The chicks are out!!!! PICS

[Meghalu]

Yup, chickens need to eat sand/grit to help them break down their food. Perfectly normal!

 

[Wildflower_VA]

It's fine that they eat the sand. A lot of us put a sand box in the brooder from day one. Right after worms, chicks like sand best.

 

[crazyhen]

Yes eating the sand will give them a bit of grit they will need. If you give them spaghum peat moss be sure it is where it will stay dry. When wet it is a perfect fly manufacturer. I mix a bit of sevin in mine so the bugs do not bother them to bad. I usually wait until they are a couple of months old for the sevin. By then they quit eating the sand pile and figure out what it is for. Your little ones are about the same age as mine. I have NH, Dells, BRs, olive eggers, ameracuanas, and orps. Yikes 30 of them str. run. I am already seeing sooooo many little roos. I hope to have a flock of at least 10 hens but could handle more. Gloria Jean

 

[Moonkit]

Same thing here. It was so warm and the chicks weren't using their Ecoglow for anything but a perch to poop on.. I went ahead and moved them out to the A-frame coop that will be their home. They can't make it up onto the perches yet, so I gave them a small, pine shavings filled hamster cage covered with a blanket to sleep in and to give them security when they want. They don't seem to spend alot of time in it.. and gods.. do they LOVE sunbathing in the Texas sun. They'll flop onto their sides in a sunny spot, stretch out a wing and a leg and go into chicken rapture!

They have constant access to water with a bit of apple cider vinegar in it, medicated chick starter, and grit. They enjoy supervised forays into the back yard. With a lively population of resident cooper's hawks, there will be no unsupervised free-ranging. Our border collie, Diamond, is finally starting to show some herding instinct with helping me chase them back into the coop.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Thank you for all the wonderful information.

I was a little worried when my chicks were
treating the sand like a buffet instead of a bath.

I would never think about pigging out on my bath water
but they seem to think that the dust bath sand is great.

As long as they need it, why not. I have plenty more.

I have 15 hens and 1 rooster now for sure. I ordered one roo
and that is what I have. I am so pleased, now lets just hope
he is a good boy.

Thanks again BYCers.

I am so glad that know that my chicks are perfectly normal

 

[mljohnson05]

I use SAND from day one for my chicks. I use it as the flooring in the run and coop. Not only does it allow them to Dust, but it is SOOOOOOOOO much EASIER to clean !!!!
all you need is a kitty scooper....No more bi weekly changing of the bedding or deep litter. I just go out once a week, rake over it to find the clumps and scoop it out

 

[NottinghamChicks]

Okay, but how do you get them into the coop at night? I have nine five week old d'Anvers that will not go into the coop at night. They have been in their new digs since yesterday morning (New coop, all to themselves) and I had to catch them one by one last night. Tonight I will put the brooder light on and see if they gravitate at dusk

Hope it works....

 

[Moonkit]

Quote:
As I don't know your methods, all I can suggest is never chase them in. Just move slowly, herd them into a group and guide them in, I use my hands a few feet behind them, calling softly and calmly. My nine run right in.

 

[NottinghamChicks]

I guess I need to make a shute as they can run on eigher side of the ramp. They came down fine but were all huddling together in the run not knowing what they should do despite the light

 

[Wildflower_VA]

Quote:
The trick is to keep them shut up in the coop for a few days before letting them out. That way they know the coop is their bedroom and kitchen. When you finally let them out, keep the food in the coop and water both inside and out and they will get the idea.