What to do when chicks first arrive? +other random concerns

[Blooie]

Get a grip or get a guppy, as a friend once told me!! They’re fine! Okay, relax. If a two pound hen can do this without instruction manuals, web sites, charts and experts, so can we. A little fuzz won’t hurt anything. They probably won’t hurt themselves falling off the top - it’s not that high and they have little wrecks all the time. Chicks peep, especially when they are adapting new surroundings. Mine were on shavings or straw - they might have nibbled but they didn’t gorge.

Pasty butt is dried poo stuck to the skin and feathers around the vent. Size of the poo has nothing to do with it. If you see it, clean it off with warm water. You’re never going to enjoy them if you over-worry!

 

[Jemma Rider]

Get a grip or get a guppy, as a friend once told me!! They’re fine! Okay, relax. If a two pound hen can do this without instruction manuals, web sites, charts and experts, so can we. A little fuzz won’t hurt anything. They probably won’t hurt themselves falling off the top - it’s not that high and they have little wrecks all the time. Chicks peep, especially when they are adapting new surroundings. Mine were on shavings or straw - they might have nibbled but they didn’t gorge.

Pasty butt is dried poo stuck to the skin and feathers around the vent. Size of the poo has nothing to do with it. If you see it, clean it off with warm water. You’re never going to enjoy them if you over-worry!

Thank you, I've got to tell my mother the puppy thing she'd love it.
I am worried about the polishes crop though it's gotten sort of hard, not rock hard but noticeably hard and a bit larger then the other girls. She's acting what i think is normal (but these are my first chicks so i am unsure). I'm letting her be for now until i can gather more information.
Thank you again, i am a worrier by nature so this helps.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I should have four baby chicks coming tomorrow (they were supposed to come today so now i am incredibly anxious that they could starve or pile on one another and crush the little ones but the shipping people say my babies will probably come tomorrow morning, i didn't want to order them at all but no other place had the breeds my mother and i wanted), I'm not super sure on what i should do with them first thing, like i just show them food and water and let them chill in the brooder for a day or two correct? I'm gonna check them all for sickness first like pasty butt but i assume i just leave them alone. It's probably a very stupid question but I'm very anxious about messing them up i feel like if i could just give them a good start they'll be healthy and great when they grow up.
Also, I'm using a heating pad for their heating source, but it doesn't get very hot so I'm also using one of my reptile bulbs. It is a fifty watt bulb and I'm just using it to up the heat overall. It's very far away and should only raise the temp to maybe seventy five through the whole brooder, and then they can get under the heating pad as well which is warmer. It won't be too hot i don't really have a question I'm sort of wondering if anybody else has any concerns?
And one last thing, i was going to start them on paper towels so i can see their droppings better and keep everything as clean as possible, this is okay right? I've read of splayed legs and read that paper towels are okay but i am still very worried the towels are too slippery. I laid the paper towels in the brooder to make a very thick type pad, so i don't think they could slip but i am still very worried.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I really like the reptile bulbs, they only give off heat and so the chicks get to be on a normal day/night schedule. Try to keep the heat around 95 degrees in one area the first week, but have the space large enough so they can get away from the heat. Set up the brooder with heat, water and food before you get your chicks. I used paper towels over newspaper so I could change them easily a few times a day because I did not like them stepping in their poo and did not like the smell because I kept them in the livingroom the first 2 months, had them outside with a heat bulb during the day in a pen from week two, but indoors in the evening.

 

[cmom]

I put some chick crumbles down on paper towel at first they will pick at the crumbles and eventually find the water and feed.

 

[Jemma Rider]

I really like the reptile bulbs, they only give off heat and so the chicks get to be on a normal day/night schedule. Try to keep the heat around 95 degrees in one area the first week, but have the space large enough so they can get away from the heat. Set up the brooder with heat, water and food before you get your chicks. I used paper towels over newspaper so I could change them easily a few times a day because I did not like them stepping in their poo and did not like the smell because I kept them in the livingroom the first 2 months, had them outside with a heat bulb during the day in a pen from week two, but indoors in the evening.

Thank you, the just came this morning and I'm pretty sure they're all alright but one ate some fuzz so I'm worried about that but otherwise they seem pretty happy and comfortable.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Thank you, the just came this morning and I'm pretty sure they're all alright but one ate some fuzz so I'm worried about that but otherwise they seem pretty happy and comfortable.

They just need to get over the stress of their travels, so I wouldn't mess with them too much the first couple days other than keeping things clean, having the right tempature and clean chick starter and clean water Enjoy your babies

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

OMG THEY ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PRECIOUS!!!! I can't wait for my silkies! If all goes well, they go into lockdown tomorrow!

 

[Jemma Rider]

OMG THEY ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PRECIOUS!!!! I can't wait for my silkies! If all goes well, they go into lockdown tomorrow!

Aww, i want silkies so bad but I'm hoping to use a broody hen to make integration with my big flock easier. Maybe next summer i suppose i feel like it's a mite late and my girls aren't very motherly, maybe one of these girls when they grow up.

 

[mountain chicken]

I should have four baby chicks coming tomorrow (they were supposed to come today so now i am incredibly anxious that they could starve or pile on one another and crush the little ones but the shipping people say my babies will probably come tomorrow morning, i didn't want to order them at all but no other place had the breeds my mother and i wanted), I'm not super sure on what i should do with them first thing, like i just show them food and water and let them chill in the brooder for a day or two correct? I'm gonna check them all for sickness first like pasty butt but i assume i just leave them alone. It's probably a very stupid question but I'm very anxious about messing them up i feel like if i could just give them a good start they'll be healthy and great when they grow up.
Also, I'm using a heating pad for their heating source, but it doesn't get very hot so I'm also using one of my reptile bulbs. It is a fifty watt bulb and I'm just using it to up the heat overall. It's very far away and should only raise the temp to maybe seventy five through the whole brooder, and then they can get under the heating pad as well which is warmer. It won't be too hot i don't really have a question I'm sort of wondering if anybody else has any concerns?
And one last thing, i was going to start them on paper towels so i can see their droppings better and keep everything as clean as possible, this is okay right? I've read of splayed legs and read that paper towels are okay but i am still very worried the towels are too slippery. I laid the paper towels in the brooder to make a very thick type pad, so i don't think they could slip but i am still very worried.

please don't take this the wrong way

it's kind of scary that you order baby chicks with out doing any research first you should know what your in for before hand
you should know what to feed along with how to water them
being prepared having everything ahead of time .

remember these chicks had a ruff ride through the post office
they deserve a nice place to chill like the broader

chicks should be kept in your broader until they start growing feathers .

I kept the broader clean everyday/every other day depending their mess also to keep stink down .

I really liked how the pine shavings worked and how easy they were to clean up

remember do your home work so you can catch up with your chicks

hope your chicks are healthy