner, mix the two and this is what you have...over thinking it all for sure.
Just make sure they know there is water on the nipple. Press it a few times until there is water on it and then touch their beaks to it. Don't worry, they will figure it out. You're not really supposed to raise the chicks inside. I just put mine in the garage. Put in the roosting bars at about four weeks of age. 
