The Chicks have ARRIVED!

[naf_appaz]

I use 1tblsp apple cider vinegar per gallon for the first two weeks and I never have a problem with it anymore

 

[Living_Legend]

Usually 2 weeks, but keep an eye out for it. There may be something wrong if they have it after that. The heater looks to be a good height, but I normally slant mine. Lower in the back, higher in the front, so the chicks can pick how warm they want to be. Just make sure they can get out on all sides.

Good call I did not think about doing that!

 

[Living_Legend]

If you are eye level with chicks would pasty butt be obvious or do you need to pick them up and inspect closer? They look clean to me.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Pasty butt will be obvious from behind without picking them up. Their butt fuzz will have visible poo on it. Not all chicks with messy butt fuzz have pasty butt, but it is better to wash it off anyway.

One thing I found that is nice about the heater plate, is after a rear end wash and pat dry with a clean paper towel, the chick will dry off nicely under the plate within 30-45 minutes. It is much less traumatic than drying them with a hair dryer.

 

[Living_Legend]

Nice. Thanks for the update. What percentage of chicks get pasty butt? I use the proper amount which seems to be a very small amount of apple cider vinegar in all of their water.

They are three days old full of energy running around like crazy under the heat plate for a while and right back out I didn't realize how fast they would be. I actually haven't seen any sleeping yet but I'm sure they did last night while I was sleeping.

 

[Redhead Rae]

There are a LOT of variables that influence this. My last hatch was 16 and only one chick had pasty butt once and she was a chick that needed to have a foot splinted. My first hatch, I had to give half of my 26 chicks a bath every day. The big difference was the heater plate. With my first batch of shipped chicks I used a lamp. I've only had a couple instances of pasty butt with the heater plate.

 

[Anagram]

Hatched April 4th @ 5a.m. in Lebanon, MO from Crackle Hatchery

Recieved in Freeland, MD @ 6a.m. (traveled 1,000 miles)

Ordered 9:
3 Buckeye
3 Black Laced Gold Wyandotte
3 Dominique

Arrived 10:
All alive, I believe the extra chick is another Dominique. Maybe a trick to think about, the last chick type I odered on the reciept Dominique is also the extra.

Love your video!! Made my morning.

 

[Living_Legend]

There are a LOT of variables that influence this. My last hatch was 16 and only one chick had pasty butt once and she was a chick that needed to have a foot splinted. My first hatch, I had to give half of my 26 chicks a bath every day. The big difference was the heater plate. With my first batch of shipped chicks I used a lamp. I've only had a couple instances of pasty butt with the heater plate.

Nice. Another reason for a heat plate. Didn't hear that anywhere but should be part of the conversation. Thanks!