You're right it was so cold today! If those babies lost their mom you totally saved them today!
Unexpected owner of 6 young chicks found by side of the road...
- Thread starter TwoAcreHomestead
- Start date
- Sep 12, 2012
- 2,252
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The pic is still kinda dark, but it looks like they're only about 2-3 weeks old, tops. So yes they are very young, and still need some source of heat. You certainly saved them by bringing them inside!
Oh, and they are definitely chickens, too.
Just one thing I want to mention. If you get a starter feed in CRUMBLE form, you don't need to get grit. Crumble feed is processed enough not to need grit, but it also has some grit-like substances in it as well. And most chick starter formulas come in crumble form, so that should save you some money there.
Oh, and they are definitely chickens, too.
Just one thing I want to mention. If you get a starter feed in CRUMBLE form, you don't need to get grit. Crumble feed is processed enough not to need grit, but it also has some grit-like substances in it as well. And most chick starter formulas come in crumble form, so that should save you some money there.
By the way, Welcome to backyard Chickens. Congrats on the new flock you had no idea you were getting!
You never know what life will throw at you, I think you'll like what it just threw your way after a while, especially when they start laying fresh eggs.
I started raising chickens a few years ago and can't seem to stop the flock from growing, I started with 9 and now I'm up to ummmm 61 chickens and 5 turkeys, I probably shouldn't count the 25 meat birds I'm raising so lets just say 36 chickens.
Enough of that, now as for your new chicks, Great job on the brooder, that may be all you want to use it for though, if you want to put them outside you'll want to build them a coop because you will soon find that they create a lot of dust and quickly too. Make sure the coop is free of major drafts and you can close it up tight at night, by tight I mean locking them in so predators can't get into the coop at night. Make sure they have water 100 % of the time, I keep feed around all the time also. So investing in a waterer and feeder is a good idea. If you find yourself putting them in a coop very soon you will need to add a heat source to keep them warm, especially at night, this site has many good ideas for coops, I'm sure you'll find one you like.
You'll love your chickens, they are relaxing to watch and very entertaining , but be careful this can be very addictive!!
You never know what life will throw at you, I think you'll like what it just threw your way after a while, especially when they start laying fresh eggs.
I started raising chickens a few years ago and can't seem to stop the flock from growing, I started with 9 and now I'm up to ummmm 61 chickens and 5 turkeys, I probably shouldn't count the 25 meat birds I'm raising so lets just say 36 chickens.
Enough of that, now as for your new chicks, Great job on the brooder, that may be all you want to use it for though, if you want to put them outside you'll want to build them a coop because you will soon find that they create a lot of dust and quickly too. Make sure the coop is free of major drafts and you can close it up tight at night, by tight I mean locking them in so predators can't get into the coop at night. Make sure they have water 100 % of the time, I keep feed around all the time also. So investing in a waterer and feeder is a good idea. If you find yourself putting them in a coop very soon you will need to add a heat source to keep them warm, especially at night, this site has many good ideas for coops, I'm sure you'll find one you like.
You'll love your chickens, they are relaxing to watch and very entertaining , but be careful this can be very addictive!!
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Don't forget to put a light in there for them. If they huddle up they are cold so a drywall clamp light or any secured incandescent 70w light for heat will do well. If they stay far from the heat then raise it up or take it out, they'll show you what temp they want to be. At 3 weeks and being outside already they probably wont need additional heat for long being inside, just today perhaps to get the chill out.
- Thread starter
- #15
Thanks for the welcomes.
I've already been scoping out the designs for Chicken Tractors and have some good ideas on a coop for them when they get bigger. For the next few weeks they'll be fine in the house.
After work I'll be getting some starter at Tractor Supply and we have an old bird feeder that looks a lot like the 'official' chicken feeders I've been seeing, so I'll probably be adapting that for them this evening.
I found some of the food that came along with my wife's baby Quaker Parrot and tossed that in the coop, along with some Roudybush mini pellets and more cockatiel seed, which will hopefully get them thru til I return.
Time to head out, thanks again for all the good info.
I've already been scoping out the designs for Chicken Tractors and have some good ideas on a coop for them when they get bigger. For the next few weeks they'll be fine in the house.
After work I'll be getting some starter at Tractor Supply and we have an old bird feeder that looks a lot like the 'official' chicken feeders I've been seeing, so I'll probably be adapting that for them this evening.
I found some of the food that came along with my wife's baby Quaker Parrot and tossed that in the coop, along with some Roudybush mini pellets and more cockatiel seed, which will hopefully get them thru til I return.
Time to head out, thanks again for all the good info.
- Aug 12, 2009
- 5,314
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So good of you to take them in.I used a shop lamp with clamp and a 100 to 250 watt bulb.My brooder was a graco playpen.
Before you know it you will be coming home with water and food containers,and making little perches for them out of stuff you find at home.Have fun!
Before you know it you will be coming home with water and food containers,and making little perches for them out of stuff you find at home.Have fun!
Wow, that's very weird. Too bad you couldn't get all of them... poor little lost guys.
They most certainly didn't have a mother if you ask me. No way you could get close enough to chicks that young to pick them up with a broody hen on their back.
Good luck! If you don't have a heat lamp, do you have a plug in warming bag? Like I have one for my brother who plays soccer and if he messes up his leg, putting it on him makes it feel better. You could put one in the brooder on low the chickies would at least have some warmth to sleep on/by.
If not... try putting some cotton balls in a sock and putting it in the microwave every half an hour you are home & awake. They will snuggle up by it. Or even a stuffed animal for them to snuggle.
Warning : chicken poop is nasty and there is a lot of it - if you don't want to lose the stuffed animal/sock, don't use it
They most certainly didn't have a mother if you ask me. No way you could get close enough to chicks that young to pick them up with a broody hen on their back.
Good luck! If you don't have a heat lamp, do you have a plug in warming bag? Like I have one for my brother who plays soccer and if he messes up his leg, putting it on him makes it feel better. You could put one in the brooder on low the chickies would at least have some warmth to sleep on/by.
If not... try putting some cotton balls in a sock and putting it in the microwave every half an hour you are home & awake. They will snuggle up by it. Or even a stuffed animal for them to snuggle.
Warning : chicken poop is nasty and there is a lot of it - if you don't want to lose the stuffed animal/sock, don't use it
- Thread starter
- #18
Just a quick update. All 6 chicks are still doing good. I've got a board over the electric heater so all the heat is directed into their coop, and it's nice and toasty in there.
They love the starter feed and are pretty active. I did toss in an old destuffed dog toy near the heat for them which they seem to enjoy climbing over.
Next step is to scrounge up some scrap wood and chicken wire to start on the outside coop/tractor. I can get free pallets at work, and I have a stash of billboard material which is super strong for making a roof of sorts (btw, billboard material is awesome stuff, and you can usually get it for free at your local billboard company. The average sheet is about 20x35 foot and is much thicker than normal tarps.)
I'll continue to update this thread as things progess.
Thanks again for the tips and all the great ideas on this site.
eb
They love the starter feed and are pretty active. I did toss in an old destuffed dog toy near the heat for them which they seem to enjoy climbing over.
Next step is to scrounge up some scrap wood and chicken wire to start on the outside coop/tractor. I can get free pallets at work, and I have a stash of billboard material which is super strong for making a roof of sorts (btw, billboard material is awesome stuff, and you can usually get it for free at your local billboard company. The average sheet is about 20x35 foot and is much thicker than normal tarps.)
I'll continue to update this thread as things progess.
Thanks again for the tips and all the great ideas on this site.
eb
Great to know it's all going so well!
Would you mind posting a photo of the chickens in good light? I am very interested to know what breed they are. (Though, they are probably a mix.)
I really hope you at least get 2 girls from the chicks!
- Thread starter
- #20
4 are yellow with grey wings, one is black with a white chest and one is mostly yellow/white. My only camera is in my cell phone and it has no flash, but I'll see what I can come up with for ya in a few minutes.
eb
edit: found an old aquarium hood light, just took about 25 pics, transfering to the PC now.
eb
edit: found an old aquarium hood light, just took about 25 pics, transfering to the PC now.
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