Trying to get up the nerve. . . .

[Chicksdigit]

I am around most of the time and I look at them a lot but, I water and feed them in the morning and in the evening and usually change the bedding in the evening mine are 1 week old today they hatched last Thursday ( Most of them) I haven't lost any and they are all doing great healthy and vigorous..... I recommend putting them in a nice quiet area and putting them under a light of some sort I used to try to measure the temperature but I found that the chicks will move away if the light is too hot and that they will get closer together under the light if they are cooler I hang the light about 12 to 18 inches off the bottom of the container I am using as a brooder and the first few days I put newspaper down with a layer of the rubberey shelf liner you can get at the Dollar tree or Walmart (it is a pain to clean out) I spray it out with the garden hose and let it dry for the next day ... after a few days I replace the liner with Pine shavings a chick feeder and a chick waterer are necessary I set both of these up on a piece of paver or 2"x4" so they can't kick stuff into the food and water.
it is very easy to raise baby chicks and you will get a lot of laughs.

 

[cherig22]

I think the baby chicks are easier. Like others said, food and water and heat. Juvies get shavings in the food and water, they jump on the jars on the food and water, you have to raise the feeders off the bottom of the brooder which puts them closer to 'out', lol.

They seem to find ways out from under the wire lid, of course chasing them down is fun, too.

I just have to hear the little peeps for the first month or so. It is soothing, and it is also the main reason DH lets me incubate so often, he misses the peeping!

Cheri

 

[onthespot]

Here's what you do. Set up your brooder for baby chicks, let it run "empty" for as long as it takes for you to fiddle with it so it stays the temp you want, and you are satisfied it is draft free, and that they couldn't tip over the water, and can always reach the feed without going too far from the heat lamp. Keep a thermometer on the floor under the lamp and keep an eye on it. Digital is a lot easier to read at a glance. Once you get it set up and stable and you get the idea it is staying a comfortable zone for chicks, GO FOR IT!!! Get chicks! Go to work and dream about chicks all day and come home and change their water and just hang your nose over the edge of the brooder for at least a half an hour at a time staring at them while they sleep, peck, drink, scratch and just BE as chickie as they can be....

 

[joletabey]

Thank you!! You have all been helpful- I feel way more confident now!!!
I really like the dry run idea - like dress rehearsal for tech before the show opens!!!
Could anyone email me with hatcheries close to me? I know there is a list here, but they are pretty far off. I know of one in NC that I could probably drive to, but I am also very close to Tennesee and Georgia here in WNC. Still being a coward, I would rather pick them up if I could, or at least know they aren't traveling far.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Beth

 

[TheNo-NameChick]

They should be fine. I wouldn't worry about it!!

 

[gardenak]

Hi- I'm new too.

My chicks are 2 weeks old now (most of them-I have a couple a little older). Mine came from MMH and it took them 2 days to get here. I set up my brooder with food, water and papertowels. I checked on them in the morning before work and again at night. I had 2 that didn't look good when they got here and they died. Sometimes chicks just do that so if you do lose a couple it isn't your fault and it isn't because you weren't there; they get stressed in shipping or maybe a chilled. I gave mine sickies sugar water, wet mash and tried to save them but it was no use. The rest are happy, healthy and funny! Wait until you can give them a little piece of cooked spaghetti or a little piece of shredded cheese!

Good luck.