trying to learn from my mistakes. help welcome!

[PrairieChickens]

Alright, I'm trying to get this right, but I'm new to interpreting chick, so help me out!

I've moved thermometer directly under heat, moved lamp up a little, and I'm trying to get it at a stable 90

This is how my chickies look at the moment. I'm a little concerned that the runt (about half the size of the others) is huddled under the heat by herself. She's usually cuddling with the others. What do I do here?

I don't see any cause for concern. Even chicks won't want to cuddle all of the time. If she hatched from a small egg, that would explain her small size, and if she's eating, drinking, and moving around with vigor she should be just fine.

I agree. It isn't necessarily your fault. I brought some home from TSC today, and all looked perfectly well until I got them out of the box. One just looked awful and died within the hour. Of course, it was my FAVORITE ONE too!!! Does anyone know if the TSC bantams would be vaccinated? Would that make a difference since Starkist 72 didn't have hers vaccinated since they were hatched at her house?

Most sources for chicks I've researched won't vaccinate bantams because of their small size.

 

[Autumn Mama]

she looks fine, just smaller. i have one right now, 5 days old who is smaller. she is holding her own and other than being smaller and wanting more heat because she hasn't sized up she is healthy to my eye. keep watching her but i think she stands a fine chance of growing into a productive hen.

i have never vaccinated any of my chicks ... this is my third time in 6 years raising day olds and i feel they are off to a healthy start without vaccinations. if you had chicks in a larger, less supervised environment it might be something to consider. it is mostly a personal choice, i don't feel it will guarantee any outcomes.


your brooder looks great. how is your twemp today? you can adjust your lamp until you see it at the desired temp right under it. i raise and lower mine accordingly, as the heat fluctuates in my house from early morning when it's cool, to later in the day when the heat has warmed it up.

 

[enc5681]

The smaller one sounds like it may be a bantam. They usually come from smaller eggs and will always be smaller than the standard chicks. As long as it is doing good I would not be concerned.

 

[starkist72]

Thanks! The brooder is actually pretty small, although it was a great first home! I've never had such a large hatch before, normally in the classroom I'll get 3-6 to hatch (with the kids bumping into the incubator and yelling to the chicks, it's a wonder I even get that!) Having the incubator at home this time meant I was able to turn more often and keep a closer eye on it!

I have a dog kennel ready to move them into soon, but I'm going to try to give them a few more days in the brooder with a constant temp before I move them. If only they'd stay little! I think I'll keep my 3 in the brooder a little longer and put the 10 going to the farm into the kennel with my back-up light and get them used to being separated!

I had the temp down to 90 last night and it crept up to 98 over night. I'm going to work on it more today, but they seem comfortable enough not to worry.

The smaller one had a hard time hatching, so who knows, it may not be strong. But I'm going to hold onto her here and keep her with the two mixed breeds we've fallen in love with. She's so cute, it's worth a shot! But of course the kids are well aware that we could lose her at any time.

 

[Carlzz1479]

Starkist72 please don't beat yourself up over that little chick sometimes there's nothing that could of been done..This is my first set of chicks I normally rescue battery hens and the chicks I have now are from a school in London and it took me over an hour to collect and an hour home bearing in mind they were 2 days old and not in brooder when I got them home...my 13uplets I call them are 4 weeks old now and I didn't keep checking temps and I fed them chick feed since I've had them and im a proud mummy I jave all 13 doing very well and getting cheeky now but don't blame urself my brooder was small too and with the heat like someone has already said when too hot they will move away when too cold they huddle together so that's how I judged when to change the heating arrangements. .you will get there the little one reminds me of one of mine that amazingly has caught up with the others I call her nugget..I still don't know what I have and ive been on another forum to help sex them and advice on what they look like I didn't expect all 13 to stay soo well but their my lucky 13 but that chick that died was not your fault ...il attach a pic of mine considering I have NEVER done this before this site is a god send to have such valuable advice from people that are pros thankyou all!!

 

[Carlzz1479]

 

[Carlzz1479]

I have daytime pen now and a nightime one and they are doing well you will do fine xx

 

[starkist72]

yup, that's what i'm planning with the dog kennel (or crate, i always say the wrong thing) mine a little bigger since it fits by pup but you know he never uses it! my animals are way too spoiled <3

I wanted to attach the link for the brooder design, i really can't take credit, i found it on pinterest! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/3237030956852129/
I loved the idea for the little roosts! they're already hanging out on them! i like to think i'm helping them gain muscle by balancing up there!

and while i'm on pinterest, another link i was interested in was this small coop made from a horizontal shed: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/3237030956967470/
i thought this would be great for getting my 3 started and then we could build a more solid coop once we decide what we need, where we want it, and how many chickens we want. however, they cost a fortune new and i can't find one one craigslist close! we'll see what i end up with!

 

[Carlzz1479]

We have a walk in farmhouse pen but too cold just yet so I have been advised that they are a little too cramped now in this..totally understand where your coming from!!...My hubby is as we speak preparing our concrete shed with heater so they have more space ..I'm even nervous of doing this ..lol...I'm such a worrier that something might go wrong but we'll see how they go xxxx

 

[Carlzz1479]

Gotta day it try the crate mine do love it lol...xx