I put electrolytes in the water the first week after the chicks arrive and feed only chick starter. You can add a little egg yolk for a treat after the first week. Dip their little beaks in the water right away after they arrive. They will be a little dehydrated. Show them where the food is. Good luck. It is exciting, isn't it?
I didn't do anything. WIth the first batch I pus ACV in their water, but the second batch I let them do their thing.
Dont know how hot it is where you are but here in Illinois its HOT! I got chicks last week and the all died. Wishing you better luck than I had.
We go through anywhere from 800 to 1,000 chicks a season at our little store......we pick them up right away, and make up a pail(can be any container) of water and a vit/electrolite mix. Some hatcheries sell it just ask them. Other wise your local feedstore shoud have it or make some home made,(sorry don't know the amounts for that) Durvet makes a nice one. Any way some of us like to use syringes but i like to dip their little beaks, its usually their first drink after being in transit....and it DOES MAKE A DIFFERANCE!! we look them over and check their little butts fors pasty butt and put them in the brooder. I usually keep it in their water the first three days. Good luck and keep an eye out for pasty butt!
I use gro-gel and the chicks love it. I always take chicks strait out of the box, dip beak in the waterer and set them directly beside it so they can get more if they want. Then I put the grow gel out and I take my fingers (with gro gel or chick starter) and I pick a little up and let it fall to the floor. I don't use a feeder for feed at first since they're so new to the world and how food works. So they see the food moving as it falls down and it entices them to peck and eat. Any weak chicks I may dip the beak a couple more times in water with several minutes between dips so they can relax.
